evilrobot
New member
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2009
- Messages
- 182
- MBTI Type
- nite
- Enneagram
- 5w4
First, if you haven’t yet, learn the system yourself instead of relying on others who don’t know what they’re doing to type you—which isn’t to say you have to become an Enneagram scholar. Tests aren’t reliable either, at their the best being around 70% accurate (even Don Riso admits that his acclaimed RHETI has an overall accuracy of 72%).
When you’re fluent with the 9 types, if you’re still undecided between two or more as your main type, compare the security and stress types of each of those. You may already know about the stress and security points, but people tend to overlook them as indicators when unable to decide between types.
For example: type 5s go to type 7 under stress, losing their trademark focus and concentration and becoming scattered and impulsive. Likewise, in situations or environments they’re more comfortable in, normally reserved 5s can become 8-ish (bossy, domineering, confrontational, etc). Thus, the 7 and 8 patterns are important to a 5. Now let’s say you’re trying to decide between 4 and 5 as your main type. Reviewing your life, not just the present, you would then likewise consider 4’s stress and security points: 2 and 1. In most cases it should be clear which pair of stress and security patterns fit you better.
A list of the stress and security points of every type
1: 4 (stress), 7 (security/integration)
2: 8, 4
3: 9, 6
4: 2, 1
5: 7, 8
6: 3, 9
7: 1, 5
8: 5, 2
9: 6, 3
You also have to allow that, though pretty accurate, the Enneagram’s not a perfect system. You may not find a description you strongly identify with in any one type or subtype.
Finally, when you know your type, don’t become too attached to it. The Enneagram was designed to help you free yourself from that kind of overattachment to self and personality – though certain Enneagram gurus do take the quasi Eastern religion approach too far, going to the “self and world are only illusions and the personality is a disease you need to be cured of” extreme. Some of you, however, could use a dose of the Buddha potion for grasping too much at identity and validation. This ends up being a Narcissus trap that erases the fine line between self-awareness and self-obsession. Essentially, the formula is to use your Enneagram type as a map to guide you through your inner terrain (personality fixations or complexes) to connect more with your center.
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When you’re fluent with the 9 types, if you’re still undecided between two or more as your main type, compare the security and stress types of each of those. You may already know about the stress and security points, but people tend to overlook them as indicators when unable to decide between types.
For example: type 5s go to type 7 under stress, losing their trademark focus and concentration and becoming scattered and impulsive. Likewise, in situations or environments they’re more comfortable in, normally reserved 5s can become 8-ish (bossy, domineering, confrontational, etc). Thus, the 7 and 8 patterns are important to a 5. Now let’s say you’re trying to decide between 4 and 5 as your main type. Reviewing your life, not just the present, you would then likewise consider 4’s stress and security points: 2 and 1. In most cases it should be clear which pair of stress and security patterns fit you better.
A list of the stress and security points of every type
1: 4 (stress), 7 (security/integration)
2: 8, 4
3: 9, 6
4: 2, 1
5: 7, 8
6: 3, 9
7: 1, 5
8: 5, 2
9: 6, 3
You also have to allow that, though pretty accurate, the Enneagram’s not a perfect system. You may not find a description you strongly identify with in any one type or subtype.
Finally, when you know your type, don’t become too attached to it. The Enneagram was designed to help you free yourself from that kind of overattachment to self and personality – though certain Enneagram gurus do take the quasi Eastern religion approach too far, going to the “self and world are only illusions and the personality is a disease you need to be cured of” extreme. Some of you, however, could use a dose of the Buddha potion for grasping too much at identity and validation. This ends up being a Narcissus trap that erases the fine line between self-awareness and self-obsession. Essentially, the formula is to use your Enneagram type as a map to guide you through your inner terrain (personality fixations or complexes) to connect more with your center.
*
It took me 10 minutes to write this and I don’t work for free. So kindly post your credit card number before exiting this thread. Thank you. Have a great day.
