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Upon reflection, I realised that "- Your blind spot is that you can be so focused on what is positive that you can miss the wisdom that comes from experiencing and understanding negative emotions and end up creating conflict by avoiding it " isn't so much me; I do indeed take wisdom from negative things, but I'm inclined to immediately put a positive spin on it. I see negatives as lessons.
Before I go any further, I’d like to state that I am unquestionably an INFJ. I mention this in the event of the MBTI / Enneagram having some kind of proven correlation. With that in mind…
I've been having some trouble nailing down my enneagram type. I recently typed this up on another forum:
Disclaimer: Sorry if this is somewhat incoherent; I've had to shat it out in a matter of minutes due to pressing business
I have to confess that I’ve never really put much stock into the Enneagram; it held my interest for a very brief period a year or so back, but when I was unable to properly ascertain my type beyond all doubt I got fed up and left it, returning to Jung’s Psychological Types.
I’ve since been typed professionally as an INFJ, and my own studies of Jung’s work has eradicated any doubt I may have had whatsoever.
Keeping that in mind, I wonder if some ‘5 traits’ resonate with me simply because I am an introvert and also an Ni-dom. For example, yes – I do feel disconnected from physical reality; I do feel like some kind of observer – but at what point does this stop being introverted intuition and begin being an indication of 5?
Equally, I can also understand the need for privacy and having a fear of intrusion. That has always been true of me – even as a kid! I couldn’t stand having anyone around me whilst I was partaking in any kind of activity, and even as an adult I completely lose my shit when someone gets in my personal space – even for really irrational things, like someone looking at what I’m currently browsing through on the internet. Fact is, I’m a largely uninteresting person. There is never anything untoward on my screen, but that doesn’t matter – when I’m engaged in an activity, that’s my own little bubble and any intrusions – even from my own wife at times – really get my back up.
There are other things I have read too, like how 5s will never ask for help. That is me all over; if I do eventually fold and ask for assistance, you can bet your arse I’ve tried and failed on my own 99 times. This is more relating to tasks, though; building something, or implementing something, for example. When it comes to trying to figure my own brain out, I’ll readily turn to others - I appreciate any critique of my character which helps me to better understand myself and avoid falling prey to my blind spots.
Lack of emotion? Check. Obviously my auxiliary Fe occasionally compels me to gesticulate wildly, and engaging me in conversation will be a warm and pleasant experience… but all the while, I’m trying not to smile as much as I want to because I feel awkward as shit about it. I am only truly emotionally open with my wife and daughter – and even that makes me feel weird and drained at times (though more often than not it’s actually quite refreshing to indulge that side of myself).
I think the most glaringly obvious ‘red flag’ that I’m potentially not a type 5 (at least to myself) is that whilst I do indeed research areas of interest and become reasonably well versed within those fields, I don’t do it prolifically (I have few ‘true’ interests) and, MBTI aside, I don’t use my knowledge as any kind of defence. In fact, I’m more liable to be self-conscious when relaying information because I am god awful at retaining facts and details of things.
The other alternative is that I am a type 9, but I (nor my wife) see that being a good fit; I am a laid back and peaceful person, but I’m not conflict avoidant. We both agree that, after reviewing some type descriptions, I’m far more liable to be intellectually contentious than simply sitting back and letting things wash over me. I enjoy (to a degree – it is draining) having my knowledge probed and tested by genuinely interested parties, and I absolutely love having my views challenged… but if you flat out refuse to listen to me and instead assert your own ill-conceived conceptions as fact, I’m going to politely point out that you’re wrong and a wanker. Grinning. Always grinning
But then I am a modest person. I am not intellectually elitist – I would never consider myself to be intelligent enough, to be honest. I know what I know and I’m comfortable with that, save for the odd occasions of a feverish padding out of knowledge because – whoa – I woke up today and suddenly realised I don’t know enough about the world. Must search for and devour fresh materials!
I realise this isn’t very insightful, but I’d appreciate any input or further questions which may be revealing.
I guess I’m still leaning towards something like 9w8… but considering how laid back and conflict avoidant the 9 is meant to be, I’d have to be a *pretty* big 8 wing
Hmm. Much to ponder.
TL;DR – I thought I may be a five because I exhibit many of the traits, though after frolicking gaily trough some of the five sections of forums it became painfully obvious that they’re a far more intelligent, analytical bunch than I am.
The test at enneagram.net has me pegged as a 9. In fact, it proffered two results – nine and… er, nine. So that would seem pretty conclusive ;p I may yet purchase the full test.
I just don’t ‘get’ the core motivations / fears. I can get behind indolence being my vice, but at what point does that stop being dominant Ni and begin being an enneagram trait? Also, I’m not as conflict avoidant as the descriptions would have you believe. I certainly don’t look for conflict – and I can be pretty blind to it when it only affects myself – but anyone crossing my friends or family will be dealt with mercilessly.
There are so, so many things that make me screw my nose up in objection. I assume I’m easy going, yet my wife tells me that I’m an argumentative git who will readily call people out on their bullshit, though she concedes that I am typically very diplomatic about it (unless I know the person well).
I’m accepting to a degree, but overall I much prefer that people leave me the hell alone. When I /have/ to deal with someone I'm typically warm and accepting, though sometimes it's very difficult for my to disguise my contempt. Not usually aimed at the person in question, but at having to expend time and energy dealing with such an inane pursuit. Idle chatter, for example.
It's also stated that nines are down to earth. Ha! I'm floating around in the stratosphere somewhere. Also perhaps worthy of note is that people tend to perceive that I am incredibly confident, but quietly so. When she first met me, my wife had no idea that at my core I had crippling self esteem issues. Most people have no idea that up until recently I had absolutely zero confidence... I even managed to fool an audience 200 strong during one public speaking event; on the photos I look absolutely nonchalant - in reality I was bricking myself so hard I thought I'd pass out... FWIW.
Ugh, I dunno. I could sit here and ramble on forever and a day – it wouldn’t get me anywhere.
9w8? Typically chilled out, will readily take a stand when required. Please help - I'm completely dumbfounded
[EDIT] I've been told that I'm a six because I turn to others for help... but isn't that A) normal and B) probably linked to Fe first and foremost?
My test results were pretty conclusively 8. That was wrong. Some people questioned it here, so it led me to do further investigation. I didn't figure it out until I got to understanding all of the types pretty well and had a professional assessment done by these guys. I did the one with the interview to make absolutely sure but the enneacards test did in fact result in the correct type. It was the only one I took that did.
Some of the exemplar videos on site are pretty good. You could look at those. For example:
