What is the most crucial thing in life? We all have a different answer to that question—relationships, being of service, knowledge, fun…
Modern life prioritizes productivity and defines success through money, achievements, and status. Have you ever reached a goal—got the job, the house, the degree—only to realize something’s missing and you don’t feel fulfilled? You are not alone in this very human experience.
The teachings of the Enneagram help you understand your internal motivations—why something matters to you in the first place. It reveals your blind spots, the ways you deceive yourself, and the limits you unconsciously place on your life.
It shows you which goals are truly yours to pursue and which are mirages presented by your personality. The Enneagram hands you the key to the cage your personality built—and shows you the path to freedom. It’s a map you can use to find yourself. It helps you uncover your shadow parts as well as your greatest gifts. It deepens your understanding of others and allows for richer, more meaningful relationships.
And that’s just the beginning…
Excited?
In this article, I’ll share a little of my journey with the Enneagram and help you find the doorway that leads to a deeper relationship with yourself.
What Is the Enneagram?
A Treasure Map for the Soul
When I first heard the word “Enneagram,” it felt like an ancient spell had been spoken—I had to know more.
The word comes from the Greek ennea (nine) and gram (drawing), and the Enneagram symbol consists of three shapes: a circle, a triangle, and a hexad. People often have strong reactions to the symbol—some curious, some skeptical—but few understand its deeper meaning.
- The Circle represents unity: while each person is unique, we’re all part of the same fabric of life.
- The Triangle represents the Law of Three—found in many traditions as the trinity. It reflects how creation arises from three forces: two opposites (yes/no, light/dark) and a reconciling third.
- The Hexad reflects the Law of Seven—the continuous unfolding of life, which is not linear, but moves in predictable patterns, like the musical scale.
Together, the triangle and hexad form nine points on the circle—hence, the Enneagram.
With roots in ancient spiritual traditions like Sufism and early Christian mysticism, the Enneagram was introduced to the modern world by George Ivanovich Gurdjieff, a seeker devoted to answering the question: What does it mean to be fully human?
Gurdjieff taught that we experience life through three centers of intelligence: body, heart, and mind. Most of us lean heavily on one center while ignoring the others.
- Man Number One trusts the moving and instinctual center.
- Man Number Two trusts emotions over the wisdom of the body or mind.
- Man Number Three relies on intellect.
Gurdjieff proposed that we all have access to all three centers of intelligence—and instead of being one-third of who we are, we can engage all three centers, becoming Man Number Four.
Later, Oscar Ichazo and Claudio Naranjo expanded this work into what we now call the Enneagram of Personality—a system of nine interconnected and dynamic psychological types that explain our habitual patterns and inner drives. It’s like opening the back of a clock to see how the gears work. The Enneagram reveals our inner workings.
It brings together psychology and spirituality, showing us that personality is not who we are, but a protective shell hiding something deeper and more essential. By working with the Enneagram, we gain the power to see our personality more objectively and reconnect with our authentic self.
I believe this is a journey worth taking.
Tired of feeling unfulfilled despite achieving your goals? Discover how the Enneagram can be the key to unlocking your authentic self and breaking free from limiting personality patterns.
The Nine Types at a Glance
We begin with Type Eight, the first of the Body Types: Eight, Nine, and One.
- Type Eight: The Challenger – Assertive, decisive, values strength and control. Nicknamed The Boss, this type initiates action and embodies raw life-force energy.
- Type Nine: The Peacemaker – Easygoing, accommodating, harmony-seeking. Nines can see multiple perspectives and bring people together.
- Type One: The Reformer – Principled, idealistic, strives to be good, do the right thing, and live a meaningful life. Ones are natural teachers with a strong moral compass and often fight for justice.
Next, the Heart Types: Two, Three, and Four.
- Type Two: The Helper – Caring, people-focused, driven by the need to be needed. Generous and nurturing. Twos love to support others and make them feel cared for.
- Type Three: The Achiever – Success-oriented, driven, image-conscious. Threes are often charismatic, productive, and inspiring.
- Type Four: The Individualist – Sensitive, introspective, in search of their unique identity. Often mysterious and misunderstood, Fours are connected to deep emotions, beauty, and creative expression.
Finally, the Head Types: Five, Six, and Seven.
- Type Five: The Investigator – Perceptive, cerebral, values knowledge and privacy. Deep thinkers, Fives are relentless in their pursuit of understanding. Many innovations and brilliant insights come from them.
- Type Six: The Loyalist – Committed, security-oriented, skeptical. Sixes question everything, including their type. Often compared to Boy Scouts, they like to be prepared for anything.
- Type Seven: The Enthusiast – Spontaneous, fun-loving, variety-seeking. Free-spirited Sevens treat life like a buffet—with so many options to choose from.
Recognize yourself or someone you know? Finding your type can be quick—or take time. Either way, the search itself is part of the growth.
How the Enneagram Helps You Grow
Once you fall into the Enneagram rabbit hole, you’ll realize just how deep it goes. The symbol isn’t just a circle—it’s a 3D model, like a birthday cake, with nine levels of development for each type. From unhealthy to average to healthy, each level reflects a stage of awareness, from Pathological Destructiveness to the level of Liberation.
For example, I’m a Type Nine. At average levels, Nines can be disengaged, avoidant, conflict-averse, and disconnected from their own anger. When I first read the description, I thought, “Anger?! I NEVER get angry!”—only to learn that’s a classic Nine response. Just that insight alone was worth the price of admission for me personally.
With growth, a Nine can become alive and engaged, fully accepting of self and others, able to handle difficult situations and healthy disagreements. The Enneagram maps the journey for Nines from “nobody special” to a powerful healing force in the world.
Using Our Patterns to Wake Up
The Enneagram doesn’t just describe you—it gives you tools to transform.
Each type has Wings—the two neighboring types on the circle. These flavor your core type with additional traits. For example, a Type Three might be influenced by either Two or Four, showing more warmth or more introspection.
Each type is also connected by lines to two others, indicating directions of stress and growth. A One, for instance, may move toward Four under stress—feeling flawed and like an outcast. When relaxed, the strict and dutiful One becomes more spontaneous, playful, and fun—like Seven.
One of the most powerful tools the Enneagram offers is the Wake-Up Call: a specific signal that tells you you’re falling under the spell of your personality.
Here are the Wake-Up Calls for each type:
- Type Eight: Using too much force, speaking too loudly
- Type Nine: Going along to get along, “whatever you want”
- Type One: Sense of personal obligation—“If it’s to be, it’s up to me”; indignation about being “the only one who cares”
- Type Two: Leaning in energetically or physically, meddling, trying too hard and driving people away
- Type Three: Doing without being—getting things done like a machine, disconnected
- Type Four: Creating a certain mood—listening to sad music or poetry to evoke emotional intensity
- Type Five: Withdrawing into the mind and losing connection with the physical world
- Type Six: Being driven or paralyzed by anxiety or fear
- Type Seven: FOMO—seeking the next thing instead of being present
When you catch your Wake-Up Call, you have a choice: fall into your usual pattern, or pause, reflect, and respond differently.
How the Enneagram Helps in Real Life
Relationships
Once you understand the Enneagram, you begin to see the world through other people’s eyes. But beware—it may be tempting to type your loved ones and tell them their flaws (I’ve done it—learn from my mistakes!). The best use of the Enneagram is for your own growth.
With time, you gain compassion. You understand why your partner needs space or why your friend avoids conflict. You stop taking things personally. You learn how to support others in a way that actually helps.
Work
Every workplace has all nine types—and each brings strengths. A Two might thrive in HR. A Seven could excel in marketing. A Five might do best behind the scenes in research or tech.
As Einstein said, “If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.” When people are aligned with their strengths, everyone wins.
Health & Wellness
Your Enneagram type influences how you exercise, do yoga, or relate to food.
Eights may love strength training. Nines enjoy movement but may resist pressure. Ones are drawn to structured practices like Ashtanga. Threes love measurable progress. Fours may crave ambiance and aesthetics with meals. Sevens need variety. These aren’t rules—just patterns. And knowing them helps you build habits that actually work for you.
If you’re on a path of self-discovery, there’s no tool quite like the Enneagram.
It shows you parts of yourself you didn’t know were there. It helps you grow into your potential. It transforms relationships. It makes you a better parent, partner, and friend.
- Read more about types on the Enneagram Institute website
- Take a free quiz
- Try a TWO-question quiz from The Wisdom of the Enneagram
- Buy the official RHETI, IVQ, or combined test: Take the test
- Invite me to speak at your organization, gather a group of friends, or work with me privately.
In the end, all personal growth rests on the courage to face our own nature.
“Know thyself” is the beginning of conscious life.
