Here are a few noteworthy takeaways from the first episode of the Enneagram series on First Line (entitled "The Enneagram: Nine Different Worldviews"). This episode further highlights the utility of learning the Enneagram and using it as a tool for personal growth.
The Enneagram has nothing to do with when you were born (i.e., astrology). It doesn't lock you into one of the other extremes of a personality trait like introverted or extroverted. (I think the vast majority of people can relate that they may feel introverted in some instances while being more extroverted other times and may most of the time feel somewhere in between).
The Enneagram, instead, focuses entirely on how you see the world, how you see yourself, and how you interact with others. It goes deeper.
Learning, understanding, and utilizing the Enneagram model is a journey. It is not just about finding your number and moving on. When you learn these patterns of seeing the world, you will never view people the same. You will know that not everyone sees the world alike. There are nine ways of seeing the world. Learning the Enneagram is a journey of self-discovery and understanding what makes the human race so diverse in thought and personality. Even then, not all Enneagram 1s are the same (and not all Enneagram 2s are the same, etc.), which can further intensify the variability. As you learn the basics, you can branch out to learn about subtypes and wings. Even with all this complexity, subtypes and wings exist on a spectrum that unites to make your personality what it is (coupled with life experience, environment, and social structure) and how you interact with the world.
The Enneagram is not like other personality type inventories written in a way that could apply to anyone or even that could change depending on the day. With the Enneagram, you are always your one number, which will never change throughout your life, no matter what.
The Enneagram does not normalize or justify any bad behavior. There are unhealthy habits for each type, but you should always strive to enter the healthy space of your number. The Enneagram provides self-reflection, room for growth, and the ability to understand others deeper.
The Enneagram is about self-awareness. It can provide a deep sense of self and others, leading to better relationships in our personal lives and the workplace.
Please note that we are not just our personality type or Enneagram number. We are all unique individuals beyond that. The Enneagram does not give you a label. The Enneagram does not put you in a box. The Enneagram can instead be a tool to provide insight into human nature and the tendency to judge others less.
Learn more about the nine ways of being in the world in the First Line episode here.
Learn about Enneagram 1s in my separate post here.
Relevant episodes of First Line: