Have you ever taken one of those crazy Facebook© quizzes like, “What kind of cat are you?” or “What kind of drink are you?” or What kind of house will you live in next year?” Well— ahem, I have. They used to be fun, but then they started getting weird; I know, even weirder than the cat question. However, I admit I am a sucker for answering the questions, if only to see if the results resonate with me.
Most of us have taken a personality-type test of some sort like the Myers Briggs Personality Test © or StrengthFinders©. They were designed with a little bit of the Greek aphorism “know thyself” and a lot of psychological theory to help the test-taker understand their unique perception of the world and their response to it. Often the testing was done in a corporate setting with the explicit objective of making more effective and productive members of the corporation. With that all said and done, I still consider myself an ENFJ who sometimes acts like an INFP. J
Nevertheless, I was introduced to the Enneagram through a workshop at Well for the Journey, a non-profit dedicated to spiritual and emotional wellness in Towson, and I have been on quite a ride of self-knowing ever since. With the help of a consultant, using the Enneagram has assisted me in understanding how my unique perceptions color my thoughts and behaviors in ways that affect my relationships with life in general and those I love in particular.
The Enneagram is a spiritual tool first believed to have originated in the 4th century with an early Christian Desert Father, Evagrius. “He used the nine-pointed symbol to highlight vices that disturbed inner peace.” Here, the idea was to find balance in one’s personality to know the peace of Christ as much as possible in day-to-day living. It was a S. American psychiatrist who “used modern psychology to develop a theory of nine distinct personalities—enneatypes—that highlighted the vices, virtues, and core motivations of each type.”
As my friend, Beverly, is quick to point out though, every human being has each type within them, but has conditioned themselves to use a single one in most circumstances. The types are part of a triad assigned to a specific portion of the human anatomy dependent on how one makes most decisions whether heart, head, or gut. Types 1, 8, and 9 usually decide by their gut feelings; types 2, 3, and 4 by their heart; Types 5, 6, and 7 decide by their intellect. However, all salient components of each type are necessary for truly effective decision-making.
So now, you might ask—so what? What good does knowing have to do with being or doing? I would answer, “A lot.” Recognizing not only my essential qualities but also my basic fears, needs, desires, and motivations helps me to pray through the kinds of changes I need to make in myself. “Know thyself” becomes more than an aphorism, but an ongoing work of significant importance to my spiritual development—and yours, too, for we are all ONE.
Unlike those other tests I have had fun doing, taking the test and working through the Enneagram itself is helping me to know who I truly am—since I am obviously NOT a cat nor a drink. And yes, I have laughed at what resonates and there are also quite a few “aha” moments as well. Those are the ones I live for. I must admit I am learning something new every day with love and gratitude.
Faithfully,
Freda Marie+