reading time approximately 7 minutes
In this blog, you will be introduced to the Enneagram types, a personality model that describes nine different types. Each type has unique characteristics, strengths, and challenges. You will discover why you have developed certain patterns, how the Enneagram can help you with self-insight, better relationships, and personal growth, and why it is more than just a label. You also get an overview of the nine Enneagram types so that you can quickly recognize which type suits you or someone else.
Many people think that their Enneagram type is a given. But that is not the case. You‘re not your type—you’ve taken it on as a role, a strategy for dealing with the world. Through conscious growth, you can break free from these automatic patterns and even take on a different role in a new phase of your life.
In this blog, you will discover how the Enneagram helps you gain insight into why you have developed certain patterns and how you can work with them instead of being guided by them. You will get an overview of the nine types and learn why the Enneagram is more than a simple label.
Are you curious about how you can grow? Read on and find out how you can free yourself from old fixed patterns and discover how the Enneagram can help you live more consciously!
What is the Enneagram?
Imagine you are at a party. In one corner is the perfectionist, who secretly rearranges the snacks because they are not symmetrical enough. In the other corner, you will find the bon vivant, who laughingly talks about his latest adventure. And then there is the helper, who asks everyone if they need anything. Recognizable? These are just three of the nine Enneagram Types, and you may recognize yourself or your colleagues, friends, or partner in one of them.
Working with the Enneagram types is a powerful model that describes nine personality types. It not only helps you to understand yourself better but also to see others through a different lens. And let’s be honest: who doesn’t want to know why your best friend is always such a drama queen or why your boss never seems satisfied?
An ancient system for personal development
The Enneagram types are an ancient system that describes nine personality types. Each type has its motivations, fears, and ways of relating to the world. The great thing? It is not pigeonholing. The Enneagram shows how we grow, change, and sometimes get stuck in patterns.
The 9 Enneagram Types at a Glance
The Enneagram types describes nine personality strategies, which we have often unconsciously adopted to deal with the world. But remember: you’re not your type—it’s a role you’ve developed. When you grow and become more aware, you can break free from old patterns and even adopt a different strategy.
Click on a type to go to the detailed blog and dive deeper into its strengths, pitfalls, and growth opportunities.
- Enneatype 1 – The Perfectionist
Always working on what can be improved. They have a keen eye for detail and a deep desire for justice. But beware: they can also be quite critical, especially of themselves.
Want to dive deeper? Download the free e-book and explore the strengths, challenges, and growth opportunities of the Perfectionist! Get your free e-book here
- Enneatype 2 – The Helper
Helpers are always ready for someone else. They are warm, attentive, and know exactly what you need. But sometimes, they forget to take care of themselves.
Want to dive deeper? Download the free e-book and explore the strengths, challenges, and growth opportunities of the Helper! Get your free e-book here - Enneatype 3 – The Winner
The overachiever of the bunch. Achievers are ambitious, charming, and always looking for success. But what if they don’t win for a while? Then, they feel they are failures.
Want to dive deeper? Download the free e-book and explore the strengths, challenges, and growth opportunities of the Winner! Get your free e-book here - Enneatype 4 – The Romantic
The creative person with a deep emotional life. Individualists search for meaning and authenticity. But sometimes, they get stuck in melancholy.
Want to dive deeper? Download the free e-book and explore the strengths, challenges, and growth opportunities of the Romantic! Get your free e-book here - Enneatype 5 – The Observer
The thinker and observer. Researchers are curious and analytical and love knowledge. But they can also be a bit distant and isolate themselves.
Want to dive deeper? Download the free e-book and explore the strengths, challenges, and growth opportunities of the Observer! Get your free e-book here - Enneatype 6 – The Loyalist
The loyal friend who is always ready. Loyalists are reliable, but they can also be quite fearful. What if something goes wrong?
Want to dive deeper? Download the free e-book and explore the strengths, challenges, and growth opportunities of the Loyalist! Get your free e-book here - Enneatype 7 – The Adventurer
The optimist who loves parties. Bon vivants are spontaneous, energetic, and always looking for fun and adventure. But they often avoid difficult emotions.
Want to dive deeper? Download the free e-book and explore the strengths, challenges, and growth opportunities of the Adventurer! Get your free e-book here - Enneatype 8 – The Boss
The natural leader. Bosses are strong, assertive, and protective. But they can also be overpowering and, yes, sometimes a bit pushy.
Want to dive deeper? Download the free e-book and explore the strengths, challenges, and growth opportunities of the Boss! Get your free e-book here - Enneatype 9 – The Peacemaker
The harmony seeker. Peacemakers are relaxed and friendly and love peace and quiet. But sometimes, they lose themselves in pleasing others.
Want to dive deeper? Download the free e-book and explore the strengths, challenges, and growth opportunities of the Peacemaker! Get your free e-book here
What is the use of knowing your Enneagram Personality Type?
Self-Knowledge
Knowing what type you are is like a mirror that shows you why you do what you do. Why are you always so critical of yourself? Why do you avoid conflicts? The Enneagram provides answers.
Better Relationships
Do you sometimes not understand your partner, colleagues, or friends? The Enneagram helps you to see why they react this way. And maybe you’ll become more patient with that drama queen of a friend.
Personal Growth
The Enneagram not only shows where you get stuck but also how you can grow. Are you a helper? Then, learn to take care of yourself as well. Are you a perfectionist? Discover that making mistakes is allowed.
Humor and Perspective
Let’s be honest: it’s also just nice to know what type you are. And it provides material for funny conversations. “Of course, you are a bon vivant; you organized another party yesterday while your deadline is tomorrow!”
The Enneagram types: More Than Just a Label
The Enneagram is not just an excuse to say, “That’s just the way I am.” No, it is a powerful tool to grow and discover yourself. It shows you that you are unique, but at the same time, it shows how we can all get stuck in certain patterns. And you know what the best part is? You can always get out, always change!
We all have those moments when we think, “I’m just like that.” Maybe you recognize yourself as the perfectionist who wants to nip every mistake in the bud or as the helper who is always ready, sometimes even at your own expense. And then, of course, there is that colleague who brightens up the workplace with all her drama or knows how to spoil the atmosphere. The Enneagram makes it possible not only to understand yourself better but also to look at others in a light-hearted and insightful way.
You’re Not Your Type, But Your Type Helps You Understand Who You Are
Think about it: every role we assume, every label we may put on ourselves, is just one part of a much bigger picture. It is a starting point, the beginning of a journey of discovery. Because there is so much more behind that label. You are more than your Enneagram type. You are the sum of all your experiences, dreams, and passions.
How the Enneagram types Unlocks the Layers of Your Consciousness
Do you want to know how that works exactly? The answer lies in the layers of your consciousness. Our personality is made up of different layers. At the top is your soul, your core, your true essence. Below that, you will find the unconscious layer, where your Enneatype has already been established in your early childhood. This layer contains all those automatic patterns and survival mechanisms that you have developed to feel safe. As you descend further, you end up in the conscious layer, where, through personal growth and awareness, you learn to let go of what no longer serves. Ultimately, all these layers manifest in your physical body, which is always a mirror of what is going on inside.
Breaking Old Patterns
How Your Enneagram Type Was Formed in Childhood
Your Enneatype didn’t just fall from the sky. It has formed in your childhood, as a protection mechanism. Unconsciously, you have developed strategies to get love, security, and recognition. That worked, then.
But does it still work now?
Awareness as the Key to Transformation
Awareness is the key to change. As soon as you see how your type guides your behavior and beliefs, space is created. Room to choose. Do you keep repeating the same patterns, or do you dare to do something new?
And here’s where the beauty comes: once you have the courage to explore and even challenge these layers, you discover the power to truly transform. You can break old patterns and get closer to your true potential step by step.
Take the Enneagram Test!
So, are you curious? Which type do you think you are? The Enneagram types are waiting for you, full of insights and possibilities. Go ahead—take the Enneagram Test.
But remember, a test is just the starting point. Dive deeper. Read about your type, recognize the pitfalls, and discover how you can grow. Sometimes, the smallest insights can have the biggest impact.
What’s Next?
Want to be the first to know? Sign up for our newsletter and stay updated with fresh insights and our special meditation designed to help you gain clarity about the patterns playing out in the background.
You are not your Enneagram type—you are infinitely more. The Enneagram isn’t a box; it’s a key to self-awareness and growth. Use it, and set yourself free!
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🎁 As a welcome gift, you will receive a short, recorded introduction from us: “Transformation begins in feeling – an introduction to the enneagram.”
In this 4-minute audio, John takes you into the essence of the enneagram. He explains how your personality came about as a survival strategy and why real change is only possible if you are willing to feel.
