Jeanette van Stijn

Enneagram For Dummies


Скачать книгу

Enneagram in a Nutshell

      IN THIS CHAPTER

      

Introducing the Enneagram

      

Discovering the Enneagram’s personalized prisms

      

Managing yourself

      

The psychological and spiritual sides of the coin

      The personality types in the Enneagram are denoted by numbers: Type 1 to Type 9. In other symbolic designations, the number 0 stands for … the jester, or the dummy! Here's the good news: When you look into the meaning of 0 as a symbol, you see that it stands for the original completeness, the paradisiacal original state, and for connection, a new or repeating cycle — one you can enter into without needing any experience.

      The 0 is also the basis of the Enneagram’s symbol. The Enneagram serves as a development path to completeness, connecting with yourself and with others, and getting to know the unrevealed state within you. In short, the Enneagram is all about becoming aware of what is dormant and subconsciously present within you. The 0, or the dummy, is also called “the spirit who wants to gain experience” and is guided by curiosity and desire. Without a preconceived plan, they spontaneously travel along paths that are full of surprises — carefree and open. They’re like the lovable child in you. They're not basing everything on reason, so they can play, laugh, dream, and just have fun as a totally free person. In other words, if you want to have more fun in your life, make friends with your inner dummy.

      Seeing the word Enneagram might bring to mind a complicated method, peppered with inexplicable terms. You start with an explanation of the Enneagram. What's the starting point? Where do you go from here?

      What is an Enneagram?

      FIGURE 1-1: The Enneagram.

      Gaining an understanding of human differences

      Every person is different, which is something you probably notice often when dealing with others. That's nothing new. The question is how people differ, which is more difficult to understand. The Enneagram provides insight into this aspect of your life. Many people already acquainted with the Enneagram have gained not only an understanding of how people are different but also a better understanding of other people — that is to say, a better understanding of others' differences. I think that's one of the fantastic things the Enneagram offers: It provides a bridge between people.

      Nine prisms to view the world

      The Enneagram distinguishes between nine personality structures. These can be seen as nine different prisms that are viewing the same reality — nine prisms through which reality is perceived differently. The prisms filter what is seen and what available information enters, and how it’s processed internally. In psychology, it’s called selective perception. You observe selectively. Once you realize this, you immediately understand the pointlessness of all the “is so!/is not!” conversations you may have experienced in your life (with yourself or with others). This is usually a matter of both people seeing different things due to looking through different prisms. As a result, it’s possible that what one person has perceived or experienced is true, and that what the other person has perceived or experienced is also true. The only conclusion you can then draw together is that you have perceived or experienced things differently. This is a first step toward understanding others and toward respecting them and what they have seen or experienced differently.

      People like different things about the Enneagram

      

I asked a number of people what appeals to them about working with the Enneagram, and I got the following answers:

       The model is perfectly designed, and the method is meticulous.

       It helps me adapt even more to the needs of others.

       It’s efficient and targeted.

       It is profound and takes into account that every person is unique.

       It’s structured and put together well, and it brings wisdom.

       It provides security and a clear model, and it’s a reliable system.

       It's a fascinating method that provides many options for perceiving people.

       It provides truth about people and is a powerful method for growth.

       It generates harmony in me and between other people.

      

Look at the list of responses people gave to the question of what appeals to them about the Enneagram. Is there an answer or answers that are more relevant to you to consider when judging something — for example, whether something is careful, profound, or safe? If so, it's not so much about whether you agree with the Enneagram, but more about whether one prism fits you better than the rest.

      

This is a prime example of how the nine types give different answers. They focus on different aspects of the model because they think different things are important. That's how the Enneagram works.

      The model …

      People are curious about themselves. They might ask, “Why do I react one way in this situation and you act in another way? Why are you in such a hurry and I'm not? Why was I bored in that meeting and my colleague was an enthusiastic participant?”

      The way your thoughts and feelings work is interesting. People have been trying to gain more insight into