I hate personality assessment tools. The thought of being reduced to a number, color, or word deeply offends my delusional sense of grandiose uniqueness. There has never been anyone else on earth like me, right? Well, apparently the Enneagram has a type for that called #4: “The Individualist”, and millions of us fit it perfectly.
Very disappointing.
enneagram
Actually, discovering the Enneagram (an ancient way of understanding transformation) has been wildly and deeply helpful. My wife Shauna brought home the book The Wisdom of the Enneagram about 5 or 6 years ago, and it has given us entirely new ways of understanding ourselves and each other. (She is a 7 with an 8 wing, and I’m a 4 with a 3 wing). But more than mere understanding and labeling, the enneagram has helped chart a course toward becoming the most healthy, whole, integrated person we can be, which has been a difficult but amazing ride. I’m more messed up than I’d care to admit, but with God’s grace have been slowly discovering more and more healing and freedom. Good stuff.
If you’re interested, explore enneagraminstitute.com to read more and find out what type you are. If you’re like Shauna and I (or any of the dozens of friends we’ve pestered into checking this out!) you’ll be amazed to find how deeply some of this connects. I’d love to hear what you discover. . .