How to (really) know your Enneagram type
Do you go back and forth between Enneagram types? Perhaps you’ve taken a few online tests and they’ve given you different results. The first one pegged you a seven. But it was neck and neck with type two. You waited a couple months and took another one only to learn you’re now a nine? Wha? You’re confused and little pissed off because you had to pay for that last version.
HELP!?
First off, don’t be discouraged! This is totally normal and you’re not alone!
The human personality is not static. It’s constantly vacillating between healthy, average, and unhealthy levels (hopefully not too unhealthy the more self-aware we are!) throughout our days, weeks, and months.
Online assessments can’t measure how tired, stressed, or emotionally aware you are. They also can’t determine mood or how many cups of coffee (or glasses of wine) you’ve downed before taking them.
Sure, they’re a helpful jumping off point. (Some more than others!) Yet fully knowing and Understanding your Enneagram type requires a bit more digging. In fact, I believe it’s part of its effectiveness.
There are dozens of personality tests out there: MBTI, StrengthsFinder, DISC, to name a few. I love them all, too! However, the Enneagram is unique in that it goes deeper than surface, personality-driven behavior. Sure, that’s part of it, but the Enneagram also helps us understand the “why,” or story, behind our thoughts, feelings, and resulting behaviors.
Online tests simply can’t explain the sacred nuance of your story.
However, doing the deeper self-study required to fully know your Enneagram type can.
After all, we make choices, big and small, based on the story we’re living out of. If we’re suffering, we must change more than surface tactics or behaviors. In order to heal and transform, we’ve got to get to the root of the problem—we’ve got to understand our story.
Self-discovery is a winding journey, not a mere moment in time. It’s about deepening knowledge and understanding. In fact, it’s really about self-befriending.
If you’re on the fence about your type, good! I believe it’s an invitation (and excuse) to deepen this beautiful self-friendship you’ve already started.
So how?
You’re already further along than you think!
I’ve got a helpful next step for you. Scheduling a typing interview is incredibly helpful in fully unpacking your story and discovering your type. It’s some of my favorite work to do with clients. Basically, it’s a detailed inquiry process steeped in the Narrative Enneagram tradition that provides your top 2-3 probable types. This allows some direction and margin for clients to then read up on those possibilities and live with them a bit before making a hard decision.
We do this in a creative, collaborative way with clear next steps mapped out. Best part? It’s really fun!
Spoiler alert: you are not a pure type. No one is! You lead with a primary type, yet you have a bit of all nine in you. We are complex and glorious creatures, remember? The Enneagram has the dynamic infrastructure to meet and guide this complexity into greater understanding and opportunity.
I’m convinced your story is far too stunning to be put in a box. Perhaps it’s time to take it out?
Curious about an Enneagram typing interview? Sweet! Let’s talk.
Love & Gratitude,
Katie