What are the Enneagram Passions and Virtues?

If you know me, you know that I’m committed to helping people put the enneagram to work in their lives for greater transformation and freedom.  Why? Because it’s so much more than just a personality typing system; it’s a profound tool for personal growth and self-awareness. I know this first hand.  

One of the many ways we put this tool to practice in our lives is by understanding the passion and virtue of our type. What does this mean?  

The passion of our type is marked by a disconnection from the true self. This is the lower emotional state we fall into when we’re running on autopilot—living unaware. This emotional pattern is what keeps us in the grip of our personality, and not necessarily the lovely parts. ;)

Conversely, virtues represent who we are in higher emotional awareness. They are our truest, most authentic selves and are the opposite of the passions. Doing deep inner work helps us more toward this awareness, allowing us to gain insight into our own behaviors and motivations, as well as those of others. 

Let’s dive into these core aspects of the Enneagram to see how they shape our lives and guide us towards transformation.

Type 1: The Improver

• Passion: Anger (Resentment)
  
  Improvers often struggle with a sense of resentment, feeling that the world is imperfect and it is their job to correct it. This can lead to frustration and rigidity.  It is also exhausting.
  

• Virtue: Serenity
  
  When Type 1s embrace serenity, they find peace in the present moment, accepting imperfection without judgment. This allows them to channel their desire for improvement in a balanced and constructive way.

Type 2: The Helper

• Passion: Pride
  
  Helpers can become overly involved in the lives of others, driven by a need to feel indispensable. This can lead to an inflated sense of self-importance. Yikes!
  

• Virtue: Humility
  
  By cultivating true humility, Type 2s recognize their true worth without needing validation from others. This virtue enables them to give freely and genuinely, without expectation of reciprocation.

Type 3: The Achiever

• Passion: Deceit
  
  Achievers may deceive themselves and others by projecting a successful image, often disconnecting from their true feelings and needs.  Think 90’s tennis champ Andre Agassi…”Image is everything.” 
  

• Virtue: Honesty (Authenticity)
  
  Embracing authenticity allows Type 3s to be honest with themselves and others. This virtue helps them achieve true success by being genuine and transparent.

Type 4: The Romantic

• Passion: Envy
  
  Romantics often feel that something vital is missing in their lives, leading to a sense of envy towards others who seem to possess what they lack.  It keeps them on the treadmill of standing out…also exhausting!
  

• Virtue: Equanimity
  
  By embracing equanimity, Type 4s find balance and inner peace. This virtue helps them appreciate their unique identity and the beauty in their own lives without comparison.

Type 5: The Investigator

• Passion: Avarice (Greed)
  
  Investigators can become withdrawn, hoarding their time, energy, and resources out of fear of depletion.  This feeds a scarcity mentality and fuels their self-sufficiency.
  

• Virtue: Non-Attachment
  
  Cultivating non-attachment allows Type 5s to engage with the world more freely, sharing their knowledge and resources without fear of loss.  

Type 6: The Loyalist

• Passion: Fear
  
  Loyalists are often driven by fear and anxiety, constantly seeking security and support from external sources.  I mean, how many different insurance policies can one have?  Never too many according to these girl and boy scouts.  
  

• Virtue: Courage
  
  By developing courage, Type 6s learn to trust themselves and face their fears head-on. This virtue empowers them to navigate uncertainty with confidence.  It’s not the absence of fear, it’s showing up despite their fear. 

Type 7: The Enthusiast

• Passion: Gluttony
  
  Enthusiasts can become overindulgent, constantly seeking new experiences and pleasures to avoid pain or boredom.  Let’s keep life up and open…and never boring. Peter Pan enters stage left.  
  

• Virtue: Sobriety (constancy)
  
  Sobriety helps Type 7s find satisfaction in the present moment. This virtue allows them to enjoy life’s pleasures in moderation and appreciate simplicity.

Type 8: The Challenger

• Passion: Lust (Excess)
  
  Challengers often seek control and power, driven by a lust for intensity and excess.  Go big or go home, right?
  

• Virtue: Innocence
  
  Embracing innocence allows Type 8s to be open and vulnerable, channeling their strength in compassionate and constructive ways.  It connects them to the softness and truth of their inner child they had to put away far too early. 

Type 9: The Peacemaker

• Passion: Sloth
  
  Peacemakers may fall into complacency, avoiding conflict and neglecting their own needs and desires.  They aren’t necessarily physically lazy, but when the focus of attention is on them, their energy goes way down.  Naptime!
  

• Virtue: Action (Engagement)
  
  By cultivating action and engagement, Type 9s become proactive in their lives, addressing conflicts and pursuing their passions with energy and commitment.

I know, I know…that was like drinking from a fire hose with a teacup.  Take heart, this month in the Practice, my enneagram-based self-care membership program, we are doing a deep dive into all this.  Join me to  learn more!