Melanie Bell

Finding Wisdom in Your Enneagram Type

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by

Inspire Envisioning
in
Inspiration Village at Wisdom 2.0

Co-written with Kacie Berghoef

This past weekend, Kacie volunteered at the Wisdom 2.0 Conference in San Francisco. In an era where mindfulness practices are increasingly utilized in the business and tech world, Wisdom 2.0 provides a platform for like-minded people to connect and strategize around bringing empowered conscientiousness into the workplace. This weekend offered an opportunity to share insights and witness the wisdom we all have to contribute.

We see the Enneagram as a powerful tool to bring greater wisdom into the world – whether it’s in businesses, communities, or ourselves. What the Enneagram shows us is that there are many types of understanding and insight one can have – nine, to be specific! Our own wisdom helps us take action in ways that strengthen our communities, make our workplaces more productive, and deepen our bonds with others. We have the greatest access to the wisdom our type brings to the world, but as multifaceted human beings, we can access the brilliance of all nine types.

Here are a few kinds of wisdom that each Enneagram type has to offer:

Type One brings wisdom through integrity. Healthy Ones are fair and bring justice to the world around them. They become examples of walking your talk. They teach all of us to live honest lives.

Type Two brings wisdom through compassion. Healthy Twos are caring and bring unconditional love for self and others. They become examples of lovingly meeting others’ needs. They teach us how to care for ourselves.

Type Three brings wisdom through authenticity. Healthy Threes are accomplished and bring value to the world around them. They become examples of being your best self. They teach us how to take pride in who we are.

Type Four brings wisdom through self-awareness. Healthy Fours are sensitive and bring creativity to the world. They become examples of expressing your personal truth. They teach us how to cultivate our own voice.

Type Five brings wisdom through understanding. Healthy Fives are non-judgmental and full of open-minded curiosity. They become examples of finding innovative answers. They teach us how to be still in a busy world.

Type Six brings wisdom through guidance. Healthy Sixes are grounded and oriented to a sense of purpose. They become examples of knowing just how to provide support. They teach us how to be our own best advocates.

Type Seven brings wisdom through freedom. Healthy Sevens see limitless options and engage fully in life. They become examples of bringing joy to all facets of life. They teach us how to see the best in everything.

Type Eight brings wisdom through confidence. Healthy Eights are protective and empower others around them. They become examples of living fully without apology. They teach us how to find our internal strength.

Type Nine brings wisdom through acceptance. Healthy Nines are receptive and fully self-possessed. They become examples of living harmoniously. They teach us how to live in a way that is connected to the world around us.

What kind of wisdom do you bring? What’s one action you can take this week to use this wisdom to improve the world around you?

Comments

4 responses to “Finding Wisdom in Your Enneagram Type”

  1. Mike Reynolds Avatar
    Mike Reynolds

    Honestly, every leader should aspire to being every single one of the 9 types. Only not all at the same time of course. But several can and do coexist. The mindfulness that is becoming more prevalent in business these days (still a long long way to go) seems to me to be based on Buddhist teachings to me. The three main tenets are: Right Actions, not too difficult as all it takes is to try your best to always do the right thing. Right Talking, again not so difficult. We just have to be mindful of what we say to whom so that whatever we say has a positive effect otherwise just not saying anything is better. Right Thinking, now this one will get you. Try catching yourself thinking any negative thoughts about anything or anyone. If you do, then you aren’t practicing right thinking. Still working on that one.

    1. Berghoef & Bell Innovations Avatar
      Berghoef & Bell Innovations

      We think a good starting point is to work from the strengths of your own Enneagram type. By accessing the highest qualities of our own “home base” type, we become more open and receptive to inhabiting the gifts from all the types. Mindfulness teachings are highly complementary with this work.

  2. Anne-Laure (Anlor) Davin Avatar
    Anne-Laure (Anlor) Davin

    Thank you Kacie and Melanie for being allies in bringing about more wisdom, such effort is so necessary.

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