How the Enneagram Hit Me Hard (in a Good Way) and the Noises That Followed

There’s a Flaming Lips song called "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song" and though you wouldn’t guess it from the title, the lyrics are quite thought-provoking. I recommend listening to it late-night with a group of friends, dancing in a kitchen on a Thanksgiving-Eve in your 20’s (just pure hypothetical). 

The chorus presents us with a key question:  

“With all your power…what would you do?” 

Years later, that question echoed again when I finally understood my Enneagram type and that much of my personality was on autopilot before. I’m now devoting my time and energy to sharing the Enneagram with others. With all my power (experience, skills, resources, privilege, unique ability), that’s what I want to do. But this journey wasn't easy.

Learning about the Enneagram, finally truly identifying my type after decades of circling around it, and discovering how I can apply the teachings in my life, has been transformational. But the word transformational even if I put it in both italics and bold does not express the “aha” moments where I made noises like “uuuuuggggghhhh” as I read a reality about the Type 9 (Peacemaker) worldview and typical defense mechanisms.

I had always known that I avoided conflict and deferred to others about what we should eat for dinner, but I never realized it was because deep down I was afraid of being disconnected from other people. I definitely didn’t realize that deep down I thought expressing myself (even my dinner preference) would rock the boat and therefore detract from my relationships with others. I mean, yuck, right? I would like to think that I give other people more credit than that, but nope. It's not flattering...but it's honest.

It felt like someone dumped my emotional purse contents out on the table for everyone to see. I saw the Type 9 patterns clearly for the first time. I saw how my default state, my status quo, my learned patterns, kept me safe, but also stuck. Stuck in a life that was good, but could be so much more if I could tap further into my true nature and power. 

I’ve heard it said that unless you find some “yuck” some “eww” some “uuuugggghhh” when you dive deeper into the motivations behind your type, that it might not be your correct type. I agree. But once you open up that sensitive spot to a little sunlight, you can begin to grow. More specifically, as you notice your behavior patterns, you can choose to select other behaviors that may serve you better. 

The antidote to these harsh personal lessons is choice. We have a choice in how we act, react, and respond to what life presents to us each day. The beauty in the Enneagram is that we have access to all of the types within each of us. Each type carries gifts that we can draw from - courage, strength, creativity, compassion, and so much more.  

That brings me back to The Flaming Lips (what an intro clause!), how can the Enneagram help us answer the question: “with all your power…what would you do?”

I believe the Enneagram can help us unlock the best in ourselves.

It's hard work.

It’s work that can make some of us make weird noises. 

And yet, I think it’s the most important work that we will ever do: to invest in ourselves, to be able to live up to our full potential, and to unleash our power to make the world a better place. 

With all your power…what would you do? 

Ready to fly

If you are ready to invest in learning about yourself and how the Enneagram hits hard ("yuck" moments and all), I'd love to join you on the path.

Let’s work together!