.png)
Finding Your Type
"The value of the Enneagram does not come mainly from identifying your type based on external behaviors, but from understanding how behavioral patterns relate to each type’s focus of attention, motivation, and personal experience.” ~The Narrative Enneagram
The Enneagram is much more than a way to stereotype yourself or others. It brings insight into the predictable and often frustrating patterns that we find ourselves coming up against.
​
When determining your Type, remember that...
​
1. You’re made up of the inner wiring of your Type, but you're still heavily shaped and influenced by things like life experiences, cultural expectations, the familiar patterns in your family background, and how you were parented. These factors will color how your Type is expressed. Don't let this confuse you.
​
​2. The behaviors can look very similar between the look-alike Types. What will separate them is the motivation behind your behavior; the “why” behind your actions. Stay focused on the Core Motivation
​
3. Even people who have the same Type can have behaviors that look different from each other. There is a spectrum of characteristics and ways that a Type can outwardly appear. You might have act differently than someone else who is your same Type and that's ok. ​
4. Most patterns and behaviors describe an “average version” of each Type. The Core Motivation and Basic Wiring won’t change, but the Type behaviors will look different depending on how much self-observation and growth work a person has already done.
“That behavior you are beating yourself up about is tied to some very real pain. The part of you carrying that pain is doing the best that it can. Be kind. If you can’t be kind, be curious.”
The Enneagram is about the journey, not the destination...
To find your Enneagram Type you need to understand the Core Motivation that's driving your thoughts and behaviors. This will give you the information you need to understand your internal programming.
Many of the Types can appear very similar based on external behaviors, but each one has different ways of dealing with stress, conflict, and emotions. Discovering your Core Motivation makes all the difference in finding and feeling at home in your Core Type.
To get the most accurate result, a Typing Interview by someone experienced in the 9 Types and 27 Subtypes is helpful. An Enneagram Coach can get into the "why" beneath your typical behaviors or patterns, and dig into your underlying core desires, fears, and motivations.
​
They can also help you distinguish between some of the look-alike Types.
If you're ready to work together, book a Typing Interview. You'll begin with an online test and a one-on-one interview. The interview is a prescribed series of questions to guide you in finding your Type and Subtype.
​
​
The assessment is never meant to judge you or put you in a box. In fact, the opposite is true. Understanding your Type can help you get out of the box you're already in.
There is no bad or good Type. No Type is better than another and each Type comes with its own unique set of strengths and challenges.
Once we find your Type the fun begins! We get to journey together to leverage the strengths behind your Type Structure and uncover the blindspots that might be holding you back!
You will get growth paths that are designed specifically for you to help you live as your truest self and make lasting changes to patterns that no longer serve you.
​
If you aren’t ready to do the follow-up work with an Enneagram practitioner there are several good books and podcasts to help you confirm your Type by learning about the Type structures.
​