Quality individual and couples counseling services in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Today I wanted to fill you in to one of the coolest personality tests I have been telling all of my clients, family and friends about. It is called the Enneagram.
Essentially it is an ancient personality typology that categorizes 9 different personality types. This is not JUST a personality test, but offers semi-intense results filling you in on all your greatest strengths, but then punching you in the gut with the areas within your personality to work on so you can be the healthiest version of yourself. I truly believe growth comes when we are willing to be a little vulnerable, and learn as much as we possibly can about ourselves and how we can improve.
The Enneagram has become a common tool especially in Christian circles to work on spiritual and personal development. I heard about it from a mentor while attending Seminary and within the last 6 months picked it up again because it is SOO filled with amazing information. Learning about what Enneagram type you are provides more than personal benefits. It can be a tremendous eye opener into those closest to you in terms of friends, family and coworkers.
There are several places on the internet where you can take the Enneagram assessment. I would recommend this one from The Enneagram Institute. It is 144 questions, costs $12 and will give you a comprehensive, 30+ page results packet explaining everything you need to know and more about your type.
Here is an EXTREMELY BRIEF overview of the 9 Enneagram personality types (taken from: https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-descriptions/):
1. The Reformer
The Rational, Idealistic Type: Principled, Purposeful, Self-Controlled, and Perfectionistic
2. The Helper
The Caring, Interpersonal Type: Demonstrative, Generous, People-Pleasing, and Possessive
3. The Achiever
The Success-Oriented, Pragmatic Type: Adaptive, Excelling, Driven, and Image-Conscious
4. The Romantic or The Individualist
The Sensitive, Withdrawn Type: Expressive, Dramatic, Self-Absorbed, and Temperamental
5. The Investigator
The Intense, Cerebral Type: Perceptive, Innovative, Secretive, and Isolated
6. The Loyalist
The Committed, Security-Oriented Type: Engaging, Responsible, Anxious, and Suspicious
7. The Enthusiast
The Busy, Fun-Loving Type: Spontaneous, Versatile, Distractible, and Scattered
8. The Challenger
The Powerful, Dominating Type: Self-Confident, Decisive, Willful, and Confrontational
9. The Peacemaker
The Easygoing, Self-Effacing Type: Receptive, Reassuring, Agreeable, and Complacent
When you look at that list, you might think I could be all 9 of these to a certain degree. Which is true, but there is likely one that really pinpoints who you are and the traits of your personality
For example I am a “Helper,” which is a big surprise being a counselor and mental health professional where my JOB is to help people. As a helper I am very good at helping other people, but I can sometimes struggle taking the initiative to take care of and help myself. When I am not in a healthy place I move into a “Challenger” space where I get pretty dominating and take on unhealthy confrontation. The Enneagram has shown me what I can personally work on to be the best person possible as well as given me an enormous amount of insight into my spouse and our relationship as well as my closest family and friends.
If you are coming from the Christian perspective I highly recommend the book The Road Back To You by Ian Chrone & Suzanne Stabile. It is a great read about all the types and extremely eye opening.
Do yourself a favor and go take the Enneagram assessment or at the least go on the website and look through all the different types and try to identify what type you are and some potential growing edges. You won’t regret it!
In Growth,
Chelsea