I have become more aware of the interplay of three core energies within human life and motivation: head (thinking), heart (feeling) and gut (instinctive). According to enneagram tradition, these motivations are like internal wiring for us, they operate under the surface, and (in my basic understanding / personal experience) they are also connected to the fears that create many of our reactions, as well as self-talk.
With this brief intro, let me just say that I am finding this understanding to be highly informative, encouraging and equipping in my day to day life and leadership.
One of the pieces of my core motivation is that “I create / bring something good and beautiful into the world”. As I thought about all that I am involved in, I came up with an answer to what might be filling this need for me within my current work – but before revealing it, I asked Karen what she thought the answer might be. She was quick to respond with a much more expansive list.
In a nut shell, one thing that I am involved in that seems to be beautiful to me, is the nurturing of community. I have been entrusted with a great honour to lead the development of community within several connection points (work and otherwise) within my circle of influence.
One thing I am noticing within the context of community is that, as our basic desires and fears bump into each other, our motivations can unconsciously become the undoing of community. Until recently, I understood my motivation to withdraw from community to be the product of introversion: I recharge my batteries alone. While this may often be true, it is not always. Sometimes I have withdrawn from community because I subconsciously fear that I may be hurt again. Ironically, though I seek to nurture community, and to be a valuable part of one, my subconscious fears can keep me from fully engaging within community – even isolating to protect myself – which is a major part of the impact of relationship pain: isolation.
I see similar evidence in the lives of others. Our history (literally the stories of our past) interweave with our wiring to create strengths, but also weakness/fears that hide out in the shadows of these same strengths – literally connected, wherein you can’t really have one without the other. Wholeness, it seems, is a matter of embracing both/all. This is the beauty I hope to bring: deepening/nurturing of community within workplaces – wherein I will need to walk the talk to survive and thrive as well.
Lots more to say…but let me hold here for now and offer a few resources for your consideration.
Here’s what blogger Holly Packiam (source of the icon above) has to say about the benefits of the Enneagram:
“The Enneagram has helped me discover these things at a deep level. I appreciate how the Myers-Briggs helps me name my preferences; I celebrate how StrengthsFinders helps identify my strengths (who doesn’t love that?!). But my self awareness and understanding of others grows even deeper the more I understand the Enneagram.”
If you are interested in taking a basic free Enneagram assessment, you can do so here: eclecticenergies
Here are a couple of good resources on the enneagram:
https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/
http://www.9types.com/writeup/enneagram.htm/
Here’s a list of basic Enneagram described motivations – see if one relates for you:
Type 1:
- Basic Fear: Of being corrupt/evil, defective
- Basic Desire: To be good, to have integrity, to be balanced
Type 2:
- Basic Fear: Of being unwanted, unworthy of being loved
- Basic Desire: To feel loved
Type 3:
- Basic Fear: Of being worthless
- Basic Desire: To feel valuable and worthwhile
Type 4:
- Basic Fear: That they have no identity or personal significance
- Basic Desire: To find themselves and their significance (to create an
identity)
Type 5:
- Basic Fear: Being useless, helpless, or incapable
- Basic Desire: To be capable and competent
Type 6:
- Basic Fear: Of being without support and guidance
- Basic Desire: To have security and support
Type 7:
- Basic Fear: Of being deprived and in pain
- Basic Desire: To be satisfied and content—to have their needs fulfilled
Type 8:
- Basic Fear: Of being harmed or controlled by others
- Basic Desire: To protect themselves (to be in control of their own life
and destiny)
Type 9:
- Basic Fear: Of loss and separation
- Basic Desire: To have inner stability “peace of mind”
