The Enneagram
What Makes You (and Other People) Tick? Well, now you can get some extremely precise answers to that. Both you and other people actually behave in a pretty predictable manner. There is a reason for that, and that reason is called the ego. Your ego is a small part of you, a fear-based mental survival mechanism, designed to help you solve problems and get your needs fulfilled. Now, if you are like most people, you put a lot of store in your ego, and you let it decide many things in your life. In other words: You are identified with your ego. You think and believe that this small part of you IS you and that you are your ego. This, of course, is far from true (more about that later). Egos come in a variety of flavours or types: Nine to be exact. Every single one of them completely predictable. What Is the Enneagram? I use the word to cover both meanings, i.e. when I say 'the Enneagram' I mean both the graphical figure and the system for categorizing egos and liberating consciousness. Everyone has got an ego. You, too. Like I said, this likely makes your behaviour pretty predictable. And since the ego is fear-based, that behaviour isn't going to give you too many pleasant experiences. The point of discovering your own ego-type is to liberate yourself from this fixed and fear-based pattern of behaviour. In other words: is teaching you how to get out of the box! Used in this way the Enneagram is a most powerful tool, not only for personal development and self help, but also for spiritual awakening, spiritual enlightenment [LINK]. Discovering the Enneagram This system has something to offer almost everyone - from the novice to the very experienced user. If you're interested in learning more, I have dedicated a page to telling you more about which books to read [LINK], depending on your level of knowledge. Free Enneagram Test Getting Out of Your Box Also, you may use your new knowledge in your relationships (both at home and at work). In essence the Enneagram is a system that describes ego psychology. Understanding other people better is a great starting point for creating better relationships. And you WILL learn how to understand other people better! Both your love partner, your children, your colleagues and your boss. When you consciously realize the (mechanical) ways your ego reacts, you get a choice that you didn't have before: Do you want to keep doing what you've always done and get the same results, or do you want to change your behaviour and get some different results? The first time you realize that your ego would normally have had you do one thing, but you now consciously do another and better thing, well, that just feels SO great! In the end, of course, you may choose to let go of almost all your ego inspired patterns and habits. The long term net effect of this is: great freedom, well being and happiness. In fact, using your knowledge about the Enneagram and your ego can be a path to spiritual enlightenment [LINK]! Understand Your Ego via the Enneagram STEP 1: You can start by taking the Enneagram Test [LINK]. As you do so, please remember that the Enneagram Test is thorough, but by no means final. The same goes for the words and opinions of experts like myself. You, and only you, are the judge of what basic type your ego is! STEP 2: Having done the test, you might continue by reading about your particular type of ego. An e-book or special report [LINK] about the Enneagram (for sale) will be forthcoming, but there will also be some very basic information on this website (see below). If you are up to reading a big book on the subject I'd recommend 'The Wisdom of the Enneagram' by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson. So far, that's the best all round book on the market, although there is actually lots of literature about it - check out my page with book references [LINK] if you want - it's sorted so that you will know how 'basic' or 'advanced' the books are. STEP 3: After reading, your best bet is the relationship keys. Because, you see, even though your ego isn't another person, but rather a part of you, you can still cultivate a good relationship to it. The relationship keys are 12 keys that you can use to do this. Probably the most important ones are openness, awareness, understanding and acceptance. If you use those when dealing with your ego, then you'll be well on your way. STEP 4: And after that you might want some one-on-one coaching or guidance, which I can provide, either by telephone or by e-mail. (Of course you don't need to take the 3 preceding steps to get this!) The Nine Types of Ego ---> Type 1, the perfectionist reformer [LINK], also known as: ---> Type 2, the friendly helper [LINK], also known as: ---> Type 3, the hardworking achiever [LINK], also known as: ---> Type 4, the romantic individualist [LINK], also known as: ---> Type 5, the objective investigator [LINK], also known as: ---> Type 6, the critical loyalist [LINK], also known as: ---> Type 7, the enthusiastic adventurer [LINK], also known as: ---> Type 8, the assertive leader [LINK], also known as: ---> Type 9, the mediating peacemaker [LINK], also known as: Using the Enneagram in Your Relationships Click here to visit the page I have dedicated especially to using the Enneagram in relationships. The Enneagram and Spirituality There is one thing that I have to make very clear, though: There is nothing wrong with having an ego. There is nothing wrong with your particular ego and YOU DO NOT WANT TO FIGHT YOUR EGO! Fighting an integral part of yourself, a part that you have spent years perfecting - a part that also happens to be the most sophisticated defence mechanism in your life ... makes no sense what so ever. No, you'll want to get to know and accept your ego just the way it is, and create an excellent cooperative relationship with it. Your ego is skilled - utilize those skills. Just remember that your ego is a part of you - not the whole you. It is no more the whole you than your hand is the whole you. Your hand is part of you and a tool, and so is your ego. The first step in using the Enneagram to further your spiritual development is getting to know and understand your ego. The second step is remembering the above fact: that you will want to cooperate with, and not fight your ego. The third step is letting your ego tell you of all your needs, all your problems and all the things that it fears. This information is invaluable, for those are the very things that you will want to let go of. Letting go of those things are a direct path to spiritual enlightenment [LINK]. Get Enneagram Coaching I LOVE Your Support The Personal Development Guy's Self Improvement Ezine (FREE) See you in the self improvement newsletter / ezine. 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