Are you longing to live a more authentic life?
The
purpose of the Enneagram of Personality Types is to help us wake up to the truth of who we really are. Its wisdom invites us to relax our constant efforts and discover the joy of being alive, here and now, in this moment. The Enneagram is also a brilliant tool for helping us wake up to the truth of who other people really are-- to see the beauty and innocence in everyone, even the people who may have done us harm.
Sometimes we don't want to let them off the hook. I sure didn't. But understanding the Enneagram types made it impossible for me not to have compassion! Which feels a lot better than trying to be compassionate. The beautiful truth is this: Letting other people off the hook sets us free-- to be happy and to be of use in the world. It's how we wake up to our own goodness-- and more.
Here's a bit about how it works:
When we are struggling, when we feel stuck, when people are upsetting us, our natural reaction is to take it all personally. In those moments we are identified with how we are feeling, what we are thinking, and what we are doing. This is me; this is who I am.
And if this is ME, it follows that whatever is bothering me about you must be YOU. It can be a cold and lonely world from this perspective.
Luckily, this is just the fever dream of ego. It's not the truth. And now we have
the Enneagram to help us "wake up" to the glorious reality of our true nature.
Our difficult behavior, our problematic attitudes, our depression and anxiety and false cheerfulness: none of this is who we really are. How do I know? Because that stuff-- the painful stuff, the suffering and the causes of suffering, can be categorized. It's predictable.
The part of you that cannot be categorized-- THAT'S who you really are.
The personality types at left describe the nine basic ways that people cope with life and other people. (Click here for profiles of each type.)
Each type correlates with particular spiritual gifts like goodness, love, value, beauty, clarity, trust, joy, strength, and peace. When we are AWAKE to the present moment, these qualities permeate our being and shine out into the world.
The trouble comes when we feel disconnected from the truth of our spiritual ground, when we can't feel the healing, fulfilling presence of Essence or Spirit in our hearts. We will do anything to get it back, but we don't even know it's missing, or where to look. The Enneagram shows us what we're really missing, and gives us clear guidance on the path to true spiritual fulfillment, which ends the suffering of ego. This is what has been called enlightenment.
Just to be clear: I am not promising Buddha-like enlightenment here! I wouldn't trust anyone who does. What I can promise, to anyone willing and able to be honest with themselves, are enlightened moments. Over time these accumulated moments are what transform our inner life and outer world.
To learn more, click on the underlined links below:
- Explore other pages on my website (don't miss "The Golden Key" on the About Jenny page)
- Visit the Enneagram Institute website for online testing and in-depth information about the Enneagram
- Visit and follow ("Like") Enneawake on Facebook
- Contact me to set up a free 30-minute phone consultation
- Sign up for one of my classes in Holliston
- Book me as a speaker for your group
- Sign up for my email newsletter and stay informed of upcoming events
- Order The Wisdom of the Enneagram, by Don Riso and Russ Hudson. This book is the main text for the Riso-Hudson (and my) approach to working with the Enneagram.
