In current months, I’ve discovered myself craving one thing deeper—a way of inside peace that feels regular, like a quiet confidence in who I’m and the way I transfer by means of the world. I wished to belief that how I present up is sufficient, not only for others, however for myself. It was throughout this private reckoning that I met Elle Pugh, a Licensed Enneagram Facilitator and Coach, at our annual Camille Types editors’ summit. Working together with her introduced a shocking readability, connecting me to a path of progress I hadn’t anticipated. Elle’s strategy to private improvement—rooted within the Enneagram—felt like an invite to unravel previous patterns and uncover a extra expansive approach of being.
The expertise was transformative, illuminating locations in my life the place I used to be holding on too tightly and providing permission to launch what now not served me. The Enneagram grew to become greater than a persona framework; it grew to become a mirror, reflecting each my strengths and blind spots. I knew I wished to go deeper—not just for myself however to share this knowledge with others. There’s a profound energy in understanding how we function at our core, and I noticed the potential for this software to encourage more healthy, extra significant relationships, each personally and professionally.
Featured picture from our interview with Riley Blanks Reid by Jenn Rose Smith.
What’s the Enneagram? An Knowledgeable Dives Deep
To discover the total depth of the Enneagram’s potential, I sat down with Elle to uncover how this framework may also help folks join extra authentically. We mentioned the methods our Enneagram sort—primarily the construction of our ego—shapes how we view the world and work together with others. With Elle’s steering, we delved into how this consciousness can unlock a brand new degree of empathy, not solely serving to us nurture more healthy dynamics with the folks round us but in addition providing a roadmap for private progress. I hope this dialog sparks the identical curiosity for you because it did for me.
Elle Pugh
Elle Pugh is a Licensed Enneagram Facilitator and Coach, Registered Nurse, and entrepreneur devoted to holistic wellness and private progress. Elle is dedicated to serving to people and organizations perceive themselves to allow them to discover therapeutic and renewed reference to each other.
How can understanding your Enneagram sort assist enhance relationships, each personally and professionally?
Your Enneagram sort is equal to your ego. All of us develop an ego in early childhood to assist us survive. The Enneagram describes 9 various kinds of ego we see in people. Every one is related to sure default beliefs about the best way the world works and behaviors the sort of ego developed as a approach of making safety, gaining esteem and feeling in management. However with every ego, there are unconscious patterns that maintain us from thriving known as blind spots.
Understanding your Enneagram sort is like holding a mirror as much as your self—you’re lastly capable of perceive why you do what you do, really feel what you’re feeling, and assume what you assume.
When you have got that degree of self-awareness, it’s simpler to know the way you present up in relationships, each personally and professionally. You possibly can determine patterns of communication and conduct that both strengthen or pressure your connections. It additionally helps you empathize with others by recognizing that they see the world by means of a unique lens by studying concerning the different Enneagram varieties.
How do completely different Enneagram varieties work together?
Skilled relationships: An Enneagram Sort 1 values construction and excessive morality. In an expert setting, they may excel at creating order and guaranteeing excessive requirements, however they will additionally come throughout as vital or overly perfectionistic. If an Enneagram Sort 1 is working with an Enneagram Sort 7, who loves spontaneity and selection, rigidity may come up when the Sort 7 feels stifled by the Sort 1’s give attention to guidelines and rigidity. But when each varieties perceive one another, the Sort 1 can admire the power and artistic concepts of the Sort 7, whereas the Sort 7 can see the worth within the Sort 1’s self-discipline and reliability. As an alternative of clashing, they will complement one another.
Private relationships: An Enneagram Sort 2 realized they need to help and nurture their family members to get their wants met, however oftentimes they do that to the purpose of neglecting their very own wants. In the event that they’re in a relationship with an Enneagram Sort 5, who values independence and desires a number of privateness, there generally is a disconnect if the Sort 2 feels rejected and the Sort 5 feels overwhelmed by an excessive amount of consideration. By understanding their varieties, the Sort 2 can study to provide the Sort 5 area with out feeling unappreciated, and the Sort 5 can acknowledge the Sort 2’s want for connection and provide reassurance in their very own approach.
Finally, understanding your Enneagram sort offers you a roadmap for progress. How you can navigate your strengths and challenges, and easy methods to meet others the place they’re, whether or not it’s collaborating on a challenge at work or constructing deeper intimacy in your private life. When each events are self-aware, it opens up an area for extra sincere, compassionate, and efficient communication.
What are some sensible steps somebody can take after discovering their sort to start this journey of progress?
Understanding your Enneagram sort goes past taking a take a look at—it’s about deeply exploring who you’re and the way you’ve all the time operated. Listed here are six steps I all the time recommend folks take. By following these steps, you’ll uncover the patterns that form your conduct and discover ways to use that consciousness to develop in each your private {and professional} life.
1. Study All 9 Sorts
In case you took an internet take a look at to find your Enneagram sort, that’s a fantastic begin! However don’t cease there. Use it as an entry level. Learn up on all 9 varieties, particularly the highest three out of your take a look at, and ask *why* you act the best way you do.
Self-observation is vital.
2. You’re Solely One Sort
You may really feel related to a number of varieties, however you’ve all the time had one dominant sort. To seek out it, take into consideration who you’ve been since your late teenagers—particularly when drained or confused. These automated behaviors reveal your true sort, even in the event you’ve realized to handle them over time.
3. Discover the 27 Subtypes
Sure, there’s extra! Every sort has three subtypes (self-preservation, social, or one-on-one), and understanding yours is vital. Subtypes assist make clear your dominant sort. Dig deeper—it’s value it. Take a look at my weblog for extra on this.
4. See Your Sort because the Masks You Put on
Your Enneagram sort is equal to your ego. It’s a masks you realized to put on to maintain you protected and comfy. Because of this, our Sort reveals to us who we’re not. Our work is to take off the masks so we are able to get better our complete, genuine self beneath.
5. Observe Self-Commentary
The Enneagram invitations curiosity. Begin observing your conduct. Once you carry consciousness to your unconscious patterns, you get up and cease sleepwalking by means of life. That is the place change begins.
6. Ask If Your Persona Is Holding You Again
When you begin observing, ask: Why did I develop this conduct? How is it holding me again or hurting others? What may I achieve by letting it go? These questions allow you to transfer from consciousness to transformation.
For extra particulars on these steps, you may obtain my free “I Know My Type, Now What?” information.
What recommendation would you give to somebody who’s struggling to pinpoint their core sort? How ought to they strategy this uncertainty?
That is utterly to be anticipated as a result of the entire map—all 9 factors—represents who we’re in our wholeness. After we have been younger, we had free-flowing entry to all 9 factors. Over time, in early childhood, as we developed our ego, we misplaced contact with the entire different eight factors. Nonetheless, you might relate to tendencies of a number of varieties. It’s necessary to know that’s to be anticipated.
Many varieties look the identical on the floor. For instance, some varieties are extra susceptible to people-pleasing whereas different varieties are truth-tellers, some are extra optimistic and others much less so. However every sort’s motivations for why they present up the best way they do could be very completely different.
As I discussed above, to make use of the Enneagram framework for deep transformation, it is very important decide your one dominant sort. You possibly can try my assets web page that will help you decide your core sort or schedule an skilled typing interview with me to find your sort.
The Enneagram is typically criticized for being overly complicated. What would you say to somebody hesitant to discover the Enneagram for these causes?
That’s what makes it so stunning. It’s not a celebration trick or a fast repair to your issues. The Enneagram is a sacred framework that you could examine for the remainder of your life.
In Western tradition, our consideration spans have almost disappeared—stopping us from having the ability to pause and replicate. This can be a results of our habit to fixed stimulation. The Enneagram is a software that will help you decelerate, make area for reflection, and get clear on who you’re so you may dwell a deeply related and significant life.
It does have many layers and understanding easy methods to strategy the Enneagram generally is a bit overwhelming. That’s why I developed my 9-Week From Ego to Essence Teaching Program to information you thru the foundational ideas of the Enneagram.
