My Enneagram Foray

Admittedly, I am more than a little late to the Enneagram game, and if a podcast that I follow had never offered an episode about it then I would still be in the dark. I listen to the podcast Work and Play with Nancy Ray weekly, so when she shared that she would be getting personal in her Enneagram episode I was intrigued. I had no idea what “Life as an Enneagram Three” meant or why there are numbers or why other podcasters/bloggers seem to drop their number at any and all opportunities, like a badge of honor. Being the curious (nosy) follower I am, however, I hit play to see what this whole thing is about. I was listening noncommittally until Nancy said, “If there’s someone in your life who is really particular about the way a dishwasher is loaded, it’s probably because they’re a One.” I heard those words and everything stopped for me. “Holy crap,” I thought, “Being particular about loading the dishwasher is a THING?! It’s not just me being super anal and WEIRD??!!”

That was all I needed to be well on my way down the rabbit hole of Enneagram testing and learning. And, let me tell you, I went happily! The more I read, the more my tendencies were defined for me, and in a clear way that made sense.

For the first time in my life, I understood that I am innately wired to care about the loading of the dishwasher, because I believe that there is a “right” way to do all things. This inclination to be “right” and to do things the “right” way powers every move I make in life. Additionally, One’s have a very loud inner critic fueling the drive for perfection in all things. My inner critic is also an asshole, so I find that I judge myself for wanting to be right about stupid things, like loading the dishwasher . . . It’s complicated.

The best part of learning about my type is learning that there are other people out there who think just like me. It was so freeing to learn that there are other people who see so much imperfection with the world around them, aim to perfect it, while simultaneously keeping this struggle hidden so that no one else knows how much shit we really think is wrong. In all seriousness (though it will sound sarcastic), that’s talent! It takes talent to be a One.

Whether it be just one or one million others out there like me, it’s nice to know that I am not alone. It’s been nice to hear that this is normal for me and there are things that I can do it break the self-imposed bondage of pursing perfection in all things. It’s also been fun to see that I can use my powers for good, and that by working through my negative tendencies I can end my self-sabotage.  I’m at a point in my life where learning this information is extremely helpful. I feel that I can get a lot out of learning more about myself, where my self-sabotage stems from, and how to prevent it. My relationship with imperfection is not a problem that needs to be fixed, but rather worked through. I have the tools now to tend to the parts of me that hinder me, which is an incredible gift that has already helped me immensely.

Have a struck your Enneagram curiosity? I hope so! Here’s how I started on this journey:

• I listened to this podcast.
• I went to the Enneagram Institute website. There is a plethora of helpful information on this site.
• I then took the Enneagram Institute’s RHETI test, a $12.00 one-time fee, to confirm my Oneness.
• I have also enjoyed listening to The Art of Growth podcast to learn more about each type in action.

Please let me know your thoughts! If you know your type, please share your journey!