Who knew that one single-digit number could hold the key to understanding why you do the things you do? I definitely didn’t until I gave the Enneagram a real shot. If you’ve been wanting to learn about what this Enneagram personality test that everyone is talking about is, today is your lucky day!
What I learned from the Enneagram test.
What is the Enneagram test?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the Enneagram as:
“a system of classifying personality types that is based on a nine-pointed starlike figure inscribed within a circle in which each of the nine points represents a personality type and its psychological motivations (such as the need to be right or helpful) influencing a person’s emotions, attitudes, and behavior.”
The Enneagram has been around for a while now, but has gained in popularity in recent years. With so many personality tests out there, you may be wondering, “What is so different about this one?,” especially when there are tests like the Big Five Personality Test available. The biggest difference that I have noticed is that the Enneagram isn’t as rigid as other tests. This means that you aren’t just one thing all the time.
In the Enneagram you have a main type, yes, but there are also different numbers that make up your wings. Not only that, but the Enneagram shows you how you are likely to act while stressed or when you feel secure. Why do we need to know all of this? The best way to answer that is from the book The Road Back To You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile. They state, “The purpose of the Enneagram is to develop self-knowledge, and learn how to recognize and dis-identify with the parts of our personalities that limit us so we can be reunited with our truest and best selves…”
Reading The Road Back To You
There are many books about the Enneagram out there today. Before getting serious about this personality test, this was the book recommended the most, so that is where I started.
I really enjoyed the book’s layout. It starts with an Introduction to what the Enneagram is and why it’s important, then leads to a chapter on each of the nine types. If you haven’t heard of the Enneagram, these are the nine types:
- Type 1: The Perfectionist
- Type 2: The Helper
- Type 3: The Performer
- Type 4: The Romantic
- Type 5: The Investigator
- Type 6: The Loyalist
- Type 7: The Enthusiast
- Type 8: The Challenger
- Type 9: The Peacemaker
To learn more about each type, check out The Road Back To You.
Discovering My Enneagram Number
To get an idea of your type before reading the book you can take the test for free at this site. If you want even more details with your results, you can pay to take the test with the Enneagram Institute. The tests are where my Enneagram story starts. While I didn’t take the paid version, I did take a few of the free ones from time to time. I felt frustrated because every time I took it over the course of a couple years I would get different results each time.
It was time to finally read about the Enneagram to see if I could find my number myself, which is what is recommended. After reading The Road Back To You I have confirmed that I am a nine, The Peacemaker.
Nine’s are known as the peacemaker because they don’t want to upset anyone. What I found interesting is that they will even go as far as taking on the personality of a different number when hanging out with different types of people. This could be why I kept getting different numbers on the free personality test. It also made me realize how much I do that around different family members, friend groups, co-workers, etc. I didn’t pay attention to that until now.
While reading through my chapter I couldn’t help but saying, “so this is why I do that” or “I’m not the only one that goes through this, has those thoughts, acts this way, etc.I felt seen and understood. I hope that, as you discover your number, you will feel that way as well.
Moving Forward With This New Knowledge
What I loved most about reading The Road Back To You, and the Enneagram in general, is that it doesn’t just stop at this is who you are and why you do what you do. It focuses on that, but also shows us how we can become better, to be our ultimate self.
The book does this by listing traits of each number that are unhealthy, average, and healthy. As I was reading the chapter about type nine I realized that I identify as more of an average to unhealthy nine. I overlook myself a lot, have a huge problem with being indecisive, and I can definitely be passive-aggressive when I don’t like what is going on. Using this book, and some other resources, (more on that below) my goal is to move towards becoming a healthy nine.
More Resources
I’ve talked a lot about the book The Road Back To You, but there are several other Enneagram resources that would be helpful to look into. There are many more so do your own research to find resources that would best help you on your Enneagram journey.
Books (I haven’t read these but they are suggested by Goodreads, and they are now on my to-be-read list): Self to Lose, Self to Find: Using the Enneagram to Uncover Your True, God-Gifted Self, and The Sacred Enneagram: Finding Your Unique Path to Spiritual Growth
Podcasts: Do It For The Gram: An Enneagram Podcast, The Modern Enneagram, and Typology
Social Media Accounts:
- TikTok (@enneagramandchill, @enneagramandy)
- Instagram (@enneagramandcoffee, @enneagramexplained, and @enneagramashton)
If you haven’t looked into the Enneagram, I encourage you to take the test and read the book for yourself. As you can tell from my journey, once you find your type everything about who you are will click. You’ll be able to determine your strengths and the aspects of yourself that need improvement. Another bonus is that you’ll be able to further understand why the people in your life do what they do, and therefore will improve your relationships.
Have you taken the Enneagram test or read The Road Back To You? Let us know your thoughts below along with your type if you’d like to share.
About the Author
Kelly graduated from Liberty University with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations and a minor in Journalism. Even though it took her a little while to find her career path, she was always meant to be in Communications. She remembers writing poems and songs when she was a little girl and pitching to my parents the reasons why I should have a cell phone when I was a teenager. She currently has a blog (budding-joy.com) where she talks about her weight-loss journey, mental health and personal development. Her hope is to encourage and inspire readers and let them know they are not alone. Reading blog posts like that are what helped her in tough times and she wants to pay it forward. She loves dance fitness, listening to music, and creating layouts in her bullet journal. She's a big fan of planning, especially when cute notebooks and pens are involved. Her dream job has changed so much over the years; right now she'd love to co-own a dance studio.
Website: budding-joy.com