How Understanding the Enneagram Could Transform Your Life

Immersing yourself in the world of personality typology is a really powerful way

of understanding your identity. While models such as MBTI and The Big 5 Personality Types are effective ways of understanding your psychological traits, I personally recommend exploring the Enneagram.

The Enneagram Typology was conceptualized by the mystic Gurdjieff and developed further by Oscar Ichazo and psychiatrist Claudio Naranjo. Essentially, the Enneagram helps to reveal an honest depiction of our nature by dividing it into nine different archetypes. These archetypes are said to be formed as defense mechanisms early in our childhoods.

The interesting thing about the Enneagram is that it helps us to identify: 1) what we desire more than anything else, 2) what we value the most, 3) what tempts us the most, 4) what causes us the most fear, 5) what our biggest fault is, 6) what our greatest virtue is. By identifying these essential elements of our personalities, we can aid our own soulful development by discovering what creates imbalance within us.

There are several reasons why understanding your Enneagram type is so helpful:

• It helps you to become more objectively aware of your personality "blind spots."
• It assists you in developing more self-love by helping you to understand yourself more.
• It encourages you to consciously work on parts of your personality that inhibit your ability to live a harmonious life.
• It allows you to develop more awareness of your "higher self" (Soul) by deconstructing your personality.

Keep in mind that the Enneagram is more of a system of transformation than a means of labeling and identification. But the beautiful thing about the Enneagram is that it encourages the development and liberation of the Soul underneath.

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