Have you ever been in a situation with a friend or foe and you are both seeing the same exact thing from completely opposite viewpoints? Is either person right or wrong? The Enneagram says there are nine personality types or nine different perceptions. Perception is just a filter that we see our life through.

Three groups of three: 8, 9 and 1 are the anger filters; 2, 3 and 4 are the emotion filters; and 5, 6 and 7 are the fear filters. When you understand how you perceive the world around you through your filter, you are then able to make conscious choices based on correct perception. You’re also more apt to have compassion to others because you recognize they are seeing life’s events through their own filter.

See if you recognize your personality filter.

Personality type 1 — The Reformer relates to people that have to have things as "right, not wrong, Perfect, not imperfect.” They are righteous — "I am right.” Their false sense of happiness is that they are "right.” Their divided reality is that they want to be right without being wrong. Their false identity is "I am right.” Their ego trap is that it gives them self-protection. Their thinking/feeling is that if they are not allowed to be "right," then they have resentment and anger. However, if they become illuminated and see their essential path, they will see that in THIS moment, everything is perfect and will have serenity.

Personality type 2 — The Helper relates to people that are inwardly always seeking approval from the outside. They have a sense of neediness. Their false happiness is that total approval makes them happy. Their divided reality is to have approval without disapproval. Their false identity is "I am helpful and giving," which creates their ego trap of false freedom. Their thinking/feeling is that they exude flattery and pride, however if they become illumined then they will see things as "THY will, not MY will and surrender to it.” In this, their path becomes one of humility, which leads them to happiness.

Personality type 3 — The Achiever Success, Success, Success!!! The United States of America is under a personality 3 category, they measure their accomplishments on success. To them, success equals happiness.  Their inner avoidance is failure. Their false happiness is "If I am a HUGE SUCCESS, then I will be happy.” Their divided reality is that they want to win without losing. Their false identity is "I am a success.” Their ego trap is progress and efficiency. Their thinking/feeling is all about vanity/go for image and deceit for their internal/external. To find their illumination, they need to see that they do not need to "improve" because they are already whole and perfect as they are. This will create honesty as their path.

Personality type 4 — The Individualist is tragic! They want to avoid feeling lost. Their false sense of happiness says if they have sensitivity and deep feelings then they will be happy. Their divided reality is “I want sadness without simple joy.” This creates a false identity of "I am special/separate.” The subtle version of their ego, or their trap, is being an authentic self. Their thinking/feeling ego says they are melancholy and envious. Their illumination is to connect to the source of the true self, or connect to nature. This will create balance.

Personality type 5 — The Investigator is the thinker and gatherer. They want to avoid an empty mind and a quiet mind. Their false happiness comes from thinking that knowledge and understanding give them happiness. Their divided reality says they want to "know" without the mystery. Their false identity says "I Know.” The ego trap for the 5 is as an observer/intellect. Their thinking/feeling says they are stingy and avarice — "I don't need anything." Their illumination comes from divine knowing -—"I have no clue ... but everything that is necessary is knowing.” In this, they have full life experience.

Personality type 6 — The Loyalist is all about feeling safe and secure. They avoid deviance and “cheating” and create internal and external rules. Their false happiness is that they also create safety and security. Their divided reality is that they want safety without risk or danger. Their false identity says "I am loyal and safe as possible," but this is out of fear. Their ego trap says that by doing this, they have complete security. Their thinking/feeling ego says that they are cowardly and have fear/doubt. Their illumination is to have faith, which will put them on the path of courage.

Personality type 7 — The Enthusiast is all about Fun, Fun, FUN!!! They want to avoid all pain and responsibility. Their false happiness says that if they have lots of fun and entertainment, then they will always be happy. Their divided reality says that they want fun without pain or sadness.  Their false identity is "I am OK and FUN." Their ego trap revolves around idealism (future). Their thinking/feeling pattern is around planning and the glutton for experience. Their illumination comes by doing sacred work — TRUE WORK.  It is work. This brings “sobriety” to the 7.

Personality type 8 — The Challenger is in control and solid with a strong presence. They avoid weakness because it does not give them control. Their false happiness says that they have strength and are in control. Their divided reality wants to be polarized without being neutral (Us vs. Them). Their false identity says "I am Strong and in control." Their ego trap says that they are the "Doer of Justice." Their thinking/feeling pattern says they must get vengeance, justice and control to fuel the feeling of lust and intensity. Their illumination comes from Karmic Law, truth. "I am not the doer of justice, Karmic Law is.”  This will bring them to a path of innocence and opens up their vulnerability like a child.

Personality type 9 — The Peacemaker wants things to be nice. “What are you having for lunch? I don't know, what are you having?” They avoid conflict at all costs. Their false "happiness" comes from comfort and flow. Their divided reality wants to have “Life without waves. “Their false identity says "I am nice and no trouble.” Their ego trap is that they are constantly seeking. Their thinking/feeling pattern says they must have indolence, no desire to ... and feel non-being. Their illumination comes from love and beingness, and brings them to a path of right action. There must be action with a 9 to break the ego. The 9 is the closest and furthest away from finding it's true self because it can be the chameleon ... it adapts and changes to its surroundings and environment, whether it be society, nature, or other's egos.

This is just a glimpse of the depth of what the Enneagram of Personality is. Personality typing isn't given to point a finger of "blame" or "judgment" at anyone. It's simply put out there so that we can accept and acknowledge that we all see things through a different filter. No one way is correct or incorrect, but just different. It is a tool to examine both inner and outer conflict situations. The best we can do for others is to work on our own perception and discover our own true self. It is a means of understanding. In this, we find inner peace and happiness which will then fill us up and overflow us to give to all that those who come in contact with us.

Information for this article was received in a workshop with Lawrence Graziose, a former Zen monk, who offers a gateway out of reactive behavior through understanding of this ancient esoteric psychology. There are plenty of online tests to help you discover your personality type if it isn’t obvious to you. Try searching “Enneagram Test.”

Denny Richard is a Certified Personal Trainer through ACSM and has two yoga teacher trainer certifications. He can be reached at info@dennyrichard.com or www.dennyrichard.com

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