The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge

by Beatrice Chestnut

In the case of Type Four, the Vice (or passion) of the type is envy and its opposite, the Virtue, is equanimity. The theory of growth communicated by this “Vice to Virtue conversion” is that the more we can be aware of how our passion functions and consciously work toward the embodiment of our higher Virtue, the more we can free ourselves from the unconscious habits and fixated patterns of our type and evolve toward our “higher” side or “oak tree-Self.” As Fours become more familiar with their experience of envy and develop their ability to make it more conscious, they can take their work further by focusing on enacting their Virtue, the “antidote” to the passion of envy. In the case of Type Four, the Virtue of equanimity represents a state of being that Fours can attain by consciously manifesting their higher capacities. Equanimity is a way of being that is both engaged with emotional life and above the ups and downs and pushes and pulls of being overly consumed with specific emotional experiences. When Fours are in a place of equanimity, they can feel their feelings but not be consumed by their suffering. They can let go of particular feelings without abandoning themselves. They can focus on important emotions without losing themselves. Equanimity is a way of viewing emotions from a healthy distance, with the wisdom and detachment of the inner observer that is part of the higher Self. Sandra Maitri describes equanimity as the ability to see the big picture of things such...