The Wisdom of the Enneagram

by Don Richard Riso

Average Sevens define themselves as the “Energizer,” the person who must pump energy and excitement into a situation so that everyone will be charged up—and so that they can stay excited themselves.

Playing the role of the Energizer, the Spark Plug or Catalyst—as well as coconspirator and tempter into mischief—allows Sevens to become the center of attention. Their company is frequently sought after because others’ spirits are uplifted by their cheer.

The problem arises when average Sevens begin to function only as superchargers who are outspoken and outrageous, who must be stimulating and dazzling all the time. This inevitably puts an enormous burden on them—and it becomes wearing on others as well.

The Seven’s characteristic vice is gluttony, literally the desire to stuff oneself with food—and Sevens can be guilty of overeating and overdrinking, just as they can overdo all physical gratifications.

Because Sevens keep their minds full in order to defend themselves from feeling anxiety, they have trouble taking in sensory information unless it makes a strong impression on them.

They want to be free to respond to impulses and desires as soon as they arise, without delay.

Under what circumstances does happiness arise? What makes it endure for more than a little while? How can we increase our happiness without running the risk of going overboard in some way?

healthy Sevens know that they are most gratified by being focused and productive; they are contributing something new and potentially valuable to the world.

Average Sevens become less productive because anxiety causes them to focus more on ways of entertaining and distracting themselves. Their creativity becomes supplanted by an increasing desire to acquire and consume.

Sevens frequently complain about boredom and how much they hate it, although what they call boredom is the anxiety they feel when the environment is not providing adequate stimulation to keep pain and other negative feelings at bay.

Without inner guidance, Sevens must learn everything by a process of trial and error, and they are not likely to take other people’s advice because they want to experience everything for themselves.

Average Sevens easily lose a sense of priorities, throwing themselves into constant activity, often overdoing things in many areas of their lives.

Sevens “jam” their own awareness of pain, deprivation, and sadness by constantly keeping their minds occupied with interesting and exciting possibilities.

Sevens can be extremely demanding: the more anxious they become, the more impatient they become with others and with themselves.

Sevens may avoid dealing with their pain, but they are generally too alert to avoid noticing that they are squandering their talents and resources.

Sevens are perhaps the most overt in their expression of displeasure because they are also an assertive type.

Sevens can take a kind of hit-and-run approach that leaves others hurt and confused.

Avoiding anxiety also causes Sevens to become increasingly impulsive—they leap before they look.

To the degree that Sevens are driven by fears and anxieties, they are not as free and spontaneous as they believe.

Sevens are caught in a cycle of anticipation, craving, and excess that we call the chocolate syndrome.

When you are mentally revved up, take a moment to breathe and see what is really going on with you.

It is not so much that you ignore your negative feelings as that you process them incompletely.

As a Seven, you can be extremely impatient with the pace and energy levels of others but also extremely impatient with yourself.

Take the time to bring your abilities to fruition.

Find the joy of the ordinary.

Meditation can be extremely helpful for Sevens,

You are most profound and effective when you are grounded and steady—at such times your joy is evident and affecting to everyone.

they can be brilliant, multifaceted people, synthesizing and cross-fertilizing their many diverse areas of experience.

One way that Sevens constructively work with their versatility and desire for different experiences is through multitasking.

Sevens have a talent for generating ideas quickly and spontaneously. They are big-picture people who like getting projects started and are good at brainstorming fresh approaches to problems.

Their minds almost overflow with creative concepts and possibilities, and they excel at considering options that others might not perceive.

Sevens greatest gift is the ability to maintain a positive outlook and sense of abundance. When this outlook is tempered by realism and a willingness to deal with difficult feelings, Sevens are able to generate an infectious enthusiasm for whatever situation is at hand.

their willingness to explore and to be open to new experiences can lead them to be well rounded and knowledgeable.

integrating Sevens are able to stay with their observations and experiences long enough to discover all sorts of amazing things about themselves and the world around them. This both gives them more of the guidance they seek and enhances their productivity and creativity.

Cultivating a quieter, more focused mind brings Sevens into closer contact with their own Essential guidance;

as Sevens learn to quiet their minds and tolerate the anxiety that arises, they gradually and naturally begin to open to the clarity, innovation, insight, and knowing qualities of the healthy Five.

as long as they are directly pursuing happiness and satisfaction, they will never attain them. Fulfillment is not the result of “getting” anything: it is a state of being that arises when we allow the richness of the present moment to touch us.

there is nothing wrong with thinking about the future, but with Sevens, it is the primary way that they lose their connection with Presence.

if we cannot be with our pain, we cannot be with our joy.

PERSONALITY TYPE EIGHT: THE CHALLENGER BASIC FEAR: Of being harmed or controlled by others, of violation BASIC DESIRE: To protect themselves, to determine their own course in life SUPEREGO MESSAGE: “You are good or okay if you are strong and in control of your situation.” The Powerful, Dominating Type: Self-Confident, Decisive, Willful, and Confrontational

Eights enjoy taking on challenges themselves as well as giving others opportunities that challenge them to exceed themselves in some way.

Eights have enormous willpower and vitality, and they feel most alive when they are exercising these capacities in the world.

They use their abundant energy to effect changes in their environment—to leave their mark on it—but also to keep the environment, and especially other people, from hurting them and those they care about.

Eights understand that this requires strength, will, persistence, and endurance—qualities that they develop in themselves...

Eights do not want to be controlled or to allow others to have power over them (their Basic Fear), whether the power is psychological, sexual, social, or financial.

being in charge and leaving their imprint on their sphere is uniquely characteristic of them.

Eights are the true “rugged individualists” of the Enneagram. More than any other type, they stand alone.

Although they are usually aware of what people think of them, they do not let the opinions of others sway them.

Beneath the tough facade is vulnerability, although it has been covered over by a layer of emotional armor.

Eights are often extremely industrious, but at the price of losing emotional contact with many of the people in their lives.