You may have already noticed around here. I’ve been a little bit Enneagram obsessed. But here’s what I say that’s important for you to know. My faith. God’s Word. It trumps the Enneagram every time. I don’t base my faith on it. I don’t refer to it as truth - that’s for God to declare.

What I have found - is a system that is spot on in describing my motivations, my behaviors, my triggers, and what drives me to do the things I do. If you’re paying attention, that is both comforting and frightening at the same time.

On my Enneagram journey, I’ve learned to embrace who I am (both the things I love and the things that need a little work). I’ve come to know myself better. I’ve had some great a-ha moments on why I do the things I do that I really don’t want to do. And it’s helped me understand that sometimes what drives us are things that don’t align with who God says we are.

So what is the Enneagram?

If you’re still with me and haven’t heard of this, you may be asking. What is this thing anyway? Good question. Keep reading.

Most people describe it as a personality typing system. While we don’t have an exact history of the Enneagram, most of the teachers I have studied from and follow believe that it was developed by the ancient desert fathers from the 4th century. It combines ancient spiritual teaching and psychological theory to help people discover who they are and the things the motivations for their actions.

If you’re geeking out right now, you may want to know that it’s technically not about personality but about your motivations. It describes 9 distinct lenses through which people see, show up, and interact with the world.

How does it help me?

If you’re still leaning in, then I’d like to share that the Enneagram has implications for cultivating emotional intelligence and health, as well as, spiritual growth.

Our Enneagram types reveal where we are at today. The good, the bad, and sometimes, the ugly. It reveals our strengths and also when we overdo those strengths. It helps us identify those things about us - our behaviors, our thoughts, our triggers - that are no longer serving us as we seek to improve relationships, communication, ministry for God, and even our own thought life. It reveals the things that we’ve kept hidden. It helps us understand ourselves, understand our people, and understand our next steps for emotional and spiritual growth.

Everyday Enneagram

The proof is in the pudding. That’s a saying right? Personally, I’ve experienced greater self-acceptance and self-awareness since learning more about the Enneagram. I’ve been able to challenge my thinking and not do what I’ve always done. I’ve learned to love my story and allow God to use every part. I’ve been able to lean in and gain clarity on who God created me to be and how to choose to make an impact in my everyday life.

And that’s what I want for you. More clarity. More of what you love. More of embracing who you are and who God made you to be. Don’t get me wrong. The Enneagram is not easy and is not always pleasant. Because it reveals both your strengths and the things you might need to work on, it can be challenging to face all of you at one time. But the reward? The reward is understanding your identity in Christ, loving who made you to be, and showing up authentic and whole. The reward is learning greater compassion toward those you love or work with. The reward is giving you the next steps in growing into the person God made you to be.

My goal in transitioning to Enneagram coaching is all about helping you to use this tool as a way to grow in your faith, grow in emotional health, improve your relationships, and shine for Jesus. If you have questions, I’d love to chat. I offer a free 30 minute phone meeting so you can get your questions answered and we can get to know one another.

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