As we continue through the Spiral of Discovery, we encounter a bit more icky-ness, but we have to go through this to get to our Essence. We have to uncover all of the personality parts to get to the good stuff - our Essence, our True Self.
The Enneagram fixations refer to habitual patterns of thinking associated with each Enneagram type. These fixations can limit our perspective and behavior. They are our human response to our suffering, our Passion (check out last week’s blog here) and show up as neural fixations, or neural addictions. They look a lot like our Saboteurs (PQ Intelligence™) and I use them interchangeably in typing sessions since they appear to be very similar and Saboteurs are easier to understand. Can you see yourself in one or more of these fixations? We often have more than one due to our Wings and Arrows.
Here they are:
Type 1 (Reformer): Resentment - Always angry with themselves and others for not being perfect (Saboteur - Stickler, Passion - Anger)
Type 2 (Helper): Flattery - Seeks approval and connection by praising and giving to others (Saboteur - Pleaser, Passion - Pride).
Type 3 (Achiever): Vanity - Gains value through accomplishments and recognition (Saboteur - Hyper-Achiever, Passion - Deceit).
Type 4 (Individualist): Melancholy - Never content with the present, always looking toward a happier future (Saboteur - Victim, Passion - Melancholy).
Type 5 (Investigator): Stinginess - Desires anonymity and views life from the sidelines (Saboteur - Hyper-Rational, Passion - Avarice).
Type 6 (Loyalist): Cowardice - Seeks a strong leader to follow for protection (Saboteur - Hyper-Vigilant, Passion - Fear/Anxiety).
Type 7 (Enthusiast): Planning - Always anticipates what must happen, often leading to disappointment (Saboteur - Restless, Passion - Gluttony).
Type 8 (Challenger): Vengeance - Destructive toward self and others due to a sense of injustice (Saboteur - Controller, Passion - Lust).
Type 9 (Peacemaker): Indolence - Seeks love externally and avoids inner exploration (Saboteur - Avoider, Passion - Sloth)
As you can see, the Enneagram keeps getting more nuanced and layered, just like our personalities. But with a little work, and bringing awareness to our fixations, we can become more adaptable and open to alternative ways of approaching life. This allows us to continue on the Spiral of Discovery bringing you closer and closer to living on purpose, in Essence, in your True Self - which is the whole point of the Enneagram! Psychology and Spirituality!