How to Identify Your Enneagram Number
Identifying your Enneagram number is not always simple. Sometimes, you can easily recognize your dominant type, but it can be a lengthy process for others, so do not be discouraged! Part of your growth and self-discovery lies in sifting through the different numbers and taking the time to see which one fits you best. If you’re unfamiliar with the Enneagram, please read this blog post.
We all have a little of each number in us, but everyone has a single, dominant number. In my opinion, the best way to first begin discovering your type is to read a summary of all of the numbers by accessing the Narrative Enneagram at https://www.enneagramworldwide.com/tour-the-nine-types/. This can help you start to weed out what does and does not fit for you.
Each instinctual triad has common struggles among the numbers, but every individual number processes their struggle differently. Those in the instinctual triad (8, 9 and 1) have the primary emotion of anger. Their focus tends to be on the present, wanting to resist and control their environment. Those in the thinking triad (5, 6 and 7) have the primary emotion of fear, focusing on the future and desiring safety. Those in the feeling triad (2, 3 and 4) have the primary emotion of shame and tend to focus on the past. For example, do you process information more with your gut (Instinctual Triad of 8, 9 & 1), with your heart (Feeling Triad of 2, 3 & 4) or with your head (Thinking Triad of 5, 6 & 7)? Human beings use all three triads, but your Enneagram number will lie in the triad you naturally process with the most.
Each triad has a number that over-identifies, under-identifies or is in conflict with the underlying, core emotion (anger, fear or shame). Most Enneagram authors agree that we are all born with a dominant type and your type does NOT change. Even though you may identify with several numbers, you cannot be two at the same time.
Everyone emerges from childhood with one of the nine types ruling their personality, with innate temperament/personality traits and other environmental factors contributing to the formation of our Enneagram type. Additionally, each of the 9 types have 3 instinctual subtypes (Sexual, Social and Self-preservation), which provides even more insight into the patterns and motivations of each number. The instinctual subtypes provide more understanding for how people with the same type can look different from each other.
Each Enneagram number is determined by both a motivation and a “higher quality”/essence, or virtue. Depending on what you read, motivations are referred to as a passion, sin or basic desire. For example, I identify with type 2. My “passion/sin” is pride and my virtue or higher quality is humility. Each number has a different passion and virtue. It helps to think of the Enneagram as being the tool you use to take a mask off your face (your personality) to access your true self.
When you read your type description, you may feel exposed, like someone is describing the parts of yourself you don’t readily share; you may feel understood on a deep level. For most people, when they first discover their number, it causes discomfort because it hits close to our defensiveness and unconscious motivations we normally like to avoid. It can be hard to see ourselves objectively; it’s important to take the time to think through how you actually work/process things truthfully instead of how you’d like to see yourself.
It is important to note that your number does NOT define you and not everyone who identifies as a certain number is going to look the same. The type number you most identify with shows you the defense mechanisms you use automatically and your core motivations. Only YOU can truly decide what your number is and which fits best.
The Enneagram provides a blueprint to become more aware of your motives to get you out of your personality and move towards your Essence, or the highest potential of your self. Our personality can get in the way of who we want to be and limit our awareness. The Enneagram shows ways to become aware of where you are NOW, while giving direction on how to access our blind spots, which are the parts of ourselves that can sometimes be difficult to see. It is my belief that the Enneagram is one of the best tools that shows where you are now and provides ways to become your best self. In a future blog post, I will dive more into how wings and arrows influence each type and provide a gateway for growth.
If you still are still having trouble identifying a type that fits, take a break! Finding your Enneagram type is not always straightforward, but there is reward in the process. If you are interested in gaining additional support in finding your type or have interest in using the Enneagram for growth in therapy, please schedule a free consult with me below!
