Nature

                  Our Enneagram patterns represent our unique gifts, such as caretaking, productivity, directness, passion, and analytic ability. In the face of survival issues, however, we can become over-identified with our temperament tendencies and then become a burden to ourselves and to others. Hence, the natural caretaker who never stops can resent others for not reciprocating- or is resented for hovering. When taken to the extreme, the achiever’s gift of productivity can keep them from relaxing and relating to others. The blunt leader type can be very welcome in an emergency room but devastating to a gentle family member.

                  Studying the Enneagram invites us to look at our core abilities and motivations, how we approach life, and where we are challenged. These innate attributes can be felt as filters or tendencies that necessarily create different automatic patterns of behavior, thoughts, and emotions. Since we are wired with only some human abilities, we need to learn or develop abilities in the areas we are missing. Those who are blunt can use some softening; those who are skeptical could listen before they say “no.” So, a study of the Enneagram is a study in our growth potential and an acceptance of brain/body hard wiring with certain propensities.