Use the Enneagram as a skillful means to increase compassion for yourself and others by understanding your own wiring and projections, and by discerning others’ underlying motivations and triggers.
In interactions or conflicts, identify and address others’ primary ‘points of attention’ (e.g., right/wrong, meaning, danger) to foster understanding and de-escalate situations effectively.
Reduce self-hatred and foster self-acceptance by recognizing that your inherent patterns and ways of being are not malfunctions, but rather a unique expression of one of the nine Enneagram types.
Utilize the Enneagram to identify your personal blind spots and ingrained patterns, which helps you understand ‘who you are not’ and fosters deeper self-awareness.
Begin your compassion practice by genuinely wishing yourself well, as this foundational self-softening is essential for authentically extending compassion to others.
To find your Enneagram type, first identify your strongest instinctual drive (self-preservation, social, or sexual/intimate), then cross-reference this with potential types suggested by online tests.
Discover your Enneagram type through deep self-reflection and personal investigation, rather than relying solely on external tests, as the system emphasizes self-discovery.
Understand and communicate your Enneagram type’s unique relationship strengths and limitations to loved ones, fostering authentic connections and managing expectations.
View your Enneagram type as a starting point for a journey towards liberation from the confines of personality, enabling the first step towards a broader, more absolute understanding of self.
Accept your Enneagram type as fixed, but actively pursue self-development to embody its highest qualities and virtues, and integrate positive aspects from other types.
Do not use the Enneagram to label, ghettoize, or manipulate others; instead, apply it for genuine self-understanding and awareness.
Engage in contemplation by asking, ‘What might things look like if I was not afraid of myself?’ to uncover how your daily actions and interactions could transform.
Use meditation practice to develop the capacity to directly observe and acknowledge your fears about yourself, rather than avoiding or navigating around them.
Refrain from definitively assigning Enneagram types to others; instead, acknowledge that you ‘feel the energy’ of a type, recognizing that only individuals can truly know their own.
Deepen your understanding by exploring Susan Piver’s books (e.g., ‘The Buddhist Enneagram’) and joining her online community, The Open Heart Project.
Access guided meditations, live community sessions, and ad-free podcast episodes by downloading the ‘10% with Dan Harris’ app and utilizing its 14-day trial.
Tune into DJ Kashmir’s podcast ‘No Excuses’ on the Educate podcast feed or via the show notes for a compelling story on inner-city education reform.