You may have taken your fair share of personality tests. Myers Briggs. Strengths Finder. DISC. Countless Buzzfeed quizzes. Maybe they’ve helped you identify some things about yourself, or perhaps you took them and thought they were a bunch of phooey. And then maybe you saw the Enneagram and its weird symbol and wondered, “What is this pentagon-looking thing? Is it witchcraft??” It’s not exactly witchcraft, but it is magical.

What is the Enneagram?

The Enneagram is an ancient tool that, when used properly, helps people discover their true beings. The word itself is pretty simple when you break it down. “Ennea” means nine, and “gram” means symbol or drawing. 

Each point represents one of the Nine Types of personality we each display. 

We all embody some characteristics of each of these types. But there is only one type that is more dominant in us than the others. There is no better or worse type. Each type has unique characteristics that can be perceived as good but can also be limiting. Knowing your Enneagram type can be very powerful in your self-development journey.

What are the Enneagram Types?

Each type has a different way of looking at the world. 

Read on for a brief description of each of the nine Enneagram personality types. Type 1– “The Perfectionist” – Moral and upstanding, always wanting to do what’s right. Type 2 – “The Helper” – Caring and supportive, always wanting to help and be liked by others. Type 3– “The Achiever” – Goal-oriented and successful, wanting to avoid failure at all costs. Type 4– “The Individualist” – Unique and emotionally empathetic, constantly comparing themselves to others. Type 5– “The Observer” – Intelligent and private, needing a lot of alone time to avoid feeling energetically depleted. Type 6– “The Loyalist” – Humble and anxious, great at solving problems and being calm in a crisis. Type 7– “The Enthusiast” – Optimistic and adventurous, always up for a good time to avoid their painful feelings. Type 8– “The Challenger” – Assertive and powerful, wanting to avoid vulnerability and looking weak. Type 9 – “The Peacemaker” – Easy-going and adaptive, wanting to avoid conflict at all costs.

What Makes the Enneagram Better than Other Personality Systems?

Most personality tests will give you results based on your external behaviors. Unlike these other personality systems, the Enneagram helps uncover your inner motivations or whyyou do what you do. Knowing your why is important to understand what motivates you to act, behave, and feel the way you do in life. The Enneagram helps unlock these (mostly) unconscious thoughts and beliefs and brings them to light. Once you uncover your inner motivations, you will start to notice patterns in your everyday life that might not be serving you.

How Can the Enneagram be Used as a Personal Growth Tool?

Your inner growth process can start once you know your Enneagram type. Start noticing the patterns associated with your type to see how they play out in your everyday life. This can be as simple as having more self-awareness of how and why you operate. When you’re ready to start going deeper into your journey, you can work with an Enneagram practitioner who will guide you through the development process. They can help you break out of your personality’s limiting patterns and get you closer to your true self. Ready to get started on your Enneagram journey? You can begin by taking an Enneagram test (but know your results are a stepping point and may not give you your exact type right away) or reach out to an Enneagram practitioner to schedule a typing interview.

“Knowing where you are going is the first step to getting there.”

Kenneth H. Blanchard