LOOKING INTO THE 'PERSONALITY 7' TYPE
BACKGROUND TO THE ENNEAGRAM
The Enneagram is an ancient tool for personal understanding, development and transformation. It is a personality profiling system that can provide data that helps us understand that we need to go beyond our habitual responses in order to better understand, relate to and connect with other people and the world we are a part of.
Each personality has its own unique defence mechanism. Each of us believes that our strategy for survival is the right one. These strategies feel right. Sometimes, though, they lead us and others astray. The Enneagram provides a framework to guide and support a personal shift away from the survival strategy to an understanding of the other positions and more conscious behaviour. It is useful to be in a community (or team) where constructive feedback can be provided to help us better manage our defence mechanisms.
TYPE 7 - THE QUESTIONER
Also called the Adventurer, Epicure, Generalist, Visionary or Connoisseur
Psychological defence is to be the optimist and ensure multiple options are available.
Avoid commitments that may restrict their freedom.
Focus on pleasant possibilities and optimistic planning as a way of escaping the mundane or the limitations of boredom and pain.
Often charming, lateral thinkers and witty types who seek out enjoyable new and stimulating life experiences.
Looking for what’s next.
Epicureans, who live life to the full.
Fascinated with interesting people and their stories and with the natural world.
Like to have options open to them and do not like to be trapped, avoiding entering into relationships that may restrict their freedom.
STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPMENT FOR TYPE 7
· Recognise excesses, meet commitments, accept the pain, limits and boredom as well as the joy and the options.
· Slow the activity and take in one experience at a time.
· Move to point 5 relax point. Ask: “How can I stay engaged and be present and give this my full attention?”
· Stick with tasks needing attention, focus without interruptions, notice how dreaming takes you away from tough things that need doing.
· Recognise procrastination and then move into action.
· Allow yourself to go fully into experiences, instead of glossing over them.
· Honour your commitments, including those in relationships.
· Allow others to be constructively critical.
· Recognise your impulses to escape the mundane, or the here and now.
· Go deeper.
· Have fun but don’t avoid pain.
· Stay focused.
Daily activity: Listen fully to others, stay focused, commit and finish what you start.
Author: Veronica Lunn
Veronica has had significant experience working with large and small organizations, industry groups and individuals, providing workshops, seminars, forums and one on one coaching. With a strong background working with local government and state government, as well as the private sector, Veronica is an accredited Enneagram practitioner and teacher and brings high level facilitation and relationship skills to Griffith Consulting.
For more information about Veronica or the Enneagram, please contact us here, today.