EP365: Enneagram 101 - Exploring the why behind the Enneagram's Circular shape and using it for a spiritual experience

Okay, I know you may have heard about the Enneagram or someone told you you need to know all about it. So here you are. But what the hell do you do with it?

Great news.

You are in the right place. Lead with the Enneagram is the show where you will actually learn how to use this incredible growth tool and apply it in all areas of your life, personally and professional. Hi, I'm Tracy and to be honest with you, I was a skeptic of the Enneagram before I started to actually integrate it into my life. In fact, in true enneagram 8 style, I told my therapist to F off when she wanted me to dive into.

It well over a decade ago.

Now that I have more than a decade of experience using the Enneagram and working on myself in my family with those closest to me, building my own bulletproof leadership, sales teams with one on one clients, couples, leading workshops for top Fortune 100 executives, and speaking to large audiences all across the globe about this powerful tool. I've got the proof and deep understanding of how to help you implement this into your life instead of it just being some fun thing you heard about. The Enneagram can be a complex model, but with me as your guide, I will show you how to first lead yourself in a powerful, effective and compassionate way and then help you lead others that way in your life as well. This podcast will have powerful conversations with guests, live typing sessions, as well as solo episodes of breaking down dynamics of the Enneagram and how they impact your life, career and relationships. So now let's dive in.

Welcome back to Lead with the Enneagram and today's episode is an enneagram101 episode. And today we're going to be exploring the spiritual aspects of the Enneagram's circular shape. So we're getting into the nit gritty stuff about the Enneagram, the things that you may not know, and quite honestly, stuff I really wasn't interested in at first. Because, you know, if you're like me, you want to know why this tool is important in your life. And so this what's in it for me aspect of understanding the Enneagram was my main focus for the first, you know, decade plus of learning this. But as I have evolved and grown, I and talking to thousands of people about the Enneagram, I understand that I get lots of questions about why certain things are the way they are within the framework of the Enneagram and the diagram. So today we're going to talk about why it is in a circular Shape and the spiritual dimensions around that. As you know, the Enneagram is a powerful tool for self awareness, self discovery, and a beautiful way to accelerate transformation in your life, personally and professionally. So the whole thing about the Circle is it signifies wholeness and unity, right? This infinity kind of circular like. And what goes around comes around. And how this symbolizes interconnectedness, you know, and understanding that within that circle. Of the nine Enneagram types, each personality type has its unique expression of the unique human experience. And as you grow and transform and evolve and really.

Embody that, your perspective, your experience, your motivation, although it is very much yours, there are eight other ways in which we can look at the world, perceive the world, understand and have compassion for the world. And the circular aspect of it brings us all together, right, at some point.

From a spiritual standpoint, you know, the idea that our individual paths are part of a larger, unified journey, right? The more that I have gotten out of my own little eight bubble and explored the other eight types within the framework of the Enneagram, I have felt more connected. Even when I'm going through things, I have felt like it isn't for me to figure out every single thing that part of the human experience and that wholeness and unity that the Circle brings together within the framework of the Enneagram, it almost gives me permission to lean into the eight other different types out in the world, in my life and beyond, to find answers, to find connection, to find support and create intimacy and learn, learn from other people. That's what this whole human experience is about. Now. Another part of the circle is the journey of self discovery and, you know, understanding the tool. The Enneagram is a tool for inner exploration. The circular nature of the Enneagram signifies an ongoing, ongoing cyclical process of self discovery. And if you have been listening to me, whether it's a week or a month or a year or a decade, I have said this over and over again that this journey is not a box checking journey. Until we are done on Earth, this process will continue to go on. And why I love the framework and the circular shape of the Enneagram is it signifies that ongoing cycle. It's a continual uncovering of layers and moving towards a greater self awareness and self compassion rather than reaching a destination. I know that I like to check the boxes too. It makes me feel like I got some shit done. But when it comes to our self awareness, our self acknowledgment, our compassionate action that we need to take in this journey of life, understanding that, you know, you Might take a run around the track of the Enneagram. And the next time that you take another run, you're going to learn something different. You're going to explore something different. You're going to have a new aha moment. And that's why I do ongoing workshops too. Like, it's really important that every time you learn or hear a little bit more, you're going to learn and take this journey a little bit farther. Now the other thing about the circular shape is about transformation and growth and you know, self awareness of your type or somebody else's type even. And the patterns can lead to a personal transformation when you recognize the blind spots that you have, the defense mechanisms that you use, the gifts and the kryptonite that are there. When you see that they're there and you understand that they're there. And you don't like pull out the shame stick or use avoidance compensatory strategies or you don't project right when you understand that it's there and it doesn't have to mean anything. But this is like your divine makeup. The ability to transform and grow accelerates at a rapid, rapid place. The Enneagram helps you move around the circle, shifting towards more integrated and spiritually aligned behaviors. Right. It's, it's, you know, one of the go to strategies for myself and I'm going to just be transparent here. One of my compensatory strategies when I'm scared, feeling vulnerable, under stressed, hell's breaking loose is isolation and really remembering even though that, that I. I go to that first, I don't stay there for very, very long. And understanding that the circle of Life, you know, the, the movie the Lion King and the C Circle of Life, I love that song by Elton John.

Is very representative in the. The circle of the Enneagram. It's when we want to stop in our cycle, when we want to stop in our core Enneagram type and stay stuck there. We're missing the beautiful growth that can happen, the connection, the intimacy, the support that could happen. So on those moments when I do want to go to my old go to of isolation, I look at the circle of the Enneagram and I look at the people in my life. And most of the people in my life are represented by a lot of the other types. I do have a few eights in my life that I can lean into, but I take a run around the circle and lean into the people in my life that have different perspectives and different ways in which they see the world to help me not be so stuck. And that takes being vulnerable. And it takes doing things that challenge me. You know, I've coached a lot of people even recently, and people in my personal life, we can get so fixated on our stop in the circle, right? Or we can even sell ourselves on that. This is just the way that I am. And yes, you have a default for sure, but when you live by design and you go through and take stops along the circle of the Enneagram, this is when you really transform and grow. It doesn't mean it's always going to be easy or without pain or things about that. But honestly, it. It really helps you not stay stuck. Now. Passive integration and disagree disintegration. I'll touch on even more on another enneagram101 episode. But the lines within the Enneagram are paths of gravity, growth. And they're all connected within that circle, right? When we talk about the growth number or the stress number within that.

The challenges and difficulties come up in spiritual growth, right? And emotional growth and emotional intelligence and critical thinking. And that's only when we stay stuck in that spartan spot in our circle. In the circle of the Enneagram, right? Using the framework that is connected within the circle, like I said, the triangle, the lines, all sorts of really cool, different. The hex.

All the things, the triads, the centers of intelligence. We're going to get into all of that in future bite sized nuggets. But when we move outside of our stop in the circle and use the other supplemental tools within the circle, this is how we go towards greater wholeness. We enter into alignment with your true self and form a really strong spiritual perspective, whatever that means for you.

I believe that when we move elegantly through that circle, through our relationships and our own divine wiring, we can tap into that beautiful intuition that is a divine gift. We can honor and regulate this beautiful, healthy nervous system and vessel that we have been gifted. And it serves as this return to that inner core. It takes us back to who we were always designed to be before. Maybe the world or some circumstances or decisions that have happened kicked you in the teeth a little bit. So the journey through the circle of the Enneagram helps you bring back to your soul's calling. And this is where you can experience a deeper connection with the divine higher power, God. This also is where enlightenment and a higher state of consciousness comes. And when we are operating like that, we can honor the intuition from that divine source. We can have a healthy, regulated, beautiful, emotionally intelligent nervous system. So this is. This is one of the key components of why the Enneagram is the way it is, really. Whenever you feel stuck like I do, look at. Look at the diagram of the Enneagram in the circle and see where in your life you can go that is outside of your little stop on the circle so that you can.

Feel more connected. Because when we feel connected, we do less isolation. Isolation is honestly the fast pass to staying stuck. Nothing good happens in isolation. Do we need solitude from time to time? Absolutely. But I would gather that for those of you that tend to lean into isolation, that doesn't serve you, and for those of you that maybe aren't as isolating, but you panic being more intentional with the way that you seek out other people along the circle framework of the Enneagram and lean into maybe more.

Solid other Enneagram types that don't just enable you to stay stuck in your patterns. This will require you to put yourself out there a little bit more, to be more vulnerable, to risk rejection, to risk being hurt. And although I know none of that is fun, this is where growth and transformation happens. But I encourage you to.

Explore your own inner landscape within the framework of the Enneagram. And if you haven't taken my assessment and gotten my blueprint, I highly encourage it. You know, all the online assessments are inaccurate 65 to 70% of the time. So having the right information is really key in taking a journey through this. And once you have the right information, the possibilities of growth and transformation and abundance are endless, especially when you actually use the framework. This will help you understand your tendencies, It'll help you understand your blind spot, and it'll help you work towards a more harmonious relationship within yourself and the world around you. And this is where everything gets a little bit easier. It doesn't mean hard things don't happen. But, you know, I'm in the middle of a season right now. That is so ridiculously hard. And I feel so weak right now. And I'm so grateful for not only my understanding of the Enneagram, but understanding how to integrate all this beautiful stuff in my life, it is making this process a lot less harder. It's still painful, it's still uncomfortable. It's still challenging all the things. But when you have a roadmap to help you through that, it makes this a lot less hard and makes you feel a lot more connected to, you know, a divine source. And the support that we all need. We all need support. So go and get your blueprint today. This is the starting point of having the right accurate information. So that you can use this powerful tool to transform every aspect of your life. Every aspect of your life. Trust me, it can make and allow you to do things that you never dreamed possible. So go to tracyomalley.com the work with Me section is where you can get your blueprint. Don't sleep on this. Honestly, having a roadmap to your divine soul is something that I never thought I'd be sharing with all of you. But here we are. And if you want to learn more about the ins and outs of the Enneagram, stay tuned. We'll be bringing you more episodes enneagram101things. We'll dive deeper into the more intricate parts of the Enneagram, what it is and what you can use it for. If you love this episode, share it with somebody that is into the Enneagram or somebody that's curious about it.

I am so grateful for you. I would love to hear if you have suggestions on, you know, bite sized topics you want to Hear in the Enneagram 101 episodes, please bring them to me. Please bring them to me. I'm very instinctual by nature, so any direction or guidance that you have or want to learn more about that would be cool. You know, this time in my life and as we enter into the core of the holiday season.

You know, having this framework is saving my ass in a lot of ways. And although I feel uncomfortable at times and vulnerable, I'm really grateful for this tool in my life and I. I want to continue to bring this tool and all the juicy parts of it to you so that you can use it more effectively. So that when life on life's terms does happen, you have a roadmap to feel your most true self and get through the hard stuff with grace, with compassion, with love, and with a whole new arsenal of tools in your tool belt. All right guys, we will see you again in a few days. I appreciate you wishing you love and transformation in your life.

I'm so happy you enjoyed the Leadership Formula podcast.

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This show by sharing it with a friend and leaving a written Apple podcast review. If you have any follow up questions to this episode, you can DM me directly on Instagram at traceyomalley. You can also find additional additional resources on my website@tracy o'malley.com I'm excited to lead you into the next level.