So What Exactly Is All This “Enneagram Stuff” Really About?

Posted August 24, 2021 by Prairie Wife -

K J Brewer Photography

“I’m an Enneagram 9.”

“Oh gosh, any other Enneagram 1’s out there totally get what I mean?”

“Shout out to all my fellow Enneagram 6’s!”

In the last year, my social feed has been full of posts about the Enneagram.

I think it was Jen Hatmaker that first really began to talk about it in a way that made me do more than scroll on by.

“Enneagram is a system of personality typing that describes patterns in how people interpret the world and manage their emotions. The Enneagram describes nine personality types and maps each of these types on a nine-pointed diagram which helps to illustrate how the types relate to one another.” Truity.com

As someone who is one hundred percent all about self-improvement, I was intrigued, but also a bit intimidated…so I left it alone for a bit.

Then my friend Thea from Cowgirls over Coffee asked me to take an Enneagram test as part of a session she held.

I was a 2, and honestly, it didn’t really fit who I thought I was.

So I took 3 more tests and each time I was either a 2 or a 3.

And I gave up again.

Then my good friend Katie B started talking about how much learning her number helped her, and we had several amazing conversations where she shared the ways it helped her as a woman, wife, and mother.

Erin Potter Photography

I really started to wonder if it could do the same for me, yet there I was…getting two different answers each time I took a test.

On a gorgeous yet cold Spring snowshoe adventure, Katie B told me that she had made the decision to become a Certified Enneagram Coach.

And I jumped at the chance to work with her when she finished her certification.

At this point, we have had two sessions and I have to be real, while it has been SUPER helpful it hasn’t been easy.

It turns out I am a 3, and according to multiple sources 3’s have the hardest time of all the numbers accepting their Enneagram.

That’s because as a 3 I am optimistic, accomplished, and adaptable (and I can see all that can be achieved in life). The flipside of this is a deep fear of being worthless…and 3’s struggle with deceit. They want others to only see the successful exterior and in our worst moments, we can get caught up in believing that we are only as good as our most recent accomplishments.

Cue my biggest fear and the constant whisper in the back of my mind “Am I really being authentically me?”

And while that was SO hard to hear, it was a relief to know that I am “normal”.

K J Brewer Photography

I felt like I could take a big breath now that I knew that all the things that I struggled with were real and okay, and oh by the way aren’t ALL bad AND here are some tools to help you be more whole and who you want to be even on your worst days.

During our first meeting where we worked out what my true Enneagram number was, I think I cringed and covered my face about 182 times in the span of an hour.

Katie B can vouch if this is accurate or not.

This first meeting was spent talking about the basics of my number and a deeper dive into what I am like when I am “healthy” which means I am focused and positive and feeling good mentally, emotionally, and physically.

As well as what I tend to do when I am stressed and “unhealthy”.

Which interestingly enough is to completely shut down…sound familiar says the woman who loudly preaches the benefit of a good old-fashioned 24-hour wallow session where I lock myself away from anyone and everyone and ignore any and all responsibilities for an entire day?

K J Brewer Photography

Our second session was a bit more complex, and our next 3 sessions will be similar.

These sessions are a chance to take a deep dive into each of the different aspects of my “threeness” including how my various strengths and weakness can impact my relationships with others, my work, and my future growth.

And YES I will be touching base with you again when I am done with all 5 sessions.

While I encourage you to take this test (recommended by Katie B) to see what number you are, I don’t think that it’s where your journey to self-discovery using the Enneagram should end.

Working with Katie B helped me to solidify what my true Enneagram number is, and is currently allowing me to see both the positive and negative about my personality. I’ve been able to catch myself when I am slipping into unhealthy habits, and I’ve been able to lean into my strengths with no fear.

When I asked Katie B what she wanted to share with you about why she became a Certified Enneagram Coach she said:

“I was reintroduced to the Enneagram during a particularly stressful summer. I wasn’t super pleased with how I was reacting to situations and knew there had to be some sort of help out there. The Enneagram was the tool I was looking for. I was able to understand the why behind how I was reacting to stress. The Enneagram is not the only tool for personal growth but I have found it to be so incredibly helpful for me in my personal and business relationships.”

If you’d like to work with Katie B (in-person or Zoom sessions are available) there is a special Prairie Wife discount.

Normally 5 one-hour-long sessions are $250. If you name drop PrairieWifeInHeels.com you will only pay $220, that’s a $30 discount!

Please reach out to Katie through katie.boulter@gmail.com to book your session or feel free to comment below if you have any questions, or if you can share ways that knowing your Enneagram has helped you!

Categories: Health and Wellness, This and That

Tags: , enneagram, enneagram 3, mental health, personality, personality test, support, weaknesses, what is your enneagram type