THE ENNEAGRAM SHOWS YOUR LIGHT AND YOUR SHADOW.

Overcoming stress is often about where you put your compassion, attention, and energy.

Once you have a basic understanding of the Ancient Enneagram, or if you have completed a formal assessment, you can begin to see the signs of stress in different Enneagram types. Here is a quick reference guide to the types under stress, what stress looks like by type, and what that type can do to reconcile or resolve the stress.

Remember to think about “stress” from all three of the dimensions of the Enneagram – body, heart, and mind.

Type 1:

In health:

Enneagram 1s believe the world is an imperfect place and it’s their job to help fix it or set it right.

In stress:

1 goes to 4, becoming moody, irritable, envious, and withdrawing

Ways to relieve stress:

Get in touch with feelings, journal thoughts, be creative, and reconnect with nature.

 

Type 2:

In health:

Enneagram 2s believe that their role is to help and support others in a considerate, thoughtful way.

In stress:

2 goes to 8, becoming aggressive, demanding, controlling, argumentative, and blunt

Ways to relieve stress:

Be direct and ask for self-care just for you, do something alone, and get exercise to release stress.

 

Type 3:

In health:

Enneagram 3s are built for competition and pace, always achieving.

In stress:

3 goes to 9, becoming complacent, apathetic, self-doubting, and disengaged

Ways to relieve stress:

Connect with people without an attached goal in mind, make a list of what you appreciate about others and tell them.

 

Type 4:

In health:

Enneagram 4s are introspective, self-reflective and deeply creative.

In stress:

4 goes to 2, bringing out people-pleasing tendencies, “buying” love from others, testing others, and flattering others with the hope of being flattered.

Ways to relieve stress:

Give generously from whatever you are most creative with or good at, volunteer with no expectations, just generally give with no agenda to get.

 

Type 5:

In health:

Enneagram 5s understand things with depth, are incredible thinkers, and a great knowledge resource.

In stress:

5 goes to 7, creating restlessness, dissatisfaction, indulgence, distraction, and bouncing from “thing to thing”

Ways to relieve stress:

Brainstorm with trusted people, indulge in time spent “luxuriously” (a meal in, a day spent reading). Invest in people.

 

Type 6:

In health:

Enneagram 6s are great team leaders, are deeply trusted and always have a backup plan or ideas on how to solve issues in a crisis.

In stress:

6 goes to 3, creating fear of failure, image-conscious behavior, keeping “busy”, staying distracted, or becoming boastful.

Ways to relieve stress:

Create a checklist of things that need to be done and start getting things done. Journal fears and worries. Talk to trusted people about how you feel.

 

Type 7:

In health:

Enneagram 7s love adventure and are innovative, insightful, and future-oriented.

In stress:

7 goes to 1, creating rigidity, perfectionism, criticism, pessimism, anger, and feelings of loneliness.

Ways to relieve stress:

Set a timer for a manageable container (15 mins, 60 mins) to finish a chore or plan. Break things into small, bite-sized steps.

 

Type 8:

In health:

Enneagram 8s are decisive, direct, clear, confident and fast moving.

In stress:

8 goes to 5, creating withdrawal, detachment, being secretive, cynicism, and critique of others.

Ways to relieve stress:

Sit down and create a list of emotions. Research ways to problem-solve and try some. Share with people you trust. Get physical exercise.

 

Type 9:

In health:

Enneagram 9s are peaceful, harmonious, and easy to be around.

In stress:

9 goes to 6, creating anxiety, suspicion, over-commitment, worry, self-doubt, and defensiveness.

Ways to relieve stress:

Make a list of “what ifs” and think of solutions. Take a walk alone and process. Ask people you trust for support.

 

Most frequently, the relief of stress cannot come from escaping it or denying it. The best remedy for stress in both acute and chronic situations is to acknowledge it, notice the impact it makes, and take a step back to look at it objectively for the things it can teach you and the ways that you can grow by being self-deprecating, honest, and accepting of yourself in the moment.

You cannot have light without shadow.

Take a moment to ask what the stress has to offer you, and to listen for the answer.