Workshop: Introduction to the Enneagram Perspective

Values and ideals motivate and guide our choices. Some are attracted to goodness, others to love, still others to action, beauty, wisdom, loyalty, joy, strength, and peace. 

Vulnerabilities are the tender underside of our values. We become very sensitive and protective when our values are discounted or threatened. Some are sensitive to criticism, others to rejection, still others to failure, abandonment, ridicule, betrayal, limitations, weakness, and conflict. 

When we are functioning from the self actualizing and transcending side of our person, we pursue our values and accept our vulnerabilities. Our vision is realistic, our energy is expressed cleanly as a virtue, and our actions are resourceful and fulfilling. 

When we operate from the self maintaining and defensive side of our personality, we protect ourselves from being hurt and lose touch with what we really want. Our outlook or world view is biased, our energy is distorted into a vice, and our actions disregard our own and others’ deepest needs. 

To compensate for what we believe we lack, we turn our ideals into unrealistic idealizations and are then tyrannized by our “should's.” For example if you exaggerate a natural desire to be good, you may become a perfectionist who has to do everything right. 

From the Enneagram Perspective, these values and vulnerabilities, ideals and idealizations, adaptive and maladaptive visions, virtues and vices, resourceful and non- resourceful behaviors get expressed in nine different personality styles. Through illustrations, videos, and dialogue, this workshop will explore these complementary ways of being in the world. 

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