I'm starting 2018 with another Five Minute Friday post: we are given a one-word prompt and write about it for five minutes. This week's word is MOTIVATE.
I love reading about the Enneagram. It's a kind of psychological/spiritual model based on nine interconnected personality types. I'm currently reading Chris Heuertz's book The Sacred Enneagram; after that I'll read a new book I got recently, Marilyn Vancil's Self to Lose, Self to Find. Both of these books look at the Enneagram from a Christian perspective.(Ian Cron and Suzanne Stabile's The Road Back to You is another great resource on the Enneagram, especially for those who aren't familiar with it and want to learn the basics.)
One of the Enneagram's main focal points is the core motivation of each type. I am a Six on the Enneagram; the Six's core motivation is fear or anxiety. When I read descriptions of the Six, I get an uncomfortable, slightly embarrassed feeling: Yes, that's me all right.
I'm the child who was afraid to go outside in case the Apollo spaceship fell on my head.
I'm the person who reads something in the newspaper about (let's say) bedbugs and thinks, "Oh, no, bedbugs. I wonder if we have bedbugs. OMG, LOOK, A BEDBUG! No, wait, that's a flax seed..."
I'm the person who sees a freezing-rain warning and thinks, "OK, we're going to have freezing rain and the power's going to go off and the sump pump won't work and the basement will flood..."
Someone I follow on Twitter is creating Enneagram mugs, and the mug for type Six says "I'm a 6, and I saw this coming." That rings true to me. Sixes are so good at anticipating the worst. And while the dreaded thing often doesn't happen at all, when it does the Six faces it with calm resolve. There's almost a sense of relief that finally it's happened, just as we knew it would.
I can laugh about it, but being driven by fear can be kind of exhausting. And my little examples don't even come close to the kind of fear some people experience on a daily basis.
God never meant for us to live motivated by fear. According to the Enneagram, the antidote to fear is faith. I need more faith in 2018.
"Lord, I believe; help my unbelief." - Mark 9:24
Jeannie, I appreciate your honesty and sense of humor. Thanks also for the reminder that our Father never meant for us to live motivated by fear and provided the antidote. Blessings to you. Visiting from FMF
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for coming by to read. Hope to connect with you again on FMF.
DeleteI have never heard of this before! Now, I am Googling "free Enneagram test" to see what number I am... and I'm a 5. Seems legit. Thanks for teaching me something new while speaking truth. (FMF #75)
ReplyDeleteHi Tanya, glad you found this interesting. I can definitely relate to a lot of Five traits. Would love to know what else you find out if you explore it more! Great to have you here today.
DeleteLoved this. But, I’ve given up on figuring out my enneagram...all this wing things. I have read many of those same books, but, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's just not the right thing for you right now, Gwen. I'm sure you'll figure it out if and when the time is right!
DeleteThe Ennegram is so interesting - love where you look this prompt!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Denise - really appreciate you coming by to read!
DeleteI’m more of a fan of the MBTI personality typing, but I have looked at the enneagram stuff a bit and believe I am a four. I, too, struggle with fear and anxiety, though! So true that God doesn’t want us to live there! He is our peace.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by to read and comment, Kiel. I am so grateful that God understands our weaknesses and gives us that peace and courage, because I certainly don't have it on my own.
DeleteSuch a great post Jeannie. I have never taken an Enneagram assessment. I think that anything that helps us understand why we do what we do is great! I might have to check it out.
ReplyDeletePS Thanks for the giggles too.
Visiting from FMF #68 today
Holding tightly to faith!
Kelly
Thanks so much, Kelly. I think you'd find the Enneagram interesting. I agree that it is good to be aware of our own motives and patterns.
DeleteThe 2 fits me to a T! But I think I probably have a 6 wing.
ReplyDeleteHi Tara, you can only have a wing that is right next to your number; e.g. a Two can only have a One wing or a Three wing. But there are always a lot of variations even within types. Thanks for coming by to read!
DeleteI love this Jeannie. I'm not familiar with Enneagram, so I don't know if I could be a 6, but oh I've had thoughts just like those! :)
ReplyDeleteWell, if you ever do decide to check it out, let me know what type you turn out to be! Thanks Betsy.
DeleteI'm going to have to read up on the Enneagram--it all sounds so fascinating! May God be with you as you journey towards a more faith-filled life!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Anita -- and I'm glad you were able to leave the comment (I think you'd said in the FB group that you were having some trouble commenting?).
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