How to Feel Certain During Change and Drain Based on Your Enneagram Type

When we are ready for it and have the time to prepare ourselves both physically and emotionally, change can be an energizing and emboldening step toward growth. But what impacts does unanticipated change have on our well-being? And how can we feel certain about ourselves and the decisions we make amidst such uncertain times? When the road bumps we did not anticipate are seemingly never-ending, it can lead to a vicious cycle of change and drain.

As the world transforms around you, however, you have the opportunity to look inward and discover the small actions you can take to turn emotional exhaustion into self-assurance.

We turn to the Enneagram, a self-awareness tool based on nine basic personality types. In the Enneagram, the three “centers” make up one of the primary triads that focuses on the sensations that help us feel present and assured.  When we effectively tap into these sensations, we’re able to achieve a higher level of mindfulness, which in turn helps us make decisions more confidently, even when the circumstances feel unfamiliar.

Although deepening our relationship with all three centers (Action, Feeling, and Thinking) is essential to achieving presence and awareness, everyone’s Enneagram type lands them predominantly in one of the three centers. Using the knowledge we have about the three Enneagram centers, we’re able to address the cycle of change and drain with more mindfulness, presence and clarity. 

If you’re in the Action Center (8, 9, 1), try…

Getting physical! This can mean working out or taking a stretch break, but it can also look like reorganizing your desk. The stresses that come with unanticipated change won’t serve you well if you don’t allow for a physical release through movement. 

If you’re in the Feeling Center (2, 3, 4), try…

Connecting to the heart. Whose voice would be good to hear on the phone? What movie or book will make you feel warm inside? Change can be a heavy feeling and there is a lot of weight on your shoulders. Do something that feels true to you.

If you’re in the Thinking Center (5, 6, 7), try...

Deepening your knowledge of yourself and the world around you through reading, listening to podcasts, and engaging in intellectual discussions. You’re satisfied by answers, but unforeseen change usually carries few explanations. Write down the questions that are weighing on you and be okay with not having an immediate solution.