Enneagram Articles by Holly Hogue

• What is the Enneagram?
• Holly's Interpretation of the History of the Enneagram
• Handwriting Analysis of a 7 on the Enneagram
• For further information email Holly

At an early age we formed our personalties through learned strategies and reactions to our parental figures. Our issues were created around one of three basic areas: security, control, or approval. We selected lessons about security, control, or approval based on thought patterns formed during childhood. If you want to discover which type you are on the Enneagram, it will be necessary to be completely honest with yourself. Which was most important to you while you were growing up — security, control, or approval? Whatever triggered you when you were growing up is causing you to react the way you do today. Once you understand where your thought processes originate, you can restructure the energy of your personality if you’re not happy with your current direction.

Visualize yourself travelling back in this life to an age where you discovered you were an individual. Relax and journey back in time. See yourself getting younger amd going back into your childhood. Ask to remember your childhood and to return to a time when your personality was forming. Feel your awareness growing stronger as you travel back into your childhood. Ask to remember your feelings and observe the relationships which helped you form your personality. Feel yourself going back to the time when you realized you were an individual. Take a few moments to adjust to your surroundings. Look at your feet, your clothes, and then look at your surroundings. How did you wear your hair? How old are you? What is going on?

Bring your parents into focus. At this age of self-discovery, how did you relate with your parents? Who comes into focus first? What part does your family play in your life at this age?

Who else is there? Take a look at your friends. Look for surprises. How did you feel about your friends? How did your friends feel about you?

Now look at yourself at this age. What is your self-image? Look into your own eyes and see your inner child's thoughts. Ask to remember a significant event which helped you form your personality. Observe everything possible.

1

• I always had to behave myself.
• What childhood? I always had to be the adult.
• In my father’s eyes, I had many areas where I needed to improve myself.
• My father didn’t waste time blaming me or wanting to punish me for everything.
• I felt like I was walking on egg shells all the time.
• I had to hold in my true desires.
• My father expected me to be perfect.
• I always knew right from wrong.
• Why did I have to be perfect and nobody else seemed to have this requirement?
• Even when I was good I needed to be better.
• Others saw me as the model child.
• It didn’t matter how I felt, my parents always had the final say in everything.

Back to top of list

2

• I knew deep down I was always good.
• I loved my father, but I didn’t like him sometimes.
• It felt like I was always giving more than I received.
• I went out of my way to be nice so everyone would love me.
• I tried harder to please people when they were disappointed in me, especially my dad.
• Why didn’t everyone love me the way I loved them?
• It felt really good to be needed, until they took advantage of my generosity.
• I believe I always gave out good advice.
• I was the best friend anyone could ever have.
• Many times I went out of my way to help others.
• There was never enough love for me.
• Others saw me as kind and good.

Back to top of list

3

• I loved my mother, because she helped me believe I could do anything and everything.
• I always achieved my goals.
• I saw all of my dreams as realities.
• I never really had any true friends.
• My emotions never got in my way.
• White lies were okay.
• I had to be doing something important or worthwhile all the time.
• Everyone commented that I had lots of energy, but I felt like I needed more to accomplish everything I wanted.
• Nobody knew or loved me for me, they just loved my accomplishments.
• Things didn’t happen fast enough. I wanted everything NOW.
• Others seemed to slow me down or get in my way.
• Others admired everything I did.

Back to top of list

4

• No matter how hard I tried, my parents didn’t seem to be interested in me.
• I wanted to know everything about myself, but the more I looked, the less I liked.
• Nobody understood my suffering.
• Nobody loved me.
• My family and friends didn't let me in.
• I felt all alone most of the time. I didn't feel good and I didn't know why.
• Love was missing from my life and I was helpless to retrieve that love.
• Love was missing from my life and I felt helpless.
• I often wished I were dead.
• I hardly remember any happy moments during my childgood, except for my dreams.
• I stuck around because I knew justice would be done.
• I always had my own set of rules.
• Others didn't see me..

Back to top of list

5

• I loved my parents, but I didn’t like the way they wanted me to be sometimes.
• I didn’t want to get too close to anyone because I didn’t like being controlled.
• I wouldn’t tell anyone what I was thinking.
• I couldn’t learn enough.
• I wanted to know all the facts, possibilities and probabilities and mentally prepared for everything I did.
• I appreciated everything I had.
• Deep down, I knew the world could be a better place.
• It was truly wonderful when I had my own space.
• I liked being one step ahead.
• My thoughts were important to me.
• Daydreaming was my favorite pastime.
• Others saw me as scholarly.

Back to top of list

6

• My father gave me good guidance.
• I was always careful about doing things properly.
• I liked to know how far I was allowed to go.
• I obeyed the rules.
• I had to be certain about everything so I could act responsibly.
• I had a hard time trusting others.
• Often, I imagined what other people’s reactions would be.
• I liked to get as many opinions as I could and then make my own conclusions.
• I was a good team player because I always did what was expected of me and I knew how to be fair.
• There was good reason for me to be cautious.
• Sometimes people thought I asked too many questions.
• Others saw me as obedient.

Back to top of list

7

• I only remember having fun.
• No matter what I collected, there was always room for more.
• I welcomed challenges, dares and bets.
• People always came to me to play.
• I really knew how to liven things up.
• My mother didn’t understand me, but that was okay.
• I knew how to get away from boring people.
• I had at least a million friends, but none of them were what I’d call close friends.
• I was always good at everything and wanted to do it all.
• I went to great lengths to plan things, and then I wanted to plan something else.
• I didn’t like being pinned down or put on the spot.
• Others saw me as clever.

Back to top of list

8

• I loved my mother, but I was so much stronger than she was.
• Nobody could control me!
• It was up to me to defend myself.
• I protected everyone because they couldn’t protect themselves.
• I was never afraid.
• You didn’t want to get in my way when I was angry.
• My friends knew who they were.
• I liked a good fight.
• Rules were made to be broken.
• I’ve always been a leader.
• I didn’t like cry-babies.
• Sure I wanted love, unless it made me weak.
• Others saw me as fearless and strong.

Back to top of list

9

• My parents were really nice.
• It was a waste of breath to yell or get upset.
• I never minded doing what everyone else wanted to do.
• I had a difficult time making up my mind.
• I could identify with everyone.
• It was much easier to go with the flow.
• There was no use in getting upset.
• I didn’t like to have too many choices because it was confusing.
• Everyone had a right to their opinion.
• I didn’t mind letting others have their way.
• I wouldn’t mind going back to those days.
• Others saw me as easy-going.

Back to top of list