This post contains affiliate links, thank you for supporting The Okayest Moms!
I’ve always been obsessed with personality tests, so it’s no surprise I love the enneagram. In college I took the Myers-Briggs and was super disappointed that I was an INFJ. Introvert?! I wasn’t shy, what the heck. After more research, I learned more about what it means to be an introvert––that not all introverts are shy. The key difference between introverts and extroverts is the way they gain their energy. For me, alone time recharges me, whereas an extrovert can be recharged by being around other people. An introvert tends to hate small talk–which is why I felt so drained at the end of every day being the main receptionist in a busy college office. Gaining all of this knowledge about myself was key information for helping future Brittany–in relationships, as a mom, and beyond.
How I Discovered the Enneagram
About six months ago someone I know shared a post from the Enneagram & Coffee Instagram page. I read it, and thought, hmm I wonder which one I am.
There are many, many enneagram tests online, both free and paid. I took about eleventy billion of them. The most succinct, logical one from came from this book. I highly recommend this route if you are trying to type yourself.
Let’s back up a bit–what the heck is the Enneagram?
The Ennegram is a dynamic personality system that describes nine unique, and independent ways of thinking, feeling, and acting.
It basically breaks down what you believe to be true and how you use that in your life for survival and satisfaction. I love it because it’s such a great personal growth tool and it’s useful for anyone, in any phase of life within your relationships, at work, and (as I’ve found to be especially true) as a parent.
A few tidbits I’ve learned along the way
- I’m definitely not an expert on the Enneagram, I only know what my experience has taught me these past few months as I read allllll of the things I possibly can.
- It might take a while to learn your type. For me, it was pretty obvious but for Heather, she went back and forth between two types for a few weeks before she felt she really had a grasp on which one was hers.
- The Enneagram is complex–when it comes to the wings, sub-types, and centers of intelligence, it can get overwhelming. If you’re interested in learning, just take it one chunk at a time. It makes sense for it to be complex, humans are complex and self-discovery takes time.
- If you don’t like or cringe at a type, that one is most likely yours. It’s like holding up a mirror to our vulnerabilities which is always uncomfortable.
Other books about the Enneagram I enjoyed
My favorite Enneagram-inspired Instagram accounts
@enneagramandcoffee, like I said above, is one of the first accounts I started following. I love her!
Who doesn’t love a great meme account? I’m embarrassed to admit I spent way too much time on @enneagramandmemes when I first discovered it, there are some good ones!
Another great meme account with some informational/learning posts thrown in there is @enneagramvibes.
This account is informational and super inspiring. I love this self-care series that @ginagomez.co did and she has a ton of other great content as well!
Want to learn more about the Enneagram from an actual expert? Check out our webinar on the Enneagram & Motherhood with Leslie Hershberger here!
[…] Do You Know Your Enneagram Type? […]