personality in practice: experiencing the enneagram as a chaplain power tool

Personality in Practice:Personality in Practice:Experiencing the Experiencing the Enneagram as a Enneagram as a

Chaplain Power ToolChaplain Power Tool

Wanda Burton-Crutchfield, BCCWanda Burton-Crutchfield, BCC

Honing our Emotional Honing our Emotional Intelligence: Intelligence:

Approaching the Approaching the Enneagram Enneagram

for Self-Reflectionfor Self-ReflectionSession One:Session One:

9:15am - 10:30am9:15am - 10:30am

Foreword/ DisclaimerForeword/ Disclaimer

So, Who are the Experts?So, Who are the Experts?

Ginger Lapid-Bogda, Ph.D. Ginger Lapid-Bogda, Ph.D. Bringing Out the Best in Bringing Out the Best in Yourself at Work: How to Use the Enneagram Yourself at Work: How to Use the Enneagram System for SuccessSystem for Success. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004.. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004.

Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson. Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson. Discovering Discovering Your Personality Type, Revised and ExpandedYour Personality Type, Revised and Expanded. . Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003.Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003.

Honing Our Emotional Honing Our Emotional IntelligenceIntelligence

What is Emotional What is Emotional Intelligence?Intelligence? It has two different yet It has two different yet

interconnected componentsinterconnected components IntraIntrapersonal-- “The ability to personal-- “The ability to

know oneself accurately and to know oneself accurately and to use that knowledge to operate use that knowledge to operate successfully in life”successfully in life”

InterInterpersonal-- “The ability to personal-- “The ability to understand and work well with understand and work well with others” others”

(Lapid-Bogda, xvi)(Lapid-Bogda, xvi)


The Enneagram is a The Enneagram is a powerful tool to develop powerful tool to develop emotional intelligence.emotional intelligence.

We can use the We can use the Enneagram toEnneagram to Know Ourselves BetterKnow Ourselves Better Have Compassion for Have Compassion for

OthersOthers Work Effectively in a Work Effectively in a

Communal EnvironmentCommunal Environment Lapid-BogdaLapid-Bogda


““Understanding the Understanding the Enneagram is like having a Enneagram is like having a pair of special glasses that pair of special glasses that allows us to see beneath the allows us to see beneath the surface of people with special surface of people with special clarity: we may in fact see clarity: we may in fact see them more clearly than they them more clearly than they see themselves” (Riso and see themselves” (Riso and Hudson, 3).Hudson, 3).

Exploring the EnneagramExploring the Enneagram

The WORD--The WORD--GreekGreek Ennea--Ennea--NineNine GramGram--Something written or --Something written or

drawndrawn It is a nine-points model.It is a nine-points model.

The Enneagram is a The Enneagram is a geometric figure that geometric figure that delineates nine basic delineates nine basic personality types of human personality types of human nature and their complex nature and their complex interrelationships.interrelationships.


OriginsOrigins No one knows the No one knows the

precise origins.precise origins. Roots are in Asia and the Roots are in Asia and the

Middle East.Middle East. Suspect that the idea/ Suspect that the idea/

typology/ was used typology/ was used several thousand years several thousand years ago.ago.

Exploring the EnneagramExploring the Enneagram OriginsOrigins

Brought to the attention of the Brought to the attention of the modern world by Greek-modern world by Greek-Armenian spiritual teacher, Armenian spiritual teacher, George Ivanovitch Gurdjieff, in George Ivanovitch Gurdjieff, in early 1900searly 1900s

Current typology was developed Current typology was developed by Oscar Ichazo of the Aria by Oscar Ichazo of the Aria school of self-realization in 1950s school of self-realization in 1950s and 60s (using mystical Judaism and 60s (using mystical Judaism and Christianity)and Christianity)

Attempting to integrate ancient Attempting to integrate ancient philosophical ideas with philosophical ideas with empirical observationsempirical observations

Exploring the EnneagramExploring the Enneagram The descriptions are universal The descriptions are universal

and apply equally to males and and apply equally to males and females.females.

The Enneagram uses numbers The Enneagram uses numbers to designate the types in an to designate the types in an attempt to be value neutral--attempt to be value neutral--imply a range of attitudes imply a range of attitudes without designating it as without designating it as positive or negative.positive or negative.

The numerical ranking is not The numerical ranking is not significant. Larger numbers are significant. Larger numbers are not more valuable than smaller not more valuable than smaller ones.ones.


People do not change from one People do not change from one basic type to another.basic type to another.

Not everything in a type’s Not everything in a type’s description will apply all the description will apply all the time because we fluctuate time because we fluctuate constantly among healthy, constantly among healthy, average, and unhealthy traits.average, and unhealthy traits.

No type is inherently better or No type is inherently better or worse than any other. Some worse than any other. Some types may be more desired by a types may be more desired by a particular culture or group.particular culture or group.


The Nine Enneagram The Nine Enneagram Styles represent nine Styles represent nine distinct distinct habitshabits of of ThinkingThinking FeelingFeeling Taking actionTaking action

Nine Nine UniqueUnique personal personal and spiritual pathsand spiritual paths


The Enneagram The Enneagram describes Nine basic describes Nine basic personality types found personality types found in human nature that are in human nature that are “all equally useful and “all equally useful and valid and have valid and have something necessary to something necessary to contribute to a thriving, contribute to a thriving, balanced world” balanced world” (Riso/Hudson, 5). (Riso/Hudson, 5).

Exploring the EnneagramExploring the Enneagram We can find ourselves reflected in We can find ourselves reflected in

the the wholewhole of it. The of it. The wholewhole Enneagram is within us.Enneagram is within us.

The Nine are metaphors for the The Nine are metaphors for the various psychological functions various psychological functions operating in each of us.operating in each of us.

Inborn--temperamentInborn--temperament Heredity and childhood experiences Heredity and childhood experiences

shape us as well.shape us as well. We use the strengths and limitations We use the strengths and limitations

of our temperaments to cope with the of our temperaments to cope with the stresses in our environment.stresses in our environment.

Exploring the EnneagramExploring the Enneagram Each of us has one Each of us has one dominantdominant type. type.

Default setting Default setting Motivational coreMotivational core Driving our ego agendasDriving our ego agendas

Enneagram style remains the same Enneagram style remains the same throughout one’s lifetime.throughout one’s lifetime. Characteristics may soften or become Characteristics may soften or become

more pronounced as we grow and more pronounced as we grow and develop.develop.

Our core pattern is naturally linked to Our core pattern is naturally linked to four others, so two or three types may four others, so two or three types may seem to match.seem to match.

Personality in PracticePersonality in Practice The Enneagram helps people The Enneagram helps people

recognize and understand overall recognize and understand overall patterns in human behavior patterns in human behavior (Riso/Hudson, 5).(Riso/Hudson, 5). External behaviorsExternal behaviors Underlying attitudesUnderlying attitudes One’s characteristic sense of selfOne’s characteristic sense of self Conscious and unconscious Conscious and unconscious

motivationsmotivations Emotional reactionsEmotional reactions Defense mechanismsDefense mechanisms Object relationsObject relations What we pay attention toWhat we pay attention to Our spiritual barriers and potentialsOur spiritual barriers and potentials

Personality in PracticePersonality in Practice

““Always remember that Always remember that the Enneagram does not the Enneagram does not put you in a box--it put you in a box--it shows you the box you shows you the box you are already in (but don’t are already in (but don’t know it) and the way know it) and the way out!”out!” Riso and HudsonRiso and Hudson


The Enneagram is the The Enneagram is the “key that can open the “key that can open the door to a deep door to a deep understanding of the self understanding of the self and the connections and the connections among personality, among personality, psychological psychological development, and development, and spiritual transformation.”spiritual transformation.”

Lapid-BogdaLapid-Bogda


Spiritual as well as Spiritual as well as Psychological Psychological FoundationFoundation Psychological growth = Psychological growth =

Ability to Function more Ability to Function more effectivelyeffectively

Spiritual growth = Spiritual growth = Acceptance of self, Acceptance of self, compassion for otherscompassion for others


We have two selvesWe have two selves Automatic, unconsciousAutomatic, unconscious Secondary that can watch the Secondary that can watch the

mechanics of one’s own mindmechanics of one’s own mind

Through the Enneagram weThrough the Enneagram we Discover our TypeDiscover our Type Learn to recognize and relax Learn to recognize and relax

the personality patterns that the personality patterns that do not bring out our bestdo not bring out our best

Helen Palmer (Lapid-Helen Palmer (Lapid-Bogda’s teacher)Bogda’s teacher)

Personality in PracticePersonality in Practice ““Our personalities are based Our personalities are based

primarily on repetitive habits and primarily on repetitive habits and patterns” (Riso/Hudson, 8).patterns” (Riso/Hudson, 8).

Personality is not all of who we are Personality is not all of who we are but the “filter” that affects the way but the “filter” that affects the way we see and interact with our world.we see and interact with our world.

We study the Enneagram to identify We study the Enneagram to identify the “chief features and barriers of our the “chief features and barriers of our psychic landscape” so that we might psychic landscape” so that we might “prepare for a more profoundly “prepare for a more profoundly direct and spiritual relationship with direct and spiritual relationship with reality” (Riso-Hudson, 8).reality” (Riso-Hudson, 8).

Personality in PracticePersonality in Practice The Key to Transformation…The Key to Transformation…

Lies in our ability to be Lies in our ability to be presentpresent To abide in the here and now, with our To abide in the here and now, with our

minds, hearts, bodies, and spirits fully minds, hearts, bodies, and spirits fully engagedengaged

Our personality is Our personality is not at all interested in not at all interested in the here and now.the here and now.

Personality constantly draws us Personality constantly draws us somewhere elsesomewhere else--habitual thoughts, --habitual thoughts, emotional reactions, fantasies about the emotional reactions, fantasies about the future, and old stories about who we are future, and old stories about who we are and what others have done to us cloud and what others have done to us cloud our awareness.our awareness.

Don Riso and Russ HudsonDon Riso and Russ Hudson


This work is perfect This work is perfect chaplaincy work.chaplaincy work. Finding ways to awaken our Finding ways to awaken our

true conditiontrue condition Once awake, being mindful of Once awake, being mindful of

“the siren calls of personality” “the siren calls of personality” (Riso/Hudson, 9)(Riso/Hudson, 9)

Possess a capacity to bring a Possess a capacity to bring a non-judgmental awareness to non-judgmental awareness to our own reactivityour own reactivity


We are on a journey to We are on a journey to discover a self that is not discover a self that is not conflicted, self-deluding, or conflicted, self-deluding, or fearful.fearful.

Once we discover the Once we discover the mechanical aspects of mechanical aspects of temperament--automatic, temperament--automatic, reactive, and defensive reactive, and defensive patterns--we are less patterns--we are less controlled by them.controlled by them.


CAUTION:CAUTION: The Enneagram can become The Enneagram can become

another another labellabel through which through which we hide.we hide.

We might find our type but go We might find our type but go no further.no further.

Obstacle to growthObstacle to growth We need to make room for We need to make room for

grace.grace. At our deepest, we are more At our deepest, we are more

than our personality.than our personality.

Personality in PracticePersonality in Practice CAUTION:CAUTION:

Exploring the Enneagram is not Exploring the Enneagram is not about “fixing” ourselves but about “fixing” ourselves but gaining access to our higher gaining access to our higher essential qualities.essential qualities.

AcceptanceAcceptance LoveLove AuthenticityAuthenticity ForgivenessForgiveness CompassionCompassion CourageCourage JoyJoy StrengthStrength PresencePresence GratitudeGratitude

Personality in PracticePersonality in Practice ““The Enneagram takes us to the The Enneagram takes us to the

threshold of spirit and freedom, threshold of spirit and freedom, love and liberation, self-love and liberation, self-surrender and self-actualization. surrender and self-actualization. Once we have arrived at that Once we have arrived at that uncharted land, we will begin to uncharted land, we will begin to recognize our truest self, the self recognize our truest self, the self beyond personality, the self of beyond personality, the self of essence. That self, of course, essence. That self, of course, cannot be tested by a cannot be tested by a questionnaire, but only by life questionnaire, but only by life itself.” (Riso/ Hudson, 11)itself.” (Riso/ Hudson, 11)

Moment for ReflectionMoment for Reflection

CreditsCredits

Ginger Lapid-Bogda, Ph.D. Ginger Lapid-Bogda, Ph.D. Bringing Out the Best in Bringing Out the Best in Yourself at Work: How to Use the Enneagram Yourself at Work: How to Use the Enneagram System for SuccessSystem for Success. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004.. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004.

Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson. Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson. Discovering Discovering Your Personality Type, Revised and ExpandedYour Personality Type, Revised and Expanded. . Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003.Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003.

““Knick Knack.” PIXAR Short Films Collection. Knick Knack.” PIXAR Short Films Collection. Pixar Animation Studios, 1989.Pixar Animation Studios, 1989.

personality in practice: experiencing the enneagram as a chaplain power tool

Documents

enneagramthe enneagram

enneagram styles

enneagram toknow

enneagram system

emotional intelligencewhat

basic type

types description

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