ENNEAGRAM 7
ENTHUSIASTIC VISIONARY
This is the last number of the Enneagram series - Enneagram 7 - and also the last Enneagram type of the THINKING CENTRE of the Enneagram. The Enneagram Seven is the ENTHUSIASTIC VISIONARY and they are also called The CONNOISSEUR, or The DILETTANTE.
“The future is full of exciting possibilities and I must experience it all! I’m ok; I deserve what I want. What’s next? I must move forward; I must have my freedom.“
ENNEAGRAM 7:
“How could there be any question of acquiring or possessing, when the one thing needful for a man is to become — to be at last, and to die in the fullness of his being.” — Antoine de Saint Exupéry
Enneagram Sevens have the motivational need to experience life to the fullest and avoid pain at all costs. Sevens value a sense of freedom and prefer to focus on optimism, being inspired, and taking opportunities as they present themselves. Sevens approach life as an adventure and appreciate being playful and spontaneous.
And here are the four v’s of Enneagram Seven:
Vulnerability (or core fear) - Limitation
Enneagram Sevens avoid any form of restriction and limitation, with the deeply rooted fear that if they are limited in any way, they will not be free to escape discomfort and pain.
Vice - Gluttony
The vice of gluttony is the greedy or excessive indulgence in any desire. Sevens can be insatiably hungry for new sensations, pleasures, experiences, and ideas. Identifying with the self-image of “I am ok”, together with an optimistic mindset, they constantly seek enjoyment, believing that if little is good, then more must be better. Others may envy their rich, full life and yet Sevens may still feel unsatisfied. New encounters may please the ego but do not necessarily satisfy the real self.
Value - Joy
As Sevens value a sense of freedom, they focus on optimism, being inspired, making the world a happier place, and taking opportunities as they present themselves.
Virtue - Sobriety
Sobriety tempers type Seven’s gluttonous hunger for stimulation. Moderating themselves by slowing down and anchoring themselves in the here and now, they experience more of a quality vs. quantity life balance.
“Pleasure is the object, the duty, and the goal of all rational creatures.” — Voltaire
At their best, others will experience Sevens as content and serene, when they are able to embrace sobriety and become present to themselves and the world around them.
At a less healthy level, others may experience Sevens as impulsive, uncommitted, and unfocused as they are distracted by their insatiable search for fulfillment and a fear of missing out.
Of course, Sevens also have their blind spots which, when knowing and embracing them, gives them the opportunity to grow:
The Seven is very quick to synthesize and learn new information and skills. They may, however, overestimate the extent to which they have truly mastered and absorbed this knowledge. They may position themselves as an “instant expert” without having the depth of knowledge that is required for true expertise. This may lead people to question not only their capability but their authenticity.
The Seven needs to be active and engaged and their highly active body language, communication style, and thoughts may be stimulating to them but can be distracting and frustrating to others. If their style results in fidgeting or pacing, people may not properly pay attention to their ideas. The Seven may not be aware of the extent to which this impacts others and group processes.
Their active and quick mind may lead Sevens to assume that they know what other people are going to say. As a result, they may not listen fully to what people are really saying.
Sevens may want to feel totally accepting of themselves, but constantly avoid the things that will enable them to feel this way. In rationalizing mistakes, moving towards positive emotions, and seeking excitement, Sevens may be keeping themselves from experiencing themselves as a whole.
Sevens may mask fear and unwillingness by expressing and tuning in to boredom. When they feel terrified about something, they may end up tuning in to the ways in which this opportunity will limit them to avoid facing their fears.
People often enjoy being around Sevens, as their full energy and exciting ideas, and their positive energy can be infectious. At the same time, others may experience them as unfocussed, arrogant, and irresponsible, and may find it challenging to keep up with or keep track of them.
In summary, Sevens have a high level of activity and a quick and active mind - a monkey or popcorn brain, popping out ideas very quickly - but not always following up on these ideas. They will go out of their way to avoid pain whenever they can. Sevens are otherwise often charismatic, interesting, and inspiring to be around, and you will most likely never have a boring moment with them.
“No pleasure is evil in itself; but that means by which certain pleasures are gained bring pains many times greater than the pleasures.” — Epicurus
🎶My Song of the Week
Choosing a song was very simple this week and it just had to be Queen with I Want It All!
For more good music, go to this Spotify playlist where you can find all the songs from the Change & Evolve Letters!
📚My Poem of the Week
I struggled to find one for the Enneagram Seven the most but finally found one that is perfect. It is by E.E. Cummings (1894-1962))
i thank You God
i thank You God for most this amazing day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes (i who have died am alive again today, and this is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth day of life and of love and wings: and of the gay great happening illimitably earth) how should tasting touching hearing seeing breathing any—lifted from the no of all nothing—human merely being doubt unimaginable You? (now the ears of my ears awake and now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
👀Impressions
The totem of the Enneagram 7 is the, not unsurprisingly, monkey
I hope you enjoyed this little insight into the Enneagram, my work, and my passion over the past weeks. I can tell you that I barely scratched the surface of what the Enneagram is and what you can do with it. For my part, I very much enjoyed sharing this with you!
If I piqued your interest to find out more about the Enneagram, your type, and yourself, and how it can transform you and your life, I would be happy to take the time for a speed coaching call that you can reserve right here, go to my website or simply hit reply and get in touch with me directly.
Wishing you a wonderful start to your weekend!
Yours
Tanja 🤗