Enneagram Self-Reflection:What traits of your Ennea-type do you not identify with?

What traits of your Ennea-type do you not identify with?

Now, I think that I’m going to a healthy type seven thanks to meditation and the effort to enjoy the present moment, so I don’t identify with an unhealthy and average seven’s traits so much.  Under stress, type seven tends to go to average type one.  Sevens are likely to come up with a lot of ideas and plans, so they tend to move from one activity to another very quickly.  As a result, Sevens sometimes may not accomplish their initial plans or goals, so they feel frustrated with themselves.  In such situations, “they begin to behave like average Ones-pulling in the reins on themselves and trying to get more organized and self-controlled” (Riso & Hudson, 2003, p. 150).  Sevens who go to average Ones are likely to criticize their own unique ideas without putting them into practice.  Furthermore, they cannot stand the feeling of dissatisfaction with others and external environment.  Therefore, they regard that everything doesn’t meet their expectations, and then they become perfectionists and begin to criticize not only themselves but also others.  In my recent life, I can’t see the above traits, so I seem not to identify with seven’s traits under stress (unhealthy: level 7 to 9).

As for average levels of type seven, Sevens often think that they have a strong responsibility to entertain others and to fill their environment with positive and exciting energy.  In consequence, the sense of responsibility sometimes makes them withdraw from others and to be isolated, like Fives.  In fact, at such times, they don’t want to be connected with others, and they try to restore their energy by being alone (Riso & Hudson, 2003).  The above traits are the characteristics of average type seven, so they sometimes appear in me.  However, as I consider more details, average levels are categorized into three levels.  I noticed that two of the three characteristics seldom appeared in me.  Specifically, the first is that

Sevens worry that they will be bored or frustrated and that painful feelings will arise, so they try to keep themselves excited and occupied.  They pump up the energy around them by talking, joking around, and pursuing new adventures, but they are often distracted and unfocused. (Riso & Hudson, 1999, p. 270)

I don’t identify with the trait (average level 5) in daily life as type seven.  In addition, the second (average level 6) is that

Sevens are afraid that there will not be enough of whatever they believe they need, so they become impatient, seeking instant gratification.  They can be very demanding but are seldom satisfied when their demands are met.  Jaded and wasteful, they are cavalier about their habits, denying guilt. (Riso & Hudson, 1999, p. 270)

Thanks to the concept of nine levels of development, I understand that I don’t have the characteristics of level 5 and 6 of type seven.  Furthermore, I also found that I didn’t identify with level 1 in healthy type seven.  Level 1 is the most desirable state, and the trait is the following

Sevens let go of the belief that they require specific objects and experiences to feel fulfilled, so they are able to fully assimilate their experiences and be nourished by them.  They also paradoxically achieve their Basic Desire-to be satisfied and content, to have their needs fulfilled-and they become appreciative, ecstatic, and deeply grateful.　 (Riso & Hudson, 1999, p. 270)

After reading the above trait, I noticed that I didn’t and couldn’t let go of my belief that I seek materials and experiences to satisfy my feelings.  For me, a sense of gratitude for everything around me is missing.  In other words, I don’t fully cultivate spiritual aspects to feel a profound sense of gratitude for materials, people, nature, and the universe itself.  Therefore, I don’t see the characteristic of level 1 which is some kind of high spiritual dimension.  By virtue of this question, I figured out that my levels of development ranges from level 2 to level 4.    

Music Yoga: Sibelius “Finlandia” Practice Memo

Yesterday, my friend (my study partner in Japan) and I studied and practiced Integral Life Practice (we practice various types of works every other week through Skype).

Last time, I facilitated “Movie Yoga”, so my friend facilitated “Music Yoga” in return yesterday.  The concept is same as Movie Yoga.  In other words, we listen to the music applying the most important concept of Movie Yoga (Safe Zone, Trapped Zone, War Zone, and Free Zone). 

I felt a tingle up my spine maybe four times in the song.  The song truly resonated with me…This practice is like “mindful listening.” 

Finished Two Final Papers + Volunteer Work for Integral Leadership Collaborative

I finished the two of three final papers right now.  The one is in Enneagram Assessment class, and the other is in Symbols and Dreams class.  Today, I’d like to work for Integral Leadership Collaborative.  I really respect other volunteer staffs, because they are really hard workers.  I’ll pull my weight.

Enneagram Self-Reflection:What patterns of behavior are you now aware of that you weren’t previously aware of?

 What patterns of behavior are you now aware of that you weren’t previously aware of?

Now, I’m aware of my dominant emotional patterns as type seven.  Riso and Hudson (2003) point out that “Sevens have anxiety about their inner world.  There are feelings of pain, loss, deprivation, and the general anxiety that Sevens would like to avoid as much as possible” (p. 70).  In fact, I tended to lock away anxious feelings, and I tried to forget them by doing other activities without facing the root of the problem.  However, as I learn the Enneagram, I can grasp my thinking and behavioral patterns as type seven, so I become able to cope with my anxious feelings very well.  To tell you the truth, I sometimes feel worried about my future, for instance, my career and my life.  If I had been my old self before studying the Enneagram, I couldn’t have faced the insecure feeling in an appropriate way.  Perhaps, I would have avoided the negative feelings by engaging in other activities, but now I courageously face the anxious feelings by virtue of the wisdom of the Enneagram.  The Enneagram made me notice my behavioral patterns and that I was likely to avoid negative feelings. 

Moreover, one of my weaknesses as type seven is that I always think of my future, and my mind is always busy.  My usual inner conversations are like this “What is the most exciting job in my future?”, “What should I do next?”, “What do I do next?” etc. Considering these inner conversations, I can understand that I often focus on my future things, the word “next” and focus on interesting activities, the word “do”.  The more I think too much about the future, the more difficult it is for me to enjoy the present moment.  Here, I have to keep in mind that the key factor of transformation is being present (Riso & Hudson, 2003) and “real transformation only takes place when we are living in real time, which is another way of saying when we are present, fully existing in the now” (Maitri, 2000, p. 226).  In order to be here and now, I practice meditation every day, and I try to fully enjoy the present moment.

Although the above characteristics which I was not aware of are negative, I found some positive patterns as type seven.  When I was young, I regarded self-actualization as attaining something for me.  For example, I almost always thought “What is possible to accomplish for myself?”  In a word, my enjoyment in my life arose from the motivation to do something for “me.”  However, this idea is gradually changing from day to day.  I notice that my self-actualization is related to others.  In other words, my self-actualization is not attaining something for “me” but accomplishing something for “others.”  Actually, I take great pleasure from the words “Thank you!” from others.  When I was a consultant in Japan, the words “Thank you so much.” from my clients or my managers brought me real happiness, and that was my breath of life.  Riso and Hudson (1999) demonstrate that “They know that their primary enjoyment of life comes from contributing something to the world” (p. 283).  I really would like to contribute something to people around me, our societies, and our world beyond my ego.  Doing something for others, societies, and the world is a great satisfaction in my life.  

Integral Leadership Collaborative: Day 4

Integral Leadership Collaborative day 4 is now starting!

Noon (Central Time) Don Beck,  Integral Leadership in the Real World: How to Design for Peace, Transform Organizations and Reshape Communities

4 pm Cindy Wigglesworth, Spirituality and Integral Leadership

8 pm Terri O'Fallon, Growing Up is Waking Up: The Autopoietic Nature of Leadership and Collectives

 http://www.integralleadershipcollaborative.com/fe/13628-the-conference

Impulse to flee

In the process of self-reflection, I sometimes feel an impulse to flee from facing me…  I know merit of self-reflection.  That would be helpful to seek “true self.”  However, the path to true self always causes a pain.  Pain?  Pain with true transformation…

Enneagram Self-Reflection: What insights have you gained about how your Ennea-type operates in your life? Having this insight, will you do anything differently?

What insights have you gained about how your Ennea-type operates in your life?  Having this insight, will you do anything differently?

I have gained a lot of insights about how my Ennea-type (seven) operates in my life after studying the Enneagram.  Firstly, as Palmer (1995) proposes, Sevens are likely to be occupied with a lot of ideas or thoughts, and they tend to focus on future plans.  To tell you the truth, I think that I’m always busy in my mind, so I sometimes can’t focus on the issues at hand.  Now, I understand that I have to concentrate on challenges facing me by virtue of the wisdom of the Enneagram.  Especially, as for my spiritual practice, the wisdom of the Enneagram is so helpful.  As mentioned about my zen meditation practice on the above question, I could not stand sitting for only a few minutes when I was at the beginning of practicing the zen meditation.  That was because a dozen thoughts crowded my mind.  A lot of thoughts disturbed my inner peace, so I gave up practicing the meditation soon then I used to tackle other things.  “If the mind becomes fascinated with the delights of outer life, then spiritual work deteriorates to pleasant planning and gluttony for life experience” (Palmer, 1995, p. 175).  That was the trap which I fell into very much.  However, fortunately, since I recognized the fact, I have restored tranquility, serenity, and peace of mind in my life by continuing zen meditation every day even if the meditation time is short.

Secondly, the wisdom of the Enneagram provided me with the opportunity to find my shadow pattern and to practice a shadow work.  Wilber (2007) explains that shadow work is one of the most important practices in order to develop ourselves.  In my view, the Enneagram is compatible with shadow work.  When I notice that the basic fear, basic desire, superego message, and wake-up call for type seven appear, that’s a good chance to practice a shadow work for me.  For instance, Sevens don’t want others to control the circumstance, but if I feel uncomfortable with the situation that others control me, I’ll be able to find my unique shadow pattern.  Then, I’ll transform my shadow into the power to develop my personal growth.  That is the one of the useful insights in the Enneagram for me.

Thirdly, the Enneagram showed me the nine levels of each type.  The concept was insightful for me.  The first reason is that I can recognize at which levels my center of gravity is by using this concept.  By noticing my current states of levels, I can understand whether I am at healthy levels or not.  If I fall into an unhealthy level, and I can notice that, I may be able to shift the level into an average or healthy level.  The second reason is related to “Integral Theory” which Ken Wilber proposed.  Now, I study it in Integral Psychology program at John F. Kennedy University, but the concept of nine levels of types is similar to the idea of “States of Consciousness” (Wilber, 2006, p. 71).  In a word, states of consciousness indicate the temporary, unsteady, and changeable states of human consciousness.  Like states of consciousness, nine levels of types move up and down in a single day (Riso & Hudson, 1999).  The concept of nine levels of types enhanced my understanding of Integral Theory, too.

Lastly, the path of integration and dis-integration about type seven gave me the hint to transform me.  Regarding the dis-integration of type seven, I could understand the cause for Sevens to go to type one when Sevens are under stressful conditions.  In other words, if I attempt to educate others like average Ones, I’ll be able to notice that I’ll go in the wrong direction, say, I’ll fall into dis-integration.  On the other hand, the integration for Sevens is going to type five.  If Sevens are able to cultivate a calm mind and concentrate on the tasks at hand, they will demonstrate their powerful potentials.  In that sense, the concept of integration and dis-integration suggests the possibility of my personal growth.