Let's Talk About a Paradigm Shift . . .

The Enneagram. An insightful tool we've used for decades to decode the layers of our personalities into 9 unique types. Sound familiar? 

The traditional approach—diving into 9 personality types, each with their own set of traits—is an age old method. It's been passed down from iconic Enneagram teachers like Oscar Ichazo. It sounds good in theory, doesn't it? 

But let's take a closer look . . .

In this traditional method, essence—the foundational, inherent nature of each type—gets sidelined. It’s reserved as an advanced or specialized topic. Is this really the best way to understand and apply the Enneagram?

Based on a decade of teaching this model, I’d argue otherwise. 

The heavy emphasis on personality traits leaves us feeling drained and overwhelmed. Despite our best efforts to infuse positivity and empathy into the teachings, students often leave workshops feeling heavy from their self-discoveries. 

It dawned on me that this wasn't about the students or the Enneagram model itself. The real issue lay in the teaching approach.

By emphasizing the contractions and fixations of the types—even when we highlight the positive traits and potential for growth—we overshadow the beauty of essence. And in doing so, we lose sight of the hope, transformation, and rich journey the Enneagram can offer.

So, I asked myself—what if we shift the focus to essence first?

Essence is our intrinsic, exquisite, and unchanging nature. It's our underlying truth—beyond our personality conditioning. By making essence our starting point, we lay a nurturing and uplifting foundation for exploring the Enneagram types. 

We can view ourselves through a lens of essence—wisdom, love, and empowerment—while delving into the complex web of personality traits. This approach not only creates a healthier balance—it is more accurate, and leaves us feeling better about who and what we are. 

This shift inspired the birth of The Enneagram of Essence. Here, essence isn't a footnote or specialty area—I made it the primary focus of our teaching.

Our students dive into the same intricate details about the 9 types, but essence is introduced from the get-go—not as an advanced topic. Essence becomes the vessel that carries the entire learning process, gently cradling the personality traits within. This allows us to tackle the challenging facets of each type, without losing sight of our true nature

The Enneagram of Essence offers a balanced, practical, and nourishing path. We foster a learning environment where you feel uplifted and inspired, rather than heavy and embarrassed.

Have you or your loved ones ever felt overwhelmed, deflated, or self-conscious after an Enneagram learning experience?

It doesn't have to be this way.

Your Enneagram journey can be enriching, empowering, and inspiring. It can offer intrigue and insight, while also nurturing and preparing you to share this wisdom in a supportive way.

The Enneagram holds the potential to evolve beyond analytical education—it can provide a platform for nourishing learning. Let's pivot from a personality-focused approach to one that centers on essence—and fully embrace the transformative potential of the Enneagram.

#EnneagramOfEssence #EssenceFirst #NurturedLearning