This week, learn more about the Enneagram Type Seven – the Enthusiast/Epicure. [Remember – the Enneagram is based on motivation, not behavior. This is why it is important to have a holistic understanding of all the types before determining which type you lead with. If you want more information on what the Enneagram is, check out the first post of this series.]
Enneagram Sevens are typically known as Enthusiasts or Epicures. Their primary motivation is for pure satisfaction in all aspects of life. Sevens are an extremely fun and lively crowd! Being in a state of constant happiness is safe to a Type Seven. They are typically extroverted, optimistic, enthusiastically active, and often have an entrepreneurial, visionary spirit. Sevens are masters at reframing hard situations in a better light and using their positivity to improve a tough situation. They love staying busy, exploring new opportunities, and ideating. They are driven by pleasurable experiences and do not enjoy limits. They can be wonderful companions to travel or attend events with, because they know where to find the fun and they know how to cut loose.
In shadow, these folks have incredible difficulty dealing with tough emotions and situations as they come, so they both consciously and subconsciously make great effort to avoid the hard stuff. This can lead to addictive behaviors such as extreme busy-ness, over packed schedules, and even self-medicating through drugs, alcohol, or gambling to numb the emotion. Sevens will often start projects but once the joyfulness and newness of the project wanes or gets harder, walk away, and start something new – leaving a reputation for lack of execution. They can also use positive spins and reframing on difficult situations to manipulate others or avoid being present with someone who is in great emotional pain. This is also known as toxic positivity and can come off as selfish, unempathetic and privileged. Compassionately speaking, it is birthed from fear – the complete and utter fear of raw uncomfortable emotion. Thus, Sevens often struggle to sit with people in grief, unless they have grown the wisdom of experiencing grief first-hand.
As children, they likely had a comfortable childhood, wherein they experienced some sort of abandonment, boredom or uncomfortable fluke of a situation that caused them discomfort and created an aversion to dealing with hard emotions through doing and centralizing their choices around only the fun stuff. Avoiding these hard emotions and situations becomes a life-long coping mechanism.
Sevens are members of the Head Center of Intelligence (aka the Head triad), meaning their responses and decision making comes more thoughtfully to them (as opposed to instinctually [Gut] or emotionally [Heart]). They are of the Aggressive Stance (as opposed to the Withdrawing or Dependent stances). In stress, Sevens lean into shadow Type One (Reformer/Perfectionist) becoming judgmental, and argumentative, often perceived to have a superiority complex. However, in stress, when they lean into the positive side of the Type One, they tend to complete projects they have started with high quality and thoroughness, and work to organize and settle the chaos in their lives. In support, Sevens lean into the Type Five (the Investigator/Observer) slowing down, quieting their minds and bodies, processing all the feelings, becoming more thoughtful and staying authentic to real life. Wings of Sevens are either the Six (Loyalist/Questioner) or the Eight (Challenger/Boss). (Note – A Wing is when the primary Type might often display features of one of the two Types (or both) surrounding the primary Type on the Enneagram circle. These two types are referred to as a “wing.”)
Common occupations of Enneagram Sevens include (but are not limited to) entrepreneurs, corporate executives, park rangers, coaches, photographers, designers, bartenders, tour guides, stunt people, athletes, artists, and chefs.
Exercising compassion toward a Type Seven: Remember – Enneagram Sevens are incredibly fun and exciting to be with. When they appear to be avoiding hard situations or inappropriately putting positive spins on situations that deserve to be acknowledged and processed, you can support them by reminding them to slow down and that it is healthy to feel and process the hard stuff too. Remind them that they are worthy of all their emotions.
To the Seven folks: You are worthy of all that life has to offer – even the uncomfortable emotions where the love has the potential to rise the most. Allow yourself to process all of it.
Remember – the beauty of the Enneagram is the universal discovery that “not everyone thinks the way I do!” This is where the seeds of compassion for self and others are planted.
In next week’s The Chic Guide edition, we will explore the Enneagram Type Eight, the Challenger/Boss.
A special gift for you – inspired by Type Sevens:
Here is a Type Seven cardio-ballet workout, featuring owner Jennifer Lynn of Fit Philosophie and instructor Abby Rettig, and inspired by Enneagram Type Sevens but for anyone who loves to move and can work out at a moderately paced level. Thanks to Crunchmaster Crackers and Wise Wellness Guild for sponsoring this special feature!
If you find yourself wanting more information about the Enneagram, consider taking my online introductory course which will give you a more in depth overview, and provide a path to help you discover your type!
Whitney Ellison is a thought leader of the Enneagram and Quantum Energy. Learn more about her by visiting her website, wellisonenterprises.com where you can subscribe to her biweekly newsletter, and following her @wellisonenterprises on Instagram where you can find all of her Enneagram series interviews and other comings and goings.
