I took an Enneagram test recently, the real deal one, cost me $12 that I couldn’t quite believe I was shelling out, but I did it. I got my results back and there was so much truth in it, so much honesty behind the answer that it kind of took me by surprise. The strangest thing for me, whilst taking it, was on almost every single question I honestly, deep down honestly, could have answered both ways. I felt both of those people and felt I’d always been both of those people. When the results came back, they were very different from Sarah’s, who also took it, as she had a stand-out type that was high above the rest. For me, I had a tie with 21 points for 2 different types, and then a tie for 20 points with 2 other types. Essentially, all 4 of them were equally accurate as who I am. What does this mean? I don’t know. For someone who knows better, please ring in and explain, but my numbers, all essentially ties are these: Types 5, 8, 7, 2. Reading through the Type 5, I felt very seen, very much like that person, but in truth, reading through the other 4, I also did. What does this mean? Someone, please chime in :)
Saying that, the part that stuck out the most on some of these types, was the idea of nostalgia, of melancholy, of looking back with a mixture of fondness and sadness, something I do quite literally all the time. I was charmed with the strangest most peripatetic childhood, and it stays with me to this day. My wandering family, my nomadic youth. This is the root of this haiku, the root of who I am. This person who looks back with ache, but forward with hope.
Who are you?
*Also, today happens to me one rad dude’s birthday, Henry Michael, Happy Birthday buddy, you are brilliant, funny, challenging, and beyond unique. We love you dude, and I hope your day is perfect!*
I could live on it,
sustenance of nostalgia,
meals of memory.
Haiku on Life by Tyler Knott Gregson
Song of the Day
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Tyler, I'm a 5 (the investigator) with a 4 (the artist) wing = the iconoclast. I can tell you that when we 're healthy, we move in directions related to other orientations...the 5 for example, moves towards the 8, leadership, when feeling strong and confident. The same is true when feeling stressed or anxious...the 5 for example, moves towards 7, retreating into isolation and inner solace. So, it's possible that your answers speak directly to the different ways you are experiencing different aspects of yourself at different times. I think this is just a level of self-awareness that allows you to perceive your various experiences and that does legitimately speak to a spectrum of Enneagram orientations.
These online tests can certainly be confusing, mostly because some start using certain jargon specific to the Enneagram. I didn’t actually begin to understand until I started reading about it. There are some really amazing books out there, and even some lectures on YouTube. Personally, I read “The Sacred Enneagram” by Christopher Heuertz and watched a lecture by Father Richard Rohr. Both try to tie everything back to Christianity, so I just kind of glazed over that. But I think by far the best part of the Enneagram wasn’t the self-awareness or growth it brought me, but the empathy and understanding I began to have for the people around me.
Also, Sleeping At Last wrote one song for each of the types. You should definitely check them out!
Lots of love for you and the fam ❤️