Why I Use The Enneagram In My Coaching Practice
Updated: Feb 17, 2022
Written by: Erika Davey, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
It’s a data-driven approach that offers a chance to increase self-awareness. One thing that I have found to be consistent across my coaching practice is my client’s desire for inner peace and contentment. Second on my client’s common wishlist is some version of happiness, or joy, but overriding is a deep desire for a sense of peace and contentment in everyday life.
Self-awareness will increase your sense of peace and contentment in everyday life. In other words, being aware of what’s important to you and understanding yourself on a deeper level will help you get along with others and enjoy your life, even in challenging times. The Enneagram is one of many data-driven approaches used to enhance self-awareness. The DISC, Myers-Briggs, StrengthsFinder 2.0, and many other assessment tools also provide information gathered and discussed by experts that can be helpful in understanding, explaining, and even predicting behaviors and reactions. I use the Enneagram in my coaching practice. Knowing and understanding your true Enneagram Type allows the wisdom of the Enneagram, and the information gathered over hundreds of years, to become relevant in helping you gain insight into yourself, your relationships, and other people. The Enneagram offers 9 different types, based on core fears and motivations. Take a free Enneagram assessment here. Each of us has ready access to 5 of the 9 Enneagram Types, which makes the Enneagram incredibly insightful as to why we do what we do. It also explains how everyone can be so different, even if they have the same core type, and how you may be "different" throughout your life, when really, you are simply exhibiting the behaviors of one type over the others based on the circumstances of your life at the time. Everyone has access to 5 of the 9 Enneagram Types:
Your Core Type
Your 2 Enneagram Paths (the way you respond to situations of stress and security)
Your 2 Enneagram Wings (the Types on either side of your core Type)
For example, I resonate most with Type 3, which has Paths to Types 6 and 9 and Wing Types 2 and 4. So, while I am always a Type 3, I also have access to the behaviors and characteristics of Types 6, 9, 2, and 4 depending on what is going on in my life.
Three reasons self-awareness improves your sense of peace and contentment in everyday life.
1. You will feel in control in any situation
With self-awareness, you will start to see patterns in your own behavior, which will open your eyes to see patterns in the behavior of others. You’ll begin to notice when someone reacts differently than you would, allowing an opportunity to observe their behavior and learn from it. As your self-awareness grows, your understanding of others will grow as well, and you’ll discover that you can pause and choose how you want to behave. Allowing yourself a chance to choose your reaction is very powerful, and you will gain a sense of control and safety in any situation. This will naturally enhance your sense of peace and contentment, because you’ll feel confident no matter what is going on around you.
2. Accepting yourself helps you accept others As you become more self-aware and comfortable with who you are, you’ll naturally become more accepting of others. The more you become comfortable in your own skin, confident in any situation, and able to share your voice and opinions, the more you will allow others the opportunity to do the same. This breeds a sense of community and openness that will enhance your sense of peace and contentment in everyday life. 3. You will be able to set and hold boundaries Knowing and understanding what is important to you is essential to setting boundaries. A boundary is simply you sticking up for something important to you, whether that is a value, your family, a belief, an opinion, or a passion project. Setting and holding appropriate boundaries will increase your sense of peace and contentment in everyday life because you will base your decisions and actions on the things that are most important to you. You don’t necessarily need a coach to increase your self-awareness. Any effort at understanding yourself on a deeper level will enhance your interactions and relationships with others. My true coaching goal is to help my clients reach self-acceptance. Self-acceptance begins with self-awareness. With self-acceptance:
You make decisions easily, because you know what is important to you and trust yourself to do what is in your best interest at all times.
You easily attract your ideal partner and friends because you are authentically yourself.
You are able to build a sustainable life that supports your passions, because you naturally focus your energy on what lights you up.
Learn more about my Enneagram-based coaching practice or learn more about me by visiting my website.
With peace and gratitude,
Erika
Erika Davey, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Erika Davey is a Coach, Mentor, and fellow human who works to overcome her own struggles every day. With over 25 years of experience in healthcare, the last 18 years as a Physician Assistant, Erika thought she knew how the body worked. Then, six years ago, she found herself exhausted, consumed with chronic abdominal pain, and full of anxiety. After trying everything offered by physicians and nutritionists, she began to realize that classic Western medicine doesn’t address the connection between mental and emotional wellness and physical symptoms and pain. She didn’t want to shun her medical training, but was intrigued to learn more, so she pursued a Health Coaching Certificate and extra education in Gut Health, Hormone Health, and Emotional Eating. She explored the world of self-healing, chakra health, meditation, and energy management in an effort to calm her mind and heal her spirit. And, she dove deeply into the Enneagram, fascinated by the insight available into our secret fears and why we do what we do. She is elated at what she discovered — a combination of the wisdom and insight of the Enneagram, the benefits of science and Western medicine, and energy management and self-healing techniques. By increasing her self-awareness and learning how to set and hold boundaries, she has been able to trade anxiety and overwhelm for resilience and calm. Now, Erika uses the Enneagram to help her clients achieve self-acceptance and enjoy a sense of peace and contentment in everyday life.
