Enneagram Part 2: The passion’s unconscious emotional influence
If you missed Part 1, click here to start at the beginning.
If you haven’t already, I highly recommend that you sign up to receive a free self-typing guide for the Enneagram personality system. You’ll learn the key traits, core motivation, core fear, and core struggle of each type, and you’ll be guided through the process of self-reflection and observation to verify your type.
Discovering your Enneagram Type can be a rollercoaster ride of emotions, and once you’ve uncovered your type you may wonder: “Now what?” The Enneagram provides many opportunities for growth, but it may be difficult to know where to begin when using this system as a guide for more purposeful living. Before you become overwhelmed with all the Enneagram offers, let’s look at the unconscious emotional influence of your Enneagram personality type.
The Passion—An Unconscious Emotional Influencer
At the root of each Enneagram type is an emotional pattern that formed very early as a result of not feeling completely safe and supported—no matter what kind of childhood you had. Your Enneagram personality developed a mask to try to meet your needs, and the Passion is a core part of this mask.
We often talk about our passions related to the things we love and where we devote our energy. You might say, “I’m passionate about growth and development.” However, within the Enneagram system, “Passion” is defined as something that is overdone. Another word in this system for Passion is Vice, and it’s helpful to think of your Enneagram Passion in this way. A “vice” is not usually considered a positive thing because it represents a bad habit or something that acts as a substitute for a deeper need.
Because you want to live a more purposeful, intentional, and meaningful life, it’s important to begin observing and reflecting on the ways in which your Enneagram Passion drives you unconsciously. Before we do inner work with the Enneagram, the Passion—which represents a lower emotional state—has complete control and power over us. Once you become aware of the ways in which your Passion operates, you begin to wake up to its power over you. This increased consciousness helps you move toward your type’s Virtue.
The Virtue - The Antidote to the Passion
The Virtue of your type is the antidote and direct opposite of the Passion. Gaining awareness of your Passion through self-reflection, self-observation, and staying committed to the inner work allows you to move closer and closer to the Virtue of your type. If the Passion is who you are when you’re masked up and “in personality,” the Virtue is who you really are underneath. It represents your “essence,” or the most beautiful, conscious, purposeful, and authentic version of yourself. Whereas the Passion represents a lower emotional state, the Virtue represents a higher emotional state.
The Passion + Virtue of Each Enneagram Type
As you read through the descriptions of each Enneagram type, keep in mind that the Passion may be highly unconscious at the beginning of a person’s growth journey. The Passion can also manifest in a variety of sneaky ways that can be difficult to identify at first.
If you already know your type, consider observing and reflecting on all the ways your type’s Passion may play out. If you still haven’t identified your type, I recommend signing up to receive the free Enneagram self-tying guide to use along the type descriptions in this article. You might also consider working with me to better understand your type and how it impacts your ability to create the life you really want.
Type 1
The Passion is Anger.
While a Type 1’s anger is not usually expressed directly because they want to be “good,” it can show up as self-judgment, irritation, frustration, resentment, annoyance, criticism, or displeasure. These variations of anger can show up when people (and things) don’t do what the Type 1 thinks they should do. This Passion is at the root of the Type 1’s need to make things good and correct, according to their own inner standard.
The Virtue is Serenity.
The antidote to Anger is Serenity. In Serenity, the Type 1 is able to be at peace and to experience a sense of calm that everything is as it should be. Instead of the tension in the body created by Anger, Serenity allows for relaxation in the body.
Type 2
The Passion is Pride.
In Pride, a Type 2 has the need to be the person who can meet the needs of the important people in their lives. Pride creates an inflated view of self as the one who knows exactly what’s needed—which makes them indispensable to others. This Passion is at the root of the Type 2’s need to be essential, valued, and loved.
The Virtue is Humility.
As the direct opposite of Pride, Humility allows a Type 2 to know exactly who they are—no more or no less. Not only does Humility allow the person to receive help from others, it also allows them to receive love without having to control this exchange through giving to get love.
Type 3
The Passion is Self-Deceit.
In Self-Deceit, a Type 3 alters their image or outward presentation to become what others want them to be. All of this happens unconsciously and separates the Type 3 from their true identity. This shapeshifting is at the root of the Type 3’s need to impress others so they can receive approval, admiration, and acceptance.
The Virtue is Veracity.
Veracity is truthfulness, and when a Type 3 experiences Veracity, they are nothing other than their authentic selves. Veracity allows this type to weed out the false personas created for others and to be fully connected to their heart. This heart connection allows them to identify the truth of who they are.
Type 4
The Passion is Envy.
Envy creates a desire for something good that someone seems to have that the Type 4 doesn’t identify within themselves. Envy drives comparison (to others as well as to past or future versions of themselves) and creates a feeling of inferiority or superiority. Envy is also at the root of this type’s inner sense of lack and fundamental belief that they’re missing something that others have.
The Virtue is Equanimity.
When experiencing equanimity, the Type 4 has a calmness and emotional balance in which no one emotion is elevated or denied. They also see that they don't lack anything, and they have everything they need. Equanimity helps the Type 4 see that everyone is equally special and unique so there is no need to stand out or be superior.
Type 5
The Passion is Avarice.
With Avarice, a Type 5 withholds themselves from life, hoards resources (such as energy or knowledge), and gets by on little. Avarice causes a Type 5 to shut down their heart to giving or receiving—so much so that they can be completely disconnected from, and fearful of, their own emotions. Avarice is at the root of the Type 5’s fear of being depleted and not receiving what they need.
The Virtue is Non-Attachment.
When in a state of Non-Attachment, a Type 5 doesn’t need to withhold themselves or guard their resources or heart. They no longer fear being depleted by people, emotions, and life itself. Non-attachment allows for generosity, connection, and a fully opened heart.
Type 6
The Passion is Fear.
The Passion of Fear shows up in response to the need for certainty and to avoid the possibility of anything bad happening. Fear can show up as always being prepared, strategizing for various “what if” scenarios, anticipating what’s next in order to feel safe, and finding solutions to real or perceived problems. Fear is at the root of a Type 6’s need for certainty, safety, and security in the world.
The Virtue is Courage.
For the Type 6, Courage represents the willingness to move forward with confidence and knowledge that they will be able to handle whatever comes their way. Courage allows for calmly making decisions and taking action without the need to anticipate and prepare for potential bad outcomes.
Type 7
The Passion is Gluttony.
When in Gluttony, the Type 7 is driven by the desire to have limitless possibilities and pleasure. This Passion is not just related to eating and drinking. It’s more about not wanting any constraints on what they can experience or dream up in their minds. Gluttony fuels the need for unending variety for Type 7s and not specializing in any one thing. This is at the root of the 7’s avoidance of pain.
The Virtue is Sobriety.
As the antidote to Gluttony, Sobriety allows a Type 7 to experience the depths of one thing at a time. This allows them to be present instead of always seeking something new or being swayed by distractions to avoid boredom.
Type 8
The Passion is Lust.
For a Type 8, Lust is related to being excessive, especially in a physical way—although this doesn’t necessarily mean physical intimacy. Lust causes a Type 8 to be either all in or not at all, and it fuels a strong desire for a more intense experience. This Passion can breed impatience, rebelliousness, and a reactive and controlling nature. Lust is at the root of a Type 8’s need to be powerful and to avoid being weak or vulnerable.
The Virtue is Innocence.
The direct opposite of Lust is Innocence. This Virtue allows a Type 8 to release the need to defend themselves so they can be responsive rather than reactive. Innocence also allows a Type 8 to slow down, be less impatient, and release their anger. With this Virtue, Type 8s recognize their impact on others and are able to apply just the right amount of energy to the things they do.
Type 9
The Passion is Sloth.
For the Type 9, Sloth shows up as becoming numb to their own needs and wants. Type 9s do not direct energy toward their own needs. This Passion causes a Type 9 to be disconnected from who they are, what they want, and what they need. Sloth is at the root of a Type 9’s need to avoid conflict, discomfort, and lack of harmony.
The Virtue is Right Action.
The antidote for Sloth is Right Action. This Virtue allows a Type 9 to remember themselves instead of putting others first to maintain harmony in their inner and outer world. Right Action allows a Type 9 to know they belong, that they have value and importance, and that they, specifically, have something the world needs. The “Right Action” allows a Type 9 to remember their own needs and what really matters instead of always defaulting to others.
Now that you’ve looked at the Passions and Virtues of each Enneagram type, let’s take a look at the instincts. Read Part 3 »