Enneagram Type 4: The Individualist

The Enneagram of Personality, or just the Enneagram, is a representation of personalities using a geometric figure, also called an enneagram (little e), to express nine interconnected personality types. While each type is unique it is related to other types through the circle connecting the type to each of it’s wings and the lines or arrows in the center connecting the type to the ones it imitates in times of stress or growth. The Enneagram is used in business management training to better understand interpersonal dynamics in the workplace. Types Two, Three, and Four constitute the Heart Triad. This triad is primarily motivated by their feelings. Those in the Heart Triad are do not believe they are worthy of love so they take on personas to attain it. Because of this, they are more image-conscious than the other triads. Within the triad, Fours are the most introspective. They focus internally on their own feelings but have difficulty understanding others feelings. At their best, Fours are inspired, immensely creative expressing themselves and the world they see. Their creativity enables them to turn their experiences into value for others. They have superior emotional range and are able to avoid acting on every feeling they have. They know that they don’t have to be something special to win approval from others. At their worst, Fours become self-destructive, hopeless, and filled with hatred for themselves. Constantly comparing themselves to others, they find themselves lacking. Morbid thoughts permeate their minds as their dreams fail and they fall into self-contempt. Full of shame they put a wedge between themselves and anyone trying to help them. Depression drives them to alienate themselves from others. Fours try on identities like someone trying on suits in preparation for a big job interview. Because they find something lacking in themselves they are constantly trying different identities to fill that void. If you are a Four remember that you are more than your feelings. You are able to regulate and stabilize them. Friends, coworkers, and partners of Fours can help them by being around them but not getting drawn into their emotional highs and lows. When able to find this balance Individualists will be able to create and maintain deep meaningful relationships in all areas of life. Finally, for a Four to truly grow they need to stop putting off work or artistic/creative projects until they are “in the mood”. Set yourself an arbitrary deadline or just go create, the creative process will help you find balance and pull the intensity of emotions into something beautiful. Episode Breakdown Main Characteristics The Enneagram Type Four is “The Individualist” or “The Romantic”. Fours are called “The Individualist” because they see themselves as fundamentally different from everyone else, even other Fours. They are also called “The Romantic” because of their wistfulness and longing to be authentic. The Individualist’s drive to be unique stems from a sense that something is missing from them. They don’t know what it is or where it’s gone but that lack makes them feel “different.” The only way they see to compensate for what is missing in their lives is to create something that distinguishes them from others. For the Romantic, being authentic is everything. For them the only way to fill the void in their lives is by being truly unique which leads to an almost obsession with authenticity. Because they feel they are so different, Fours think that no-one can love or even understand them. They see themselves as both uniquely talented with special gifts and uniquely damaged or flawed in some way. They often have trouble with a lack of self-esteem and maintain a negative image of themselves. “Melancholy is the happiness of being sad” ~ V...