“We cannot heal what we do not acknowledge.” Richard Rohr
“Waking up is hard to do.”
We continue identifying the blind spots of each Enneagram Type. Awareness of our blind spots is crucial for our growth because it’s so easy to slip back into old, unproductive and self-defeating habits.
This is what the Enneagram system refers to as “falling asleep to ourselves.” On the short end, life feels more comfortable when we’re asleep to our patterns and habits.
In the long run, however, our blind spots catch up with us. They trap us and prove self-limiting and self-defeating.
It pays to do the hard work of waking up.
In this article we tackle the final triad in our series—the Head Triad, consisting of Types 5, 6 and 7.
Keep in mind that the Head Triad’s driving emotional force is fear. Each of the Types in the Triad attempts to alleviate fear primarily through some form of thinking.
Here are the blind spots for Types 5, 6 and 7:
Type 5. Enneagram Fives view the world as demanding, taking more than it gives back in return. Fives fear being depleted and overwhelmed with demands they won’t know how to meet. Fives develop a strategy of gaining as much knowledge as they can to ensure their adequacy and competency. Fives also conserve what they believe they must have to meet the demands placed on them, conserving their energy, emotions and knowledge. Fives tend to withdraw and hold back, carefully divvying out their energy, calculating what they have in order to meet the demand. While this strategy makes Fives wise, observant and level-headed, Fives’ pursuit to protect and conserve blinds them to their propensity to withdraw and avoid. This costs Fives opportunities to actively participate in life, to engage with others emotionally, and gain valuable knowledge that only comes through experience. Fives can be blind to the fact that others can experience them as arrogant and aloof. Fives substitute thinking for involvement. Their independence leads others to believe that Fives don’t need them, causing Fives to isolate and disconnect from those they love.
Type 6. Enneagram Sixes see the world as full of danger. To protect themselves, Sixes are driven to plan and prepare for whatever danger they may encounter. Their minds act like an inner committee exploring remedies for potential catastrophes. To gain a sense of safety and certainty, Sixes look for leaders, groups, causes and/or ideologies they can join sides with. Sixes’ prevailing doubt drives them to ask a plethora of questions to ensure that the leader or group has thoroughly covered all the bases. Once the Six is convinced, they buy in with deep loyalty. While Sixes make for strategic planners, effective troubleshooters, loyal friends and teammates, their hyper-vigilance blinds them from realizing how their fears and anxieties often are unproductive mental xercises. Sixes’ anxiety often produces self-fulfilling prophecies. Sixes are blind to their own agency and how loyalty can be limiting. Sixes fail to recognize that their vigilant questioning can come across as criticism and mistrust to those in their social orbit.
Type 7. Enneagram Sevens also organize their lives around fear, although most would find this surprising! Sevens believe that their fulfillment, joy and meaning await in the future—they never know what experience or opportunity will be the answer they’re looking for. Therefore, Sevens resist having their options limited. Sevens fear being stuck in pain and discomfort of the present or past. They want to rush ahead to avoid getting bogged down in the mundane of life. As a result, Sevens live in the future, imagining, dreaming and brainstorming possibilities. They idealize, rationalize and find silver linings to insulate themselves from their fears. Sevens don’t realize that their pursuit of the ideal future keeps them from being present in the moment. They fail to fully savor and experience the richness of what they have in the present. They miss the importance of resolving painful situations and persevering through the mundane discipline of completing projects. When they address their blind spots, they discover that being fully present in the now unlocks the door to the bright future they aspire to.
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