My Sister’s Courage
My sister was diagnosed with metastatic spinal cancer in May and died at home 8 months later. She was unusual in that she didn't want to “fight cancer.” It didn’t mean she was never angry about her diagnosis. She had her moments. She was not a cardboard saint and...
5 Tips for Managing and Parenting an Overachiever Enneagram 3
Every practice below is predicated on the first practice which is a non-negotiable. It may be ridiculously simple, but all good practices are something teachable. Kind of like: Everything I need to know, I learned (on some level) in kindergarten. 1. Encourage them to...
Heart Types 2, 3, 4 in Love and Work: It’s All About Doing
Heart Types project a world in which they have to DO in order to feel connected. Twos see a world of needs, Threes see a world that rewards only winners and achievers and Fours see a world in which you must be different and unique so they project that you see things...
Enneagram and Projection: Befriending Your Shadow
SPECIAL WORKSHOP ON APRIL 7-8 IN RUMSON, NJ TO REGISTER CONTACT: JOYCE PLAZA, [email protected] JOHN MONROE: [email protected] Projection is when we imagine and believe that what is actually true about us lives in someone else. Our shadow is all...
The One Practice You Can’t Afford Not to Do
Last year, a woman came to the gym very upset over the death of a former colleague. She had jumped a fence at a park while hiking at night and died in a terrible fall leaving a grieving husband, daughter and family. I couldn't stop thinking of how often I've heard of...
How do 4s, 5s and 9s like to work?
Soloists work like golfers play. It's a solo effort. Even when they work on a team, there is a desire to withdraw and spend some time alone with the project as the presence of others can be too much. I tend to want to spend time independently, thinking about a...
How do 1s, 2s and 6s like to work?
These are the Cooperators. When working on a project, it's kind of like baseball (you have your own position, you know the rules and there are referees) Dutiful: there are structures and ways of doing things Want to take time to find out who the team is, understand...
How Do 3s, 7s and 8s Like to Work?
These are the Initiators. When working on a project, it's kind of like street basketball. Jump in and move fast. Like to get the ball rolling and learn as they go along. They prefer action, diving in, getting engaged, getting involved, but want to cut through...
Your Enneagram Type’s Core Idealization (It’s about survival)
What does your Enneagram type idealize? This is a simple and insightful practices for self-observation. For instance, the Seven's idealization is, "I'm ok." This need to be okay, can extend to others who are important to the Seven. When Sevens are caught in this...
The Enneagram of Harmony: Reconciling Opposites
We all wrestle with contradictory voices and inner conflict. Nobody is all one thing. We are made of polarities. Selfish/giving, kind/mean, strong/tender......the list is endless. Which voices do we listen to? Which do we ignore or shame or stuff away? And why can...