I have a lot of flaws but one thing I am not is a flake. If there is a chance I don't think I'll follow through on something, I won't promise it. I believe in keeping your word and most importantly, I believe in loyalty.
A loyalist. That's what the enneagram told me I am. It's a hippy dippy personality model that my dear hippy dippy friend Taran showed me early in college. I probably scoffed at it back then, but I've recently looked again and the number I was assigned from the test I took, Number 6 - The Loyalist, describes me to a T:
Typically, I'm not one for tests that try to tell you who you are, but I find the enneagram to be incredibly interesting because not only does it describe how you tend to behave and feel, it also goes into how you would behave or feel if you were completely healthy and secure with yourself — or if you were totally dysfunctional and unhealthy. All of my friends who have taken the test seem to line up exactly where it tells them and the descriptions pretty much sum them all up perfectly.
So, to the 6-8 readers of my blog, you should take the test. I'd be curious to see where you land and if you too think it's pretty dead on.
For me, identifying with a personality type has helped me recognize that some parts of my personality (good and bad) that I have always been aware of and sometimes questioned are pretty typical for people like me; it has also given me some pride. If this is how the masters of the enneagram see me, then I'm pretty happy with my reflection:
A loyalist. That's what the enneagram told me I am. It's a hippy dippy personality model that my dear hippy dippy friend Taran showed me early in college. I probably scoffed at it back then, but I've recently looked again and the number I was assigned from the test I took, Number 6 - The Loyalist, describes me to a T:
Type Six in Brief:
The committed, security-oriented type. Sixes are reliable, hard-working, responsible, and trustworthy. Excellent "troubleshooters," they foresee problems and foster cooperation, but can also become defensive, evasive, and anxious—running on stress while complaining about it. They can be cautious and indecisive, but also reactive, defiant and rebellious. They typically have problems with self-doubt and suspicion.
At their Best: internally stable and self-reliant, courageously championing themselves and others.
- Basic Fear: Of being without support and guidance
As I read back on this, I am amazed at how easily I fit into this personality mold. And frankly, I'm proud of it. Of course these all come with their flaws, mine being insecurity, contradictions and the inability to make choices (libra much? That's what they tell me).
- Basic Desire: To have security and support
- Key Motivations: Want to have security, to feel supported by others, to have certitude and reassurance, to test the attitudes of others toward them, to fight against anxiety and insecurity.
They are both strong and weak, fearful and courageous, trusting and distrusting, defenders and provokers, sweet and sour, aggressive and passive, bullies and weaklings, on the defensive and on the offensive, thinkers and doers, group people and soloists, believers and doubters, cooperative and obstructionistic, tender and mean, generous and petty—and on and on. It is the contradictory picture that is the characteristic “fingerprint” of Sixes, the fact that they are a bundle of opposites.It's interesting to see myself as a stereotypical anything but I guess I hold no surprises. Back to the point of this post: Because I value it most in my relationships, I take pride in being a trustworthy friend. I strive to be honorable, reliable and worthy of my friends' trust and so far in my life, I believe I am actively living this goal. I am The Loyalist. And those who know me well know this. I see this quality lacking in a lot of people who surround me and despite my wish for this to be different, I realize that we just don't all value the same traits. Just like we don't all speak in the same "languages of love" or express our needs in the same way or place importance on the same actions and behaviors. But this loyalty is something I need from my friends and so loyal is something I am proud to be.
Typically, I'm not one for tests that try to tell you who you are, but I find the enneagram to be incredibly interesting because not only does it describe how you tend to behave and feel, it also goes into how you would behave or feel if you were completely healthy and secure with yourself — or if you were totally dysfunctional and unhealthy. All of my friends who have taken the test seem to line up exactly where it tells them and the descriptions pretty much sum them all up perfectly.
So, to the 6-8 readers of my blog, you should take the test. I'd be curious to see where you land and if you too think it's pretty dead on.
For me, identifying with a personality type has helped me recognize that some parts of my personality (good and bad) that I have always been aware of and sometimes questioned are pretty typical for people like me; it has also given me some pride. If this is how the masters of the enneagram see me, then I'm pretty happy with my reflection:
Sixes are the most loyal to their friends and to their beliefs. They will “go down with the ship” and hang on to relationships of all kinds far longer than most other types. Sixes are also loyal to ideas, systems, and beliefs... In any case, they will typically fight for their beliefs more fiercely than they will fight for themselves, and they will defend their community or family more tenaciously than they will defend themselves.
