So you’ve heard about the Enneagram.

It seems like there are a thousand Enneagram accounts out there (including mine), and you hear everyone talking about “their number.” If you’re not sure what that means, you may want to start here.

If you’re curious about what your number or type may be, the best way is never the easy way. I know, it’s not what you wanted to hear. But I’m here to help, not to tickle your ears.

There are many tests you can take, but no test will be completely accurate. Because the Enneagram is deeply rooted in our core motivations, tests can only be as accurate as our own self-awareness. I don’t know about you, but I’m not often as aware of myself as I’d like to think. Tests are generally wrong up to 60% of the time.

The next best thing is to start reading as much as you can about the nine types and seeing what resonates most with you. If nothing jumps out at you right away, start with a process of elimination approach, and go from there. Narrow it down to 2–3 types, and do a deeper dive. Once you think you’ve got it, try it on for size. Live with that type and see if it fits for a month or two, or longer. If it doesn’t seem right, keep reading and try on a new number. It’s fairly common to mistype, or to take a long time to figure it out. Many people (including some of the best teachers out there) have taken weeks, months, or even years to land on their type.

Here’s a very brief and basic summary of the nine types:

1. The Improver: Motivated by the need to be right and good, Type Ones want to make everything better. At their best, they reflect God’s perfection in the world. At their worst, they are hypercritical, judgmental, and perfectionistic.

2. The Befriender: Motivated by the need to be needed, Type Twos are ready to help and listen. At their best, they reflect God’s selfless giving. At their worst, they can become manipulative and codependent.

3. The Achiever: Motivated by the need to appear successful, Type Threes get the job done. At their best, they reflect God’s glory. At their worst, they can become narcissistic or lose their identity in what they do rather than who they are.

4. The Original: Motivated by the need to be authentic and understood, Type Fours see the beauty in everything. At their best, they reflect God’s depth and creativity. At their worst, they can get lost in their emotions and feel that they don’t belong anywhere.

5. The Observer: Motivated by the need to be competent and gain understanding, Type Fives are the most objective thinkers and researchers. They have a need to conserve their energy and avoid relying on others. At their best, they reflect God’s wisdom and insight. At their worst, they can withdraw from the world and detach from reality to live in their minds.

6. The Loyalist: Motivated by the need to be secure, Type Sixes are the most courageous and look out for the good of the group. At their best, they reflect God’s steadfast love and loyalty. At their worst, they can spiral down into worst-case scenario thinking, becoming vigilant and suspicious of others, and failing to trust themselves or others.

7. The Enthusiast: Motivated by the need to be fully satisfied, Type Sevens are joyful, enthusiastic. and optimistic. At their best, they reflect God’s childlike joy and delight in creation. At their worst, they jump from opportunity to opportunity and constantly look for an escape hatch to avoid all pain and boredom.

8. The Challenger: Motivated by the need to protect themselves, Type Eights stand for justice and represent strength in the world. At their best, they reflect God’s power and intensity. At their worst, they can become bulldozers on a rampage, destroying everything in their path.

9. The Peacemaker: Motivated by the need to avoid conflict, Type Nines are steady and easy-going, and bring peace and harmony to the world. At their best, they reflect God’s desire for unity. At their worst, they are constantly people-pleasing while secretly being resentful of it.

The best way to figure out your type is to work with a coach. That’s where I come in. I have experience helping individuals like you discover their inner motivations and uncover their patterns of thinking, feeling, and doing. Once you confirm your type, you can start the real work of growth and transformation.

You are not your type.

I’ll say it again. You are not your type. While the Enneagram can provide information and tools for observation, only the gospel can provide true freedom and transformation. The point of the Enneagram is not to put you in a box, but to show you the one you’re already in, and show you a way out.

Working with a coach can help you discover your type, see yourself more clearly, and and explore a growth path to find freedom and experience gospel transformation.

To learn more about how coaching can help you, book a free consultation today. if you want to learn more about coaching options, click here. If you’re ready to break free from your lifelong habits and start coaching, schedule a session now!

Still interested in taking a test as a starting point? Start here! 👇