Enneagram Antidotes
Each of the nine Enneagram types has an antidotal way of being that produces the desired outcome in a sustainable way. These antidotes are developmental practices that allow people to achieve results from within. Each Enneagram type can find an antidote in the higher qualities of one of the other types.
Type 1
These people seek perfection and use judgment as their main strategy to experience their own value in the world. The direction of health for this type is towards acceptance. They need to focus on moving more fully into accepting what is around them, including accepting the present moment for what it is. When Type 1 people bring more acceptance into their lives, they start to relax and enjoy life, lifting the burden of responsibility to allow for happiness. Their direction of health is the higher qualities of the Type 7.
TYPE 2
Type 2 people seek to help everyone. They take on responsibility for everything around them and constantly put everyone else’s needs before their own. Their developmental practice comes from the self-awareness of Type 4 with a focus on getting in touch with their own feelings and needs. This brings the focus back into themselves so they can become aware of what they want and who they are. As they do this, they become more individualistic.
Type 3
Those in the Type 3 category are chameleons. They base their value on achievements and the perceptions of others. This group is constantly trying to impress others with their successes, making them inauthentic. They wear different masks for different people and different situations. Their developmental edge is to realise their authenticity and commit to being true to themselves. This involves the higher qualities of a Type 6.
Type 4
These people are the creatives and individualists whose main strategy involves the overuse of imagination in search of themselves. They are in a constant search for their true selves, delving into their emotional and imaginary reality. They lose touch with the objective world and spend too much time with their own subjectivity. The direction of growth for them is to toward Type 1, to become more objective. This brings about a focus on things beyond their feelings and imaginations and allows them to move away from self-absorption to take more action in their lives.
Type 5
The pattern for Type 5 people is defined by escaping into their minds to deal with life. The antidote here is to step into the role of a leader. This group needs to take more confident action in their lives in order to advance, rather than retreat. The developmental edge here is the embodiment of the higher qualities of Type 8.
Type 6
The issue for those in Type 6 is a constant fear of danger. They seek safety outside of themselves in things and other people. The direction of health for them is to lean into the healthy qualities of Type 9, which is to relax and trust that things will be fine. They need embrace a basic trust of life instead of focusing on distrust. This allows Type 6 people to become less dependent on things and people for a sense of security.
Type 7
Type 7 people fear that they are missing out and are always trying new things. Their developmental edge is to commit to one thing. They typically have a great breadth of experience but lack depth. They need to prioritise their lives, in order to channel their energy. By taking on the higher qualities of Type 5, they become less scattered and less fearful of missing out as they start to gain a depth of abundance.
Type 8
The Type 8 group seeks control and always wants to be the leader. Their direction of growth is to move into the positive qualities of the Type 2 which include being generous and magnanimous. This allows them to use their leadership and strength to help others, rather than to control and dictate.
Type 9
Type 9 are the daydreamers. They dislike conflict and pretend that they get along with everyone. To move out of their comfort zone they need to channel the positive qualities of Type 3. This will allow them to connect with their own vitality and take action in the world.
