no. 65 - The Enneagram Episode (Part 1)

To kick off Season 3 of the podcast, I interviewed YourEnneagramCoach, Beth McCord. After following Beth on social media and then listening to her as a guest on Annie F. Down's "EnneaSummer" podcast series over the summer myself, I knew I wanted to have her on the show.

As a teacher for over 15 years, Beth is passionate about coming alongside individuals and helping them re-write their story, allowing them to see that lasting change, meaningful relationships, and a life of deep purpose is possible. This passion is what drove her to create her community, a safe place for individuals to explore the Enneagram. Beth's passion is to make the Enneagram accessible for everyone, anywhere so they can experience the transformation they long for.

In this episode, we answer the basic question -- "What is the Enneagram?" Beth characterizes it as a GPS for self-discovery and personal growth and explains how the Enneagram uncovers why you think, feel and behave in particular ways.

Throughout the episode we discuss:

• The origins of the Enneagram
• How the Enneagram is different from other "personality" tests
• Why motivation is the key to determining your Enneagram type
• The importance of not using the Enneagram as a "sword or shield" on yourself or others

We go through the Enneagram types, discussing the core Fear, Desire, Weakness and Longing of each Enneagram number.

• ONE - The Moral Perfectionist
• TWO - The Supportive Advisor
• THREE - The Successful Achiever
• FOUR - The Romantic Individualist
• FIVE - The Investigative Thinker
• SIX - The Loyal Guardian
• SEVEN - The Entertaining Optimist
• EIGHT - The Protective Challenger
• NINE - The Peaceful Mediator

To close out the show, Beth and I discuss the various ways people can come to discover and/or deepen their understanding of their type, including a discussion on whether or not taking a test is the best approach to identifying your Enneagram number.

We also discuss Beth's new book and program -- Becoming Us -- a Gospel-centered approach to marriage transformation based on the Enneagram.

Listeners of the show can find Beth on social media at Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and her website, yourenneagramcoach.com.

I wrap the episode up there with a brief tease of next week's episode, which will also tap into the power of the Enneagram. Only next week, I'll be coming at it from a much different angle, talking with a registered dietitian who uses the Enneagram in her practice to help better understand what types of eating patterns and approaches work for individuals based on their Enneagram number.

Thank you again to everyone who helped make Season 2 such a success! I'm looking forward to each and every episode I have lined up for Season 3. Thank you for listening, subscribing, downloading and most importantly, thank you for sharing with a friend. ~Regan