As an introvert, I’m a big believer in going within myself to find information and to process those ” internal downloads.” As a curious student, I love to research. Libraries and the Internet are particularly important resources. Google and YouTube – pure instant gratification, whether true or false information is presented. These external downloads are fun to search for, but in the end, their validity makes a difference in their usefulness in the professional world.
Scholarly research matters to me. As a nine on the Enneagram, an ancient Sufi personality systems theory, I tend to enjoy seeing all perspectives and to know what I’m reading is true from a least one perspective. Just this week, in doing research on communication, I found an article on being successful at work and obtaining goals through good communication from the perspective of the Enneagram Bringing Out the Best in Yourself at Work- How to use the Enneagram System for Success.
Digging into the Enneagram is like a Scavenger Hunt. One clue about my coping mechanisms leads to another, leads to growth, leads to another clue on areas for improvement…I love this detective work and enjoy the mystery of the human condition and behavioral patterns we were born with. All of these behaviors and coping mechanisms function in the world through communication, whether it be effective or ineffective. The diagram above teaches the direction of both types (read more in The Wisdom of the Enneagram by Don Riso and Russ Hudson).
This week, in studying communication theory in more depth, I’m going to get a little practice in finding sources for what I want to study, research, teach or write about. Below is my list of scavenger hunt items. I just returned from a church retreat for 5th graders to ease the transition to middle school. Since there wasn’t a scavenger hunt on the docket for the retreat, I’ll enjoy one of my own here. Letters i. through l. will give you some resources to read more about the Enneagram, an ancient tool for spiritual transformation and one of my favorite resources for coaching.
Works Cited
Starke, J. (2016, October 21). An Evangelical’s Guide to the Enneagram. Retrieved May 21, 2017, from http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2016/november/evangelicals-guide-to-enneagram.html
Cron, Ian M., Stabile, Suzanne (2016, October). It’s called the ‘Enneagram’: How this thing could save your life. Fox News, Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com
Wagner, J., Ph.D. (n.d.). Enneagram Styles and Cyclical Psychodynamics. Retrieved May 21, 2017, from http://www.enneagramspectrum.com/
Hudson, R. (2015, April 30). Enneagram Type 9, by Russ Hudson. Retrieved May 21, 2017, from https://youtu.be/-Sdfvbx46_g
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