Going from 2021 to 2022 was a ROWDY AFFAIR in my house.
Well, technically, my in-laws’ house where we were.
Ok, so here it is:
I WATCHED a movie. The Holiday with Kate Winslet & Jack Black.
I ATE my *favorite* holiday snack. Pretzels with chocolate & mini marshmallows melted on top.
I WROTE in my journal.
I READ an all-consuming novel.
Doesn’t that sound fun to you?! No? I can’t imagine why… [cue laughing-face emoji!]
FUN & PLAY are different for everyone, and that is okay. In thinking about play, we think about a few things:
It all comes down to motivation. Why do I do what I do?
Play should be part of our daily rhythm.
And play looks different for everyone.
Just like our personality type goes into what makes each of us rest, it’s the same for play. Some of us find enough joy & fun & play in reading, journaling, and watching a joyful movie. To others of us, that sounds like the most boring night of the year.
To some of us, going 90-degree-angle roller coasters is the thrill and play of a lifetime. To others, that sounds like a panic attack waiting to happen.
But we don’t even have to be that extreme. We can build play into our daily rhythms by knowing what motivates the joyful, child-like element of our spirit & activating it with what sounds fun to us.
Play, joy, fun, and laughter are *essential* for our survival. They fuel so much of the mental wellness & spiritual stillness we crave.
Each Enneagram type & how they might play today:
Enneagram 1
Motivated by: being good & right
Plays by: Doing something that feels slightly out of order, but in a controlled way, i.e., an organized party, especially if it’s a Party With a Purpose.
Enneagram 2
Motivated by: being helpful in order to be appreciated
Plays by: Doing something sweet and simple.
Enneagram 3
Motivated by: status & respect
Plays by: going on vacation. (In your daily life, incorporate fun by setting good boundaries & building some pieces of joy into your day).
Enneagram 4
Motivated by: authenticity, uniqueness
Plays by: anything creative & different that offers a free expression of self & spirit.
Enneagram 5
Motivated by: competency & capability
Plays by: watching his/her movie of choice, or getting in touch with a physical activity that requires the whole mind be perfectly present.
Enneagram 6
Motivated by: safety & security
Plays by: anything with community that’s whimsical but not too fancy or immature.
Enneagram 7
Motivated by: fun, avoiding pain and boredom
Plays by: doing anything that doesn’t involve a single element of boredom.
Enneagram 8
Motivated by: feeling strong, avoiding weakness & vulnerability
Plays by: anything with their people/inner circle that is intellectually (like an Escape Room) and/or physically active.
Enneagram 9
Motivated by: peacemaking & peacekeeping, internally & externally
Plays by: Anything that encourages connection in their lives & in the world.
My favorite Enneagram assessments:
FREE Your Enneagram Coach (faith-based)
FREE Truity Enneagram Personality test (not faith-based)
Paid: RHETI Institute
Remember: Assessments are a *component* of figuring out your Enneagram type, but reading type descriptions is really how to nail it down.
Get the Typing Guide right here or in the form below. Figuring out your Enneagram number is a great way to start figuring out why you say, do & think the way you do. It’s a great way to learn that you’re not weird, you’re just you. And we need you.
Still looking for more? Shoot me an email & we can talk about coaching!