I went to the doctor's Tuesday morning to make sure I didn't have a sinus infection. I don't! Just a cold.
But ya know what he gave me?
A sick note for work. (I don't work outside the home... ... I don't think he read any notes before he walked in?) I asked the nurse if I could use that sick note with my family:
Sorry, can't cook for ya!
Sorry, can't drive you anywhere!
Sorry, gotta be in bed by 8, doctor's orders! You're on bath duty tonight!
No?
Bummer. [insert wink emoji]
I know a sick note doesn't work for home, but here's the thing: I think it should. But we don't have to wait for a doctor to write it.
Rest is something we should be incorporating into our daily rhythms. That way we won't need a doctor to tell us when it's time. Saves us a trip, a co-pay, and a flu/COVID swab.
Rest is a weirdly complicated subject with my generation. I don't quite know why. But I do know that every personality type views rest differently, which means two things:
1. We can take a lesson from how each type rests; and
2. There is no one formula for how to rest.
The universal truth is this: rest is essential. Rest is productive. Rest is healthy. Rest is necessary, vital to our survival. But it doesn't have to look like everyone else's rest in order to be the rest that you need.
I am fully aware that many of us are in seasons of parenting little ones, or caring for older parents, or trying to squeeze it all in, all the time. But let me remind you that a) there are only so many hours in a day, and b) you're not meant to hustle for all of those hours.
Read below to see how your Enneagram type rests, then look at the number of someone you love. How do they rest? How can you help them rest today? What can you learn from how they rest?
(Next week: how each Enneagram type plays!)
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Enneagram 1
Motivated by: being good
Rests by: making sure everything is in order, then having fun - whatever that looks like to them.
Enneagram 2
Motivated by: being helpful in order to be appreciated
Rests by: taking a deep breath, putting their feet up, having someone serve them a favorite beverage.
Enneagram 3
Motivated by: status & respect
Rests by: [Has a very hard time resting] but when they do, resting means doing something “unproductive” and fun.
Enneagram 4
Motivated by: authenticity, uniqueness
Rests by: tuning out the world & doing something fun, quirky, or lovely
Enneagram 5
Motivated by: competency & capability
Rests by: reading, watching a show or movie that doesn’t raise the blood pressure.
Enneagram 6
Motivated by: safety & security
Rests by: watching or reading something where the weight of the world won’t impede.
Enneagram 7
Motivated by: fun, avoiding pain and boredom
Rests by: [Has a very hard time learning to rest] but when they do, reading or sleeping works well.
Enneagram 8
Motivated by: feeling strong, avoiding weakness & vulnerability
Rests by: finding a safe space to relax their whole body.
Enneagram 9
Motivated by: peacemaking & peacekeeping, internally & externally
Rests by: Spending time alone, reading, writing, or daydreaming.
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!