<h2>What is the Enneagram?</h2>

<p>As highlighted above, the Enneagram is a personality typing system that divides people into nine distinct personality types. Each type is defined by a set of core motivations, fears, desires, and behaviors that shape a person’s worldview and approach to life. The Enneagram has its roots in ancient spiritual traditions, but it has evolved over time to become a popular self-help tool used in many different contexts, including personal growth, relationships, and professional and spiritual development.</p>

<p>Despite the Enneagram being labeled as a self-help tool, it goes beyond the typical new-age philosophy of personal development. Understanding how your personality works can help you become a person you understands themselves better, which can help you serve Jesus better.</p>

<h2>How does the Enneagram work?</h2>

<p>The Enneagram is based on the idea that each person has a dominant personality type that shapes their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This type is determined by a set of core motivations and fears that drive a person’s actions. The Enneagram helps people identify their dominant type and understand how it influences their behavior and relationships with other and themselves.</p>

<p>The Enneagram is typically presented as a nine-pointed diagram, with each point representing a different personality type. Individuals can identify their type by exploring the core motivations, fears, and desires associated with each point and determining which one resonates most strongly with them.</p>

<p>There are also many online tools that can help you determine your Enneagram type. We recommend a few different ones depending on if you want a free, surface-level assessment or a more in-depth one for a cost. You can find those recommendations on our article called  <a href=personality-assessments>How You Can Learn Your Personality Type</a>.</p>

<h2>What are the benefits of the Enneagram?</h2>

<p>The Enneagram offers many benefits for people looking to understand themselves and others better. By identifying your dominant type, you can gain insight into your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth. You can also learn how to communicate more effectively with others who have different personality types and develop greater empathy and compassion.
The Enneagram is also a useful tool for personal growth and development. By understanding your dominant type and its associated behaviors, you can work to overcome negative patterns and develop healthier habits and ways of relating to others.</p>

<h2>How can the Enneagram help you be a better Jesus follower?</h2>

<p>Understanding your core motivations and fears can help you relate to Jesus better, just as it can help you interact with others better. Getting a grasp on what makes you tick will help you think creatively about how you can connect better to Jesus.</p>

<p>For example, people who are Enneagram 2s love to serve others. Knowing that about themselves can encourage and empower them to look for ways to serve their community. Instead of finding opportunities that separate 2s from people, an Enneagram 2 is more conscious to move toward opportunities that best suit their gifts.</p>

<p>Likewise, an Enneagram 5 may connect to Jesus better in nature rather than surrounded by people. If they know that about themselves, they are able to find alone time instead of loading up their social calendar like an Enneagram 7 might.</p>

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

<p>The Enneagram is a powerful tool for self-discovery and personal growth that has gained significant popularity in recent years. By identifying your dominant type and exploring its associated motivations, fears, and desires, you can gain insight into yourself and others and develop greater empathy, compassion, and self-awareness. Whether used in personal or spiritual growth, relationships, or professional development, the Enneagram has the potential to help you unlock your full potential and live a more fulfilling life.</p>

<p><strong>The Enneagram is a personality typing system that divides people into nine distinct personality types</strong>. It is a powerful tool for self-discovery and personal and spiritual growth, helping people better understand themselves and others - and it continues to grow in popularity. In this blog, we will explore what the Enneagram is, how it works, its benefits, and how it can help you become a better Jesus follower.</p>

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This post explores the Enneagram, a personality typing system that divides people into nine types, and how it can help with personal and spiritual growth.

Learn What the Enneagram Is

What is the Enneagram?

<p>Click here for <a href=#mbti>assessment recommendations for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator</a></p>
<p>Click here for <a href=#enneagram>assessment recommendations for the Enneagram</a></p>

<h2 id=mbti>Assessment Recommendations for the MBTI</h2>

<p><a href=https://16personalities.com target=_blank>16personalities</a> is the most popular free assessment for the MBTI. There’s a lot of good information there that you can use to not only learn what your MBTI personality type is, but you can also learn about the basic, core information about the MBTI and your type. Whole Christianity seeks to expand on its information to equip Christians to be better Jesus followers once they have this information.</p>

<p><a href=https://www.mbtionline.com target=_blank>MBTI Online</a> has a paid version of the MBTI assessment. If you prefer to get more information about your type and premium features, you may choose this assessment. However, we recommend 16personalities.com, especially if you are just beginning your MBTI journey.</p>

<h2 id=enneagram>Assessment Recommendations for the Enneagram</h2>

<p><a href=https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test target=_blank>Truity</a> has a free assessment and is the one we recommend. This free assessment along with the resources you’ll find here and in other recommended resources will be enough for you to figure out your primary number.</p>

<p>If you prefer a paid assessment, you can find one sponsored by Ian Morgan Cron at <a href=https://iancron.ieq9.com/ target=_blank>iEQ9’s website</a>. A more affordable version can be found at the <a href=https://tests.enneagraminstitute.com/ target=_blank>Enneagram Institute</a>.</p>

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

<p>There’s no shortage of paid and free resources to help you identify your personality profile. We encourage you to dive in with one or both of the free assessments above and join us on this journey of becoming better Jesus followers by understanding ourselves better!</p>

This page provides recommendations for MBTI and Enneagram. We encourage you to use these assessments to better understand yourself and become better followers of Jesus.

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Find assessment recommendations for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Enneagram. Free options include 16personalities and Truity.

Personality Assessment Recommendations

How You Can Learn Your Personality Type

<h2>How the Enneagram and the MBTI Are Different</h2>
<p>Aside from the origins of each typology, there are some key differences between the Enneagram and MBTI. We’ll cover 3 here, but know that this list is not exhaustive. Feel free to get in touch if you want me to cover more than these 3 differences! The 3 differences we’ll be discussing here are that the Enneagram has 9 types versus the MBTI’s 16 types, the Enneagram is determined by motivation while the MBTI is shown through behavior, and the it’s more difficult to type people on the Enneagram than it is on the MBTI.</p>
<h3>The Enneagram Has 9 Types and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Has 16 Types</h3>
<p>The most obvious difference between the Enneagram and the MBTI is the number of types covered. The word “enneagram” translates to “nine-sided shape” (it really isn’t that mystical), which means that there is a type at each point that is distinctly different from all the other types at other points. Each of the 3 types are then broken down into subtypes, stances, and repressions. The subtypes are called “Triads” and are called the gut (or body), heart, and head triads. These triads help us group similar types together and help us further understand ourselves by reflecting on the numbers surrounding our primary number. The stances and repressions are a little more nuanced, so we will not cover them here.</p>

<p>While the Enneagram has several natural break points that have been created, refined, and passed down throughout the years, the MBTI does not have such points. Instead there are 16 types (not 9) and these types, while still distinct, have significant similarities with one another. Many people have tried to categorize and group these types together, but it doesn’t seem like there has been any consensus on how that should be done. Instead, we’ll focus on the preferences.</p>
<h4>What Are Preferences?</h4>
<p>Your MBTI type consists of 4 letters, each representing a different part of your personality. The first letter indicates how you prefer to get your energy, through other people and external sources or from your inner world - extraversion and introversion. Next, the second letter informs you about how you prefer to gather information, either from the reality around them (sensing) or from the abstract future ahead of them (intuition). The third letter tells you how you prefer to make decisions, either based on facts and logic (thinking) or based on feelings (feeling). Lastly, the fourth letter indicates how you prefer to deal with the outside world, either through structure and order (judging) or through flexibility and spontaneity (perceiving).</p>
<h3>The Enneagram Focuses on Internal Motivation and the MBTI Focuses on Perceived Behavior</h3>
<p>Another key difference between the Enneagram and MBTI is that one, the Enneagram, is focused on internal motivation while the other, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, is focused on perceived behavior. Each Enneagram type aligns with a core motivation that is strictly internal and unique to the individual. It can be difficult to understand your Enneagram type if you have low self-awareness because you’re not easily able to do the work to figure out what makes you tick internally. And, since it’s an internal motivation, outside coaching can only bring you so far.</p>

<p>Typing yourself for the MBTI is still reliant on some level of self-awareness, but it requires less. Since the MBTI is centered around your perceived behavior or how you interact with the world, it’s easier for assessments and coaching to help you drill down to your personality preferences. While this may be true, you know yourself better than anyone else and especially better than any assessment you take, so be sure to treat whatever advice you get from coaches and any results from assessments with wisdom and discernment.</p>
<h3>It’s More Difficult to Type Someone Using the Enneagram</h3>
<p>In a similar vein as my point above, it can be easier to assign a type to people using the MBTI rather than the Enneagram. Much of the characteristics defined in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator have ways that they show up in the outside world where people can perceive how you interact with people, information,  and decisions. For example, if you’re known for going with the flow rather than following a rigid schedule, it’s likely that you have a preference for perception.</p>

<p>However, with the Enneagram, it’s a bit more nuanced than that. Many of the Enneagram types may have a preference for perception, but it’s not about <em>how</em> or <em>when</em> they show up but <em>why</em> they show up that way. For example, the Enneagram 3 who is motivated by a desire to appear successful may show up early to meetings not because they’re eager to be there or prefer the structure of a schedule but because they’re eager to appear like they are an ideal, successful employee.</p>

<p>Because of the internal and deeply personal aspects of the Enneagram, it can be difficult to tell what a person’s type is from the outside looking in.</p>
<h2>How the Enneagram and the MBTI Are Similar</h2>
<p>Now we have a good idea of how the Enneagram and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator are different from one another. While they are quite distinctly different, they do share some similarities as well. Those similarities are that they’re both methods of typology, they’re both descriptive of personality, and both can be used to enhance your relationship with Jesus.</p>
<h3>The Enneagram and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Are Both Typologies</h3>
<p>This is the most obvious similarity between the Enneagram and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Both of these personality systems are really <em>typologies</em>, which simply means that they’re a way of categorizing and “making sense” of people - specifically using the social sciences. While the number of types and how those types are defined may differ, the fact remains that they are both typologies.</p>
<h3>The Enneagram and the MBTI Are Both Descriptive, Not Prescriptive</h3>
<p>The Enneagram and MBTI are both descriptive rather than prescriptive. Put simply, this means that these typologies were designed simply to describe your personality, not define it. You are not your Enneagram number or your MBTI type. While both of these typologies can help you put language around your motivations and behaviors, they are not the cause of those things.</p>

<p>Personality doesn’t typically change over time assuming you’re relatively self-aware when you first assess your types. While that’s true, you can use these systems to grow in both your strengths and weaknesses. Instead of saying something like, “Oh, I’m a Type 9, so I’ll always be conflict-averse,” you can say, “I recognize that my conflict-aversion stems from my Type 9-ness, now I can be more aware of that specific characteristic and compensate for it.” Instead of saying, “I’m an introvert, I should only ever be alone,” you can say, “I recognize I have a preference for introversion, so I know I need plenty of alone time to recharge but not at the expense of my close relationships.”</p>
<h3>The Enneagram and the MBTI Can Be Used to Enhance Your Relationship With Jesus</h3>
<p>Lastly, since both the Enneagram and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator are descriptive, not prescriptive, they can both be used to help you enhance your relationship with Jesus. All the types are uniquely different from one another in how they prefer things. A Type 3 may prefer being active in their connection with Jesus while Type 4s may prefer making way for the emotional experience in a connection with Jesus. Knowing that difference within yourself can help you determine what’s best for you in your relationship with Jesus.</p>

<p>Since we’re all unique in how we’re wired, that means we’re all unique in how we connect with Jesus. Introverts and extraverts are going to need different levels of stimulation in order to focus on what Jesus is speaking to them about. Those who prefer intuition over sensing may want to reflect on the general patterns of their life and think about their relationship in the abstract rather than relying on their physical senses to connect with God.</p>

<p>We have devotional ideas for all types, both Enneagram and Myers-Briggs over at the tab that says <a href=/devotional-ideas target=_blank>devotional ideas</a>. If you’re interested in getting started with how you can use your unique personality to connect with Jesus, I recommend you start there, or sign up for our mailing list where we can send you those articles straight to your inbox.</p>

<hr>

<p>There are many more differences and similarities between the Enneagram and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator that I’m hopeful I’ll cover in later articles. I hope, though, that this was a helpful start to your journey into understanding yourself better so that you can connect with Jesus better.</p>

<p>Understanding what makes you tick is incredibly important in your faith journey. While there are many ways to add language around how you think and behave, there are two personality typing systems that can assist you in figuring that out. It’s important to note that, though these typing systems are useful, they are not definitive or absolute.</p>

<p>The two typing systems I’m writing about today are the <a target=_blank href=/articles/what-is-the-enneagram>Enneagram</a> and the <a target=_blank href=/articles/what-is-the-mbti>Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)</a>. Neither of these are technically scientifically validated in that there haven’t been a sufficient number of studies to verify the claims made, but that doesn’t make them any less useful. Each typing system above is linked to other articles we’ve written that explain each of the typing systems in detail.</p>

A photo of clouds with a dark overlay so the text above it can be read. The text reads "3 Ways the Enneagram and MBTI Differ (+ 3 Ways They’re Similar)."

Learn the key similarities and differences between the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Enneagram typology systems.

3 Ways the Enneagram and MBTI Differ (+ 3 Ways They’re Similar)

What is the Difference Between the Enneagram and The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator?

There are many similarities between the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Enneagram. Learn what those are as well as the key differences that make them distinctly difference.

<h2>A Deeper Relationship With Jesus</h2>

<p>As Christians, we strive to have a deeper relationship with Jesus. But sometimes, we struggle to connect with him in a meaningful way. Understanding our personality can help us identify our strengths and weaknesses and provide a framework for growth. By learning more about ourselves, we can tailor our approach to our faith and develop a closer relationship with God.</p>

<h2>Personality Types and Their Spiritual Implications</h2>

<p>There are many different personality frameworks, each with its unique set of traits and characteristics. However, most personality assessments categorize individuals into a few broad categories, such as introverted vs. extroverted, intuitive vs. sensing, thinking vs. feeling, and judging vs. perceiving. Each of these categories has spiritual implications that can help us understand our relationship with Jesus.</p>

<p>For example, introverted individuals may find it easier to connect with Jesus through solitude and contemplation, while extroverted individuals may prefer group settings and social activities. Intuitive individuals may be more attuned to spiritual experiences, while sensing individuals may find comfort in tangible expressions of faith, such as rituals and sacraments. Thinking individuals may approach their faith with logic and reason, while feeling individuals may rely more on emotions and personal experiences. Finally, judging individuals may value structure and order, while perceiving individuals may be more spontaneous and open-minded.</p>

<p>By understanding our personality type and its spiritual implications, we can tailor our approach to our faith and foster a deeper relationship with Jesus.</p>

<p>Examples of how our personality can inform and improve our relationship with Jesus
Let's explore a few examples of how our personality can inform and improve our relationship with Jesus:</p>

<ul>
<li>An introverted individual may find it challenging to participate in large group worship services. However, they may benefit from practicing contemplative prayer, journaling, or reading devotional books in solitude.</li>
<li>A sensing individual may find it easier to connect with Jesus through tangible expressions of faith, such as attending church services, participating in the sacraments, or volunteering in the community.</li>
<li>A thinking individual may benefit from exploring apologetics and studying the Bible with an analytical mindset, while a feeling individual may prefer to engage in worship and prayer with a more emotional and experiential approach.</li>
<li>A judging individual may find comfort in structured prayer routines, while a perceiving individual may be more open to spontaneous prayer and meditation.</li>
</ul>

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

<p>Our personality is an essential aspect of who we are, and it can play a significant role in how we approach our faith and relationship with Jesus. By understanding our personality type and its spiritual implications, we can tailor our approach to our faith and develop a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God. Whether we are introverted or extroverted, intuitive or sensing, thinking or feeling, judging or perceiving, we can all find ways to connect with Jesus and grow in our faith.</p>

<p><strong>Our personality is a unique aspect of who we are. It is a combination of our temperament, character traits, and behavioral patterns that determine how we interact with others and the world around us</strong>. But did you know that our personality can also inform and improve our relationship with Jesus? In this post, we will explore how understanding our personality can enhance our spiritual journey and bring us closer to Christ.</p>

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From introverted to extroverted, thinking to feeling, explore how your unique traits can enhance your faith and connection with God.

Enhancing Your Relationship with Jesus

How Can Our Personality Inform and Improve Our Relationship With Jesus?

Discover how your personality type can inform and improve your relationship with Jesus, and deepen your spiritual journey.

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Browse all articles about or devotional ideas based on your personality in general.

A collection of all articles or devotional ideas based on your personality in general.

How You Can Learn Your Personality Type

Assessment Recommendations for the MBTI

Assessment Recommendations for the Enneagram

Conclusion

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What is the Difference Between the Enneagram and The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator?

How Can Our Personality Inform and Improve Our Relationship With Jesus?