Worth Working On

My grandma’s china painting teacher once told her “You NEVER throw away china.” There was one plate though, that almost made it to the trash. Gram didn’t seem to see herself as an exceptional china painter but she could usually bring her pieces around to suit even her critical eye. This plate however, was in her words, hideous. Everything she tried, even gold around the edge, made it look worse. So Gram buried the plate in her back storeroom and forgot about it for nearly ten years. When she brought it out again she still almost threw it away but her teacher’s words rang in her ears. So she patiently worked over that little plate until it passed her inspection. Though it wasn't her favorite piece, she put it in a prominent place to remind her about transformation and second chances. If you’ve looked into the Enneagram like I suggested last month, and if you’ve seen yourself in it’s descriptions, the pictures of dysfunction they paint may discourage you. All of us have behavioral tendencies that we may wish to hide in an out of the way place but that knowledge can lead to compassion rather than to discouragement. We are all works in progress, but just like fine china, none of us belong in the trash.

The Enneagram describes behavior by placing it on a continuum of health. Each of the nine types has such a continuum. The authors who put time and effort into documenting behavior are equally honest about the harmful behaviors that typify unhealthy patterns and healthy behaviors that contribute greatly to community. Noticeably, the strength is the weakness flipped on its head and the gifts we offer in health become our stumbling block when we slip into unhealthy behavior. Below you’ll find a very abbreviated description of the opposite extremes on the health spectrum for each type.

Type 2 The Helper: manipulating others in the name of helping them, self-deception, and coercion can be transformed into embodiment of unconditional love, warmth, and knowledge of how to truly help others.
Type 3 The Achiever: performing for recognition and using deception in order to win praise and others’ regard can be transformed into directness, authenticity, and healthy ambition.
Type 4 The Individualist: extreme self-analysis, self-indulgence and withdrawal can be transformed into rich creativity, engagement with others, and self-awareness.
Type 5 The Investigator: extremism, denial of reality, and working exclusively for expertise can be transformed into healthy innovation and clear understanding.
Type 6 The Loyalist: rebellion against authority, self-doubt, and over commitment can be transformed into reliability, strong self-confidence, and cooperation for the good of the community.
Type 7 The Enthusiast: distraction and excessive collection of things and experiences can be transformed into enthusiasm and honest enjoyment of life.
Type 8 The Challenger: forceful domination and coercion can be transformed into strength and generous leadership.
Type 9 The Peacemaker: self-negligence and withdrawal from important relationships and reality can be transformed into comfortable autonomy as well as support for others.
Type 1 The Reformer: obsessive self-control, intolerance, and perfectionism can be transformed into wisdom, healthy realism, and responsibility.

Everyone holds dual potential: to do a great deal of harm, or to benefit those around us in meaningful ways. Since we all hold the possibility to hurt others we can be compassionate for those, including ourselves, whose unhealthy behavior affects us negatively. Likewise, we all hold the potential for a great deal of good. Just like Gram with her painted plate, with patience and honesty what we find shameful can be transformed into our strength. Gram never threw away china, why give up on people?

Source: Understanding the Enneagram: the practical guide to personality types by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson