A bigger view

A criticism of personality typology systems is that they simplify human nature by putting us all into a box. It may appear like that as the Enneagram uses a few key adjectives to describe, in simple terms, each of the different personality Types ie: the One as principled, purposeful and perfectionistic for example, or the Three as adaptable, excelling and image-conscious. However human beings are complex with differing backgrounds, experiences and circumstances so the idea that the Enneagram, or any other typology system, can sum us up neatly in just a few words is not correct. What the Enneagram does do, however, is tell us something about who we take ourselves to be and the functioning around that. Rather than putting us into a box, therefore, it identifies the box we are already in but that we cannot see because we look at ourselves and the world through the lens of our own personality which cannot see it's own distortions. Studying the Enneagram helps to reveal to us our particular lens and the distortions associated with it and, as such, opens us up to a bigger view - not only of ourselves but of the world. It reminds me of the image of the earth from space. We only get the real picture when we have enough distance to see the full view.