Words of Wisdom from a Nine

'Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities.

Dreaming, after all is a form of planning'.

- Gloria Steinem

Nines are great ones for daydreaming, for disconnecting and taking refuge in their own inner sanctum, a mental headspace that allows them to be elsewhere, imagine things were otherwise, to dream and yes, to plan. This has it's benefits. Nines have powerful imaginations and are often creative but it has a downside too. The problem for Nines is that they can get too caught up in their imaginary world and it can become an avoidance tactic for dealing with their problems and a way of avoiding conflict. Secondly, it can become a substitute for action. Nines can mistake dreaming for action because their dreaming can be very active and use a lot of energy - it is not entirely passive. So Gloria Steinem's comment, above, is very revealing of Type in that dreaming is a form of planning - especially, probably, for a Nine - and dreams are very necessary but Nines need to be careful that they don't become stuck there. Planning without action goes nowhere, a plan remains just that, a plan. So, delicious though it may be for a Nine to retreat into their daydreams, to have an internal shelter from the vicissitudes of life, they need to be careful that it doesn't become an 'opt-out' from real life, that it doesn't prevent them from dealing with their problems or become a substitute for real action and participation in this world. Problems, when they are not dealt with, tend to get worse and disengagement from reality involves disengagement from those around us and those people feel it. Not being fully present to those around us can lead to conflict - something that Nines so dislike. For Nines the expression 'the way out is through' comes to mind - the answers lie with more engagement, not less.