How the types are related: Center triad
What are triads?
The nine Enneagram types are uniquely different, but some of them are interrelated in deep and meaningful ways. “Triads” are the mechanism that Enneagram scholars use to group certain Enneagram types together and highlight their important commonalities. Today we’ll dig into the Center triad.
We can think of the human psyche as a culmination of three “centers”: gut instincts, thoughts, and feelings. All of us regularly tap into each of the three centers to function, but there is one center with which each Enneagram type is out of balance—either because they over-rely on it, under-express it, or suppress it entirely.
The “Center triad” to which each type belongs signals the center that the type must work diligently to bring into balance.
Instinct types
The Instinct triad includes 1s, 8s, and 9s, all of whom are attuned to creating and maintaining a sense of autonomy. They want to engage actively with the world without being imposed upon.
When they’re in touch with their bodies and the gut instincts that arise from it, they are able to get in touch with their inner life force and vitality. A gut instinct is a strong sense of knowing that comes from unconscious information bubbling up into consciousness. Instinct types may describe this sense as “I just knew what to do but I can’t say exactly why,” or “I could tell that something was off about that person.” When the self is fully integrated with the body and all its instinctual energy, a profound sense of understanding, ease, and independence emerges.
Although all personality types can tap into their instincts, 1s, 8s, and 9s are particularly sensitive to becoming disconnected from them, feeling it as a loss of inner wholeness. In an attempt to reestablish their sense of self, they create a barrier between themselves and the outside world—“I am me, you are you, and the space is the space”—and become enraged if others try to impose on them. Their rage is both an act of defiance and a feeling of aliveness, an emotion that protects them from being controlled and endows them with a powerful sense of autonomy.
When these types are able to leverage their instincts without trying to control them or weaponize them, they have an unparalleled capacity for wisdom, fairness, and leadership.
Feeling types
The Feeling triad includes 2s, 3s, and 4s, all of whom are attuned to developing their identities. They want to figure out who they are and the value they provide to the world. When they are in touch with their heart and the feelings that arise from it, they are able to access their true nature and achieve a profound feeling of knowing exactly who they are and feeling loved and valued for it.
Although all types can become disconnected from their feelings, 2s, 3s, and 4s are acutely aware when they are out of touch with or blocked from them. They become cut off from who they truly are and unable to express themselves authentically, making it impossible for them to feel a strong sense of self-worth.
This disconnect is painful and provokes each type either to go in search of themselves, or construct a people-pleasing identity that will elicit the love, appreciation, and sense of value they desire. The latter path is empty in the long run, because any self-worth that these types derive from external validation is fleeting; deep down, they know the facade they project is incongruent with who they really are, which kindles a sense of shame.
It is only by reconnecting with their hearts—getting in touch with their true feelings—that they are able to become fully and authentically integrated. At their best, they are unparalleled in the love, value, and creativity they feel in themselves and give to others.
Thinking Types
The Thinking triad includes 5s, 6s, and 7s. These types are in search of a sturdy inner sense of knowing and guidance, a feeling of certainty about how the world works and how to best function within it.
When they’re able to quiet their minds—easing their rapid, relentless thoughts and analysis—they can perceive reality fully and take action confidently. Achieving a calm, balanced mind enables Thinking types to tap into the most powerful source of knowledge and confidence imaginable: their gut instinct. Listening to their instinct will give them the certainty they seek.
Thinking types tend to over-rely on their brain power, tinkering excessively with strategies, formulas, and beliefs to find the most reliable path forward. Their thinking is their superpower, but it can often become loud, constant, and—if left unchecked—an overwhelming source of anxiety and insecurity. If Thinking types can’t reduce the intensity of their mental analyses, they’ll become increasingly out of touch with their other senses. Their fear that they won’t be able to navigate the world becomes self-fulfilling.
When they manage to calm their thoughts, Thinking types become unparalleled in their ability to generate remarkable insights and ideas, driving them towards outstanding practical or creative innovations.
Next week, we’ll tackle the Social triad, delving into the three different styles that the types use to get their needs met in social situations.