Type 6 — Enneagram In Relationship

1 (11).png — Enneagram 6

The Loyal Skeptic
Wings 5 & 7
Arrows 3 & 9

Type Six

Reliable, clever, perceptive, and strategic. Sixes are talented solutionists who have the innate skill to identify potential complications and prepare for them. There are both phobic and counterphobic Sixes, which can look quite different though both are driven by fear. Phobic Sixes move away from fear whereas counterphobic move towards fear. Their mental scanning can be greatly beneficial but can also lead to a hypervigilance that amplifies worry. Trust is something that they deeply treasure, but because of their doubting and contrarian thinking mind they often question other’s intentions, voice opposing ideas, and hesitate to trust authority. They are devoted to their beliefs and will fight for them if they need to. Being supported by others is very important to the Six, but this can lead to a disconnect from their own inner guidance and create a lack of self-confidence

Overview of Type 6

Core fear: To feel unsupported and be without guidance or certainty

Core desire: To feel safe and be secure

Focus of attention: Hazards - a scanning of what could go wrong, potential dangers, worst-case scenarios, and how to prepare for it by either avoiding it (phobic stance) or facing it (counterphobic stance)

Limited belief: I’m not able to trust myself, others, or the world because it is a dangerous, threatening, and unpredictable place

Liberated knowing: I am able to trust myself, others, and the world and live comfortably in uncertainty

Strengths: Loyal, warm, committed, inquisitive, trustworthy, thoughtful, witty, responsible

Blind spots: Intrinsic wisdom and self-trust

Three part defense system:

Defense mechanism: Projection - putting your own thoughts and feelings (positive or negative) onto others
Avoidance pattern - Rejection
Idealized self-image - "I am loyal"
Enneagram Sixes use the defense mechanism of projection to avoid rejection and maintain the idealized self-image of being "loyal". The idealized self-image is who our type structure believes we need to be, and we can unconsciously or consciously avoid anything that challenges this image. As a Six learns to acknowledge their own thoughts and feelings, and knows that honest expression can actually mean loyalty, it deepens connection within themselves and with others.

Mental healing & growth:

Moving from habit of mind to holy idea - doubt to holy faith

Doubt - Not believing your own knowing
Holy Faith - Knowing what you know, trusting what you know, which allows you to open up to living in the present moment

Emotional healing & growth:

Moving from passion to virtue - fear to courage

Fear - A perpetual state of angst
Courage - A willingness to acknowledge and stay present to what is occurring both internally and externally, which allows you to face the fear, despite the fear