Enthusiasm is a supernatural serenity.
Henry David Thoreau
Overview of S.E.V.E.N.
“The Enthusiast” is a spontaneous, variety-seeking type known for their bright nature. These types are fun-lovers who want to live life to the fullest and have loads of playful energy. They are versatile, often scatter-brained, and overflowing with new ideas.
- Strengths: optimistic, versatile, playful.
- Weaknesses: scattered, over-extended, distracted.
- Basic Desires: being satisfied and fully content with life.
- Basic Fears: missing out and being trapped by pain.
Center of Intelligence: Head
Enneagram Sevens are located in the Thinking Center. This means they have the great potential to have a balanced and trusting mind. Sevens use their head to map out the future and explore opportunities. They are concerned with strategies, seek stability, and emotionally struggle with fear. Sevens, in particular, deny their anxiousness and attempt to escape it by distracting themselves.
Adjacent Wings: 7w6 and 7w8
Wings play a major role in expressing type diversity within the Enneagram. Wings can only be adjacent to the dominant type, so an Enneagram Seven can have a six-wing or a eight-wing based on its position in the Enneagram.
Seven wing six
Sevens with a Six-wing will display creative, responsible, and hard-working tendencies. 7w6’s enjoy pursing new experiences and search for joy in every situation. They are motivated by happiness and have a deep fear of missing out. Strengths include being sensitive to the feelings of others, being productive and responsible with their commitments, and remaining optimistic when the going gets tough. Weaknesses include convincing themselves that they are happy when they are not, difficulty focusing when stressed, and doubting themselves.
Seven wing eight
Sevens with an Eight-wing will display determined, adventurous, and willful tendencies. 7w8’s want to pursue new opportunities and avoid being controlled. They desire freedom and will actively seek out a way to liberate themselves and others. They might justify their negative emotions and assert themselves with charisma into new situations. Strengths include being passionate, driven, adaptable,and highly diverse in thought and ability. Weaknesses include focusing a little too heavily on their career goals, not following through on plans, and maintaining an accurate perspective.
Directions of Growth and Stress
Direction of Growth (Integration)
When an Enneagram Seven is moving in a direction of personal growth they go toward an Enneagram Five. These means they will become more focused and clear-minded. Their attention will shift from being scattered and distracted to being mentally centered and fascinated by life.
Direction of Stress (Disintegration)
When an Enneagram Seven is moving in a direction of stress they go toward Enneagram One. The usually playful and carefree Seven becomes more harsh and critical at One. Their focus will gradually shift from enjoying life with spontaneous energy to ruthlessly scrutinizing their goals and their progress (or lack thereof).
The Stances: Aggressive
In times of conflict, Enneagram Sevens assume an Aggressive Stance (there are three potential conflict stances within the Enneagram). This means that they will move toward conflict when they desire a specific outcome. In the Aggressive Stance, Enneagram Sevens seem to have never-ending energy, they are skilled at reshaping the situation in a positive light, and they prefer to say too little over too much.
The Subtypes
The three instincts of the Enneagram, also called the subtypes, are basic instincts present in every human being. Although all three exist in the body, one will be a driving force.
Self-Preservation Sevens
Self-Preservation types, in general, are concerned with safety, comfort, and getting their physical needs met. Self-pres Sevens are incredibly good at networking and use this close support system to fuel their sense of safety. These types are great at recognizing what they need and going out to get it, but this may also lead to justifying their actions. This subtype wants to maximize life and as a result they have a tendency to overdo things.
Intimate Sevens
Intimate types, in general, are concerned with one-on-one connection and depth. Sx Sevens are true dreamers and see their life through rose-tinted glasses. They are easily attracted by new opportunities, experiences, ideas, and people and they may have difficulty resisting “open doors.” These types want to believe the good in everything and everyone and they often use their own charm to excite their life. If situations become repetitive or mundane, sx Sevens want to abandon ship.
Social Sevens
Social types, in general, are concerned with their social standing and whether or not they are accepted by the tribe. Soc Sevens are at war within themselves as they battle their need for social acceptance by the group and complete autonomy as an individual. These types want to be of service and make the world a better place; they are quick to judge themselves and others for selfishness. Soc Sevens try to satisfy paradoxical desires to be independent and to serve the group.
Personality City 