Enneagram Type 8 and Spiritual Practices

The best thing about spiritual practices, is that they add meaning to our lives. When practiced regularly, and with intention, they can really change your life. Throughout this series, we have been combining this idea with the enneagram. Using your specific enneagram type with all of it’s strengths and weaknesses, there is a practice that makes the most sense for you. Let’s talk about enneagram type 8 and spiritual practices.

First off, type eights are great at following a plan, getting things done, and moving forward. They are future thinkers, but more than that, they are “do-ers.” An eight could easily take on a spiritual practice in addition to all the other things they do, and “get it done.”

A spiritual practice is more than just something on a to do list. It is important for eights, just like the other numbers in the aggressive stance, to slow down. Seek to be grounded in the present. Getting things done efficiently is a great quality. However, the point of a spiritual practice is to grow, to add meaning to your life, and to feel purpose through that practice.

It doesn’t have to be efficient, or even “purposeful” in the way that you are “getting one more thing done.”

Simply being… is okay sometimes.

Spiritual Practices for Eights

Appointed Accountability

Enneagram type eight’s biggest struggle is vulnerability. They are used to being the strongest person in the room, the one who defends others. Showing their own weakness is something eights avoid at all costs. However, the only way to grow is to allow vulnerability.

The best way forward for eights, is to choose someone they respect and trust to be this person for them. Meet regularly with this person and share the deep things that you normally keep hidden. This practice will open you up in ways you never thought possible.

Ideas to achieve this:

-Meet up for coffee with you appointed accountability person every week

-Talk about feelings

-Review the things in your life that you struggle with

-Be honest about what has recently hurt you

-Revisit similar topics and questions every week

-Notice your progress

Journaling

If you don’t have someone you feel comfortable asking to be your accountability person, another great option is to journal. A journal can be a great tool to practice writing down your feelings, expressing things that happen throughout your week that cause you pain or hurt.

Notice every time you feel a big, intense feeling and write it down in your journal. After a few weeks, you will get faster at noticing those big feelings. You can also look back through your journal and track your progress.

Regular Volunteering

Type eight shares a line with type two, and moves to type two in strength and comfort. The high side of two is not only friendly, but a fantastic volunteer for helping in any situation. Practicing qualities of the high side of any number’s strength number, will help them grow.

For type eight, regular volunteering is a great way to get in touch with that high side of type two. It brings out their compassion and softer side we know is in there!

Once a month, is a great start to begin adding in volunteer work. This can be done in many capacities from your next door neighbor, to a homeless shelter in your city. The point is to get out of your comfort zone a bit and get creative.

Who needs helps in your community? Is there a group you could join or lead to help others? Eights make great natural leaders; a perfect challenge for type eights is to start their own out reach idea.

I hope you find these ideas helpful!

As always, thanks for reading and live inspired!

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