What is Your Hazard Hey there! It’s officially road trip season, and I know a lot of you are anxious to get out there. Maybe some of you are heading for high elevations. Have you ever driven in the mountains with high rock formations, and you see those signs, “Hazard ahead, look out for falling rocks?” This situation can be really dangerous, right? Today, we are talking about the hazards in your life that keep you from getting where you want to go and how the enneagram both defines these hazards, and gives us a road map to work around them. what is your hazard? It’s not the rocks themselves that are dangerous. A rock is just a rock. I like this analogy because it allows us to see the power of perspective. None of our personal hazards are dangerous all on their own, it’s the power and perspective we give them, and the situations we allow to form around them, that make them so dangerous. Using the enneagram, we can define our hazard through our core number. This will be the trap that you continually find yourself in. The pattern of your core number keeps bringing you back to this self destructive behavior and situation that doesn’t serve you well. The key to getting out of this trap is by connecting with your strength number and the high virtues you have access to through that number. Let’s look at some examples. Type one One’s hazard has to do with control. Their key motivation is to be good, also meaning they don’t want to be bad. This might seem over simple, but it is full of complication. They feel like if they can keep out anything labeled as “bad,” they won’t be corrupted by it, therefore keeping them preserved, and good. Are you seeing the blind spot here? This is an impossible feat. No one can be fully good and keep out all wrong. Type One’s Strength Number: Seven The road map for type one means connecting to the high side of seven. The virtue one’s need to strive for is sobriety. This is the acceptance of “what is.” Not wanting things to be better, more, or different. There is a peaceful balance here that gets one’s out of their cycle to improve and control. They realize they have control of very little in reality, and there is a gift in understanding that balance. Type Two: Two’s hazard is around acceptance and needing to be liked or loved. Doesn’t everyone want to be liked or loved? Well, yes, but none of us hold a candle to the deep need of the type two for this acceptance. They will go beyond boundaries and logic to please others, subconsciously wanting a reciprocal love and helpfulness to come their way. Their challenge is keeping boundaries, and authenticity. Their blind spot lies in overstepping and saying yes to everything and everyone. Type Two’s strength number: Four The road map for type two means connecting to the high side of type four. Fours might just be the most authentic type on the enneagram. Twos need to key into this as well as the awareness fours have around their own emotions and feelings. They can also connect to the fours ability to have good boundaries based on that genuineness. The best decisions can be made when a two knows how they feel and what is theirs to do. Type Three: Three’s hazard is around self-importance and their blind spot has to do with succeeding at all costs. They are efficient and block out feelings to get things done. Just like every number, a strength easily becomes a weakness when it is in excess. Three’s can trend toward workaholism, doing only what will allow them to win or reach their goal. Type Three’s Strength Number: Six The road map for type three means leaning into the best qualities of type six. These include: loyalty, steadfastness, faithfulness, and compassion. When type three can let go of their success mask, and pick up truth and loyalty, they will avoid many hazards on their way. Slowing down, is key for threes. Dare I say it: being unproductive is okay! Threes need to learn to sit with feelings, their own, as well as others, allowing them to have both self compassion and compassion for others. Type Four: The hazard for type four, is focusing too much on what is missing. Fours are idealistic, and want things to be a certain way. They instantly notice what they don’t have, what they are not, and get stuck in a cycle of comparing and feelings. All the while, fours truly miss out. Life is happening around them, but they can’t seem to get out of their inner world, that tells them they aren’t enough, they need to be more special, more like… Type Four’s Strength Number: One The road map for type four is through the high side of type one. The structure, follow-thru, and dependability of type one lends stability to the type four. Through type one, fours can find clarity, and also a path to get thing done. They move away from comparison syndrome, and into a place of realism and serenity. Type Five: The hazard for type five centers around independence, capability, and personal boundaries. These characteristics on their own seem quite positive, but like we’ve said, attributes can easily become unbalanced. This is why we experience hazards in our lives. Fives in particular, become overly guarded and closed off. They want to figure everything out for themselves without allowing for help. This hazard keeps fives from interaction, as well as relying solely on themselves for everything. Type Five’s Strength Number: Eight The road map for five’s is through the powerhouse of type eight. This positive move from five to eight allows fives to be direct about how they feel, and ask for what they need. It also activates the doing center for fives, who often stay for long periods of time in the planning, thinking, reminiscing stage. Eights are known for action, as well as their boldness. This brings fives back into balance, and actually helps them connect better with others as they are communicating needs, and desires. Type Six: The hazard for sixes has to do with anxiety and over-thinking. Sixes are motivated by security, and tend to spiral into worst-case scenario thinking, or over-thinking in general. A major blind spot for sixes is doubting themselves. This hazard affects every area of their lives and decision making. “But what if…” is constantly just under the surface for sixes. They are always wondering, and planning for everything. Type Six’ Strength Number: Nine The road map for type six is through the peacemaker- type nine. Going to the high side of nine feels like a soothing remedy to sixes anxious mind. To let go of the worry, and embrace the easy going attitude of type nines is so healing. The “what ifs,” are gone, there is a calm acceptance that everything will be okay. The peacefulness of nine allows sixes to get out of their heads and into their bodies, to feel the reality that 80% of the the things they worry about NEVER happen! Type Seven: Seven’s hazard is around avoiding feelings, and fear of missing out. The kings of stuffing feelings might just be the type seven. It’s not fun to feel those feelings sometimes, so why not just pretend they aren’t there and distract yourself with something exciting? Yes, sevens fall prey to this unhealthy distraction tactic and many others that allow them to not feel the pain of deep feelings. Another blind spot is around FOMO (fear of missing out). If there is fun to be had, a seven wants to be there no matter how reckless or ill-timed the event may be. Type Seven’s Strength Number: Five The road map for seven’s is through the high side of type five. This move grounds type seven, and helps them establish healthy boundaries. They stop saying “yes,” to everything, and start considering time to with drawl alone as something to look forward to. The five’s independence, and self-reliance gives seven’s balance, and courage to face some of those hard feelings in their own way. Type Eight: The hazard for eights, centers around control, as well as anger. This strong body type does not want to be controlled by anyone, and holds anger right at the surface. Eights speak their minds openly without worrying about whose feelings they might hurt. These blind spots mean they are often in conflicts with others, challenging constantly on every side. Their sharp edges are deceptive however, protecting a deeper vulnerable side that just want to love you. Type Eight’s Strength Number: Two The road map for eights is through the high side of type two: the helper. The positive qualities of twos give the eights needed connection to feelings, compassion, and humility. When Eights access type two, they present softer, considering others opinions, and not challenging as frequently. This awareness helps balance type eight, allowing for the possibility of seeing that vulnerable side. Type Nine: The hazard for nine is centered around merging, and avoiding conflict. Nines rarely speak their mind, they agree with those they are with, to avoid conflict, when they really might feel differently. This creates a passive aggressive attitude, making problems hard to solve. They desire peace within, and peace outwardly, and will do anything to achieve this. Managing all of this feels impossible to the nine, and they might give up. Type Nine’s Strength Number: Three The road map for nines is through the confident type three. When nines lean into the decisive type three, they can speak their mind, say what they mean, and feel comfortable doing it. The three energy also helps nines achieve their goals, and get things done. Type three allows nines to realize that some conflict is good and healthy and it won’t kill them. Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed talking about our hazards. Remember to lean into your strength number to get out of some of those spirals, you really can do it! You always have access to your strength number! Live inspired and keep growing! You might also like: Five Spiritual Practices Everyone Should Try 5 Words Each Enneagram Type Needs To Hear Looking for printables for each enneagram type? Check out the overview printable packet below! Click Here to grab the packet!
