The Enneagram changed the way I listen.

It changed how I interpret reactions, how I understand differences, and how I make sense of what’s happening in any room.

What began as curiosity eventually became a lens I now carry with me in my relationships, in my leadership, and in the way I build community.

First, What Is the Enneagram?

If you are familiar with tools like Myers-Briggs or StrengthsFinder, the Enneagram lives in the same family but focuses on something different.

The Enneagram focuses on motivation.

It looks at why we think, feel, and act the way we do. It describes nine core personality types, each shaped by distinct fears, desires, strengths, and ways of making sense of the world.

Two people can behave the same way on the outside and be driven by completely different internal motivations. The Enneagram helps make those invisible drivers visible.

The Enneagram roots go back thousands of years and it has been used across spiritual traditions, psychology, leadership development, and community building. Today, it is used by therapists, coaches, educators, and leadership teams around the world as a tool for self-awareness and growth.

It is also not an exact science. Most of us carry qualities of all nine types, with one or two that feel more dominant. Your type is not a box or a label. It is a starting point for reflection and awareness.

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Why the Enneagram Matters

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What makes the Enneagram powerful is the perspective it offers.

It starts from the understanding that people are wired differently and that those differences matter. Some people are motivated by clarity and principle. Others by connection, achievement, depth, security, joy, or peace.

Once you understand that, a lot shifts.

You begin to see the difference between what is actually happening and the story you are telling yourself about it. Conversations feel less personal. Misunderstandings soften. Curiosity replaces assumption.

That shift alone can change the way we relate to one another.

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Recognizing My Own Pattern

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Learning my Enneagram type gave me language for patterns I had already lived inside for years.

As a Type 8, I tend to move through the world with directness and energy. I value honesty and intensity, and I do not shy away from leadership or truth.

Seeing that clearly did not change who I am. It helped me become more aware of how I show up and how my energy lands with others. I became more intentional about pairing strength with openness.

That awareness has shaped how I relate personally and how I lead professionally.

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A New Way of Seeing Others

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One of the most meaningful shifts the Enneagram offered me was how I see the people around me.

I started noticing the care behind high standards, the generosity beneath helpfulness, the heart driving ambition, the steadiness within calm, the creativity inside sensitivity, and the optimism fueling enthusiasm.

Instead of expecting people to respond the way I would, I began appreciating how they naturally show up.

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How We Use the Enneagram at Modern Revival

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At Modern Revival, we use the Enneagram as a shared language tool for understanding and connection.

The Enneagram helps people feel seen without being labeled and understood without being simplified. That is why it is in our experiences and work, not as a test, but as an invitation.

An invitation to know yourself better, communicate with more clarity and compassion, and build relationships that feel more honest and intentional.

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What I Have Come to Believe

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The Enneagram does not tell us who to be. It helps us see who we already are and how others experience the world differently than we do.

Every type brings something valuable.
Every type has room to grow.
And every type belongs.

Because understanding people more clearly changes how we show up with them.