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GoodRiddance Essay Entry

Have you ever wondered why people behave the way they do? Or why some individuals seem to be more motivated by certain things than others? Enneagram is a tool that helps answer these questions. It is a personality typology that describes nine distinct personality types, each with its own set of characteristics. The Enneagram system is unique because it goes beyond just labeling personality types; it explores the core aspects of each type, including passions, virtues, holy ideas, fixations, stress/security points, and more. At the heart of Enneagram are the passions, which are the negative emotional states that drive each type's behavior. These passions can manifest as fear, anger, envy, greed, and more. However, Enneagram also offers hope in the form of virtues, which are the positive qualities that each type can cultivate to overcome their passions. Additionally, Enneagram identifies each type's holy idea, which is a higher level of consciousness that each type can strive towards. This holy idea is often related to the type's virtue and can provide a path towards growth and development. Enneagram also explores fixations, which are the habitual patterns of behavior that each type tends to fall into. These fixations can limit a person's growth and cause them to become stuck in negative patterns. Finally, Enneagram identifies each type's stress/security points, which are the other personality types that a person may exhibit traits of when they are under stress or feeling secure. The authors of the Enneagram system are a subject of much debate, with many different individuals and groups claiming to have originated or developed the system. However, the modern Enneagram system is generally attributed to Oscar Ichazo and Claudio Naranjo, who popularized the system in the United States in the 1970s. Ichazo, a Bolivian mystic, created his own system of personality typology, which he refined into the Enneagram. Naranjo, a Chilean psychiatrist, became interested in the Enneagram after attending one of Ichazo's workshops, and incorporated it into his own work as a therapist. Together, they helped to bring the Enneagram to a wider audience in the West through teachings, writings, and the founding of the Arica Institute. In conclusion, Enneagram is a powerful tool for understanding personality types, motivations, and behavior. By exploring the passions, virtues, holy ideas, fixations, stress/security points, and more, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of themselves and others, leading to personal growth and development. So, let us ask ourselves: What kind of person do we want to be, and how can we use the Enneagram to get there?
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