How Personality Affects Your Spiritual Walk: An Example From My Own Life

I spent  two weeks looking at how the three primary instincts and the Centers of Intelligence affect how we pray, and this week I want to talk more generally about the personality’s influence on how we walk out our faith. I know me best, so I’ll give an example from my own life in the hope that they help you consider what is driving you.

I lead a monthly Enneagram group, and this month we’re reading about my Type, Seven, in the book “The Spiritual Dimension of the Enneagram: Nine Faces of the Soul” by Sandra Maitri. If you’re able to get past the heavy Buddhist/Sufi worldview—and it’s hard sometimes to do so—this book has some great insights into the Types. I am enjoying being reminded of what I know to be true about my false self because it helps me to be aware and thus to be able to make different choices that help set me free of falseness.

So, an example. During the last two years, I felt strongly drawn to contemplation, which may seem strange for the “monkey mind” Seven to desire, but it was not my idea. In fact, sitting in stillness and quiet was initially very scary; my heart would race! I soon began to long for and treasure that time, though. Sometimes I would start crying as soon as I got still because it felt like such a relief.

That was a rich and beautiful season, but lately I have felt pulled back to a life of active intercession – something I’ve been involved with most of my life. However, I’ve found it’s a bit tricky. As I’ve sought resources to help me, I’ve compared myself to others and begun to feel condemned. Maitri speaks of Sevens being able to envision a goal and then berating themselves for not already having achieved it. So, as I’m learning from those who have radically effective prayer ministries, my Inner Critic is saying, “Look at all this time you’ve wasted! You should be so much further along the path!” That, then, leads me to want to crank up my activity – the trap of the Seven.

My study of the Enneagram helps me avoid that trap, but others are more subtle. I really like interceding for people and situations, but I need to check my motives. Is it just because I like to be active, and this is a convenient spiritualization of my hyperactivity? Is it because as a Seven I inherently fear suffering and so try to remove it on others’ behalf? Like I said, tricky.

Contemplative prayer and intercession are not mutually exclusive, I know. I’m learning how to do both, or maybe “be” both is a better term for it. But I’m acutely aware of how my false self’s fears and fixations affect my walk with God. Yet even in this, there is grace. None of this is news to him! God is not disappointed with me, or anyone. When I go back to that still place, God is always there, always pouring out his unconditional love on me.

That place of being, not doing or figuring out (the Seven fixation is planning and trying to understand everything), gets me out of my Head Center and into my Heart and Body instead. I thank God for leading me to the Enneagram, primarily because its insights help me to become a wholer, truer version of myself, which I can bring to the lover of my soul for a more authentic relationship with him.

I would so love to hear your story of what you’ve noticed about how your Type influences your walk. Please share for the benefit of all. Or, if you’d like to remain anonymous, you can email your thoughts to me at heath@uncoverydiscovery.com.

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