Discovering your dominant Enneagram personality type is a valuable journey of self-awareness. But delving into Enneagram wings can take your understanding to new depths. In this article, we’ll explore the concept of Enneagram wings and how they influence your motivations and decisions.
Let’s dive into what Enneagram wings are, how they function, explore the Enneagram wing combinations, and provide guidance on finding your own. By the end, you’ll be well-equipped to understand and identify your Enneagram wings and even access recommended Enneagram wing tests to solidify your insights.
What Are Enneagram Wings?
Each Enneagram type has two numbers directly beside it. The two numbers beside each type are the wings of the dominant personality type. For example, an individual whose dominant type is 1 (The Improver) may have a wing of type 2 (The Helper) or type 9 (The Peacemaker.)
Those new to the Enneagram often wonder if their wing can be any of the nine numbers, but this isn’t possible. For example, if your dominant type is 5, your wing cannot be a two. The wings of an Enneagram Five can only be 4 and 6.
Wings are a key aspect of the Enneagram that helps illuminate the intricacies of personality. They can play a significant role in shaping an individual’s personality depending on the degree to which a person identifies with and develops their wings.
Why Enneagram Wings Are Important To Your Type
Exploring your Enneagram wings can enrich your journey of self-discovery, enhance your understanding of others, and strengthen interpersonal relationships. By grasping the essence of your wings, you further empower yourself to identify and evaluate your behaviors. This self-awareness becomes a valuable tool for personal growth, allowing you to cultivate desirable traits and be more mindful of behaviors that can negatively affect you or those around you. Delving into Enneagram wings can broaden your perspective, paving the way for happier and healthier relationships.
Ultimately, understanding the relevance of Enneagram wings is crucial because they exert a profound influence on each personality type, uniquely nuancing motivations and behaviors. Recognizing the impact of each enneagram wing can guide you in leveraging their strengths and addressing potential weaknesses as needed.
How to Identify Your Dominant Enneagram Wing
Determining your dominant Enneagram wing involves assessing your affinity for the motivations and traits associated with each wing. While some individuals may relate equally to both wings, a closer examination of the strengths and weaknesses of each can reveal which one plays a more prominent role in your personality.
At times, your dominant wing may feel so pronounced that it leads to uncertainty about your core personality type. If you find yourself in this situation, you can explore resources such as 4 Tips To Find Your Enneagram Type or consider taking one of the free enneagram test to gain clarity on your dominant Enneagram and wing types.
How Enneagram Wings Function To Influence Your Personality
Within the Enneagram framework, each personality type possesses the potential for two wing types, with your primary wing typically aligning with the one you resonate with the most. It’s important to note that your reliance on a specific wing may evolve in response to life’s changing circumstances.
The presence of a wing is believed to shape an individual’s overall Enneagram type, offering additional insights into their personality and behavior. For instance, someone with a core type of 4 and a wing of 3 might exhibit characteristics from both the Individualist and Achiever types, reflecting a desire for uniqueness alongside a drive for success.
Ian Cron aptly describes enneagram wings as akin to “seasoning” for our core type. Just as diverse spices are used to enhance or modify the flavor of a dish, enneagram wings ‘season’ the dominant type as individuals draw upon the unique qualities of each wing, introducing variety to their personality.
Enneagram wings are dynamic rather than static, influencing the dominant personality type differently. This explains why individuals with the same dominant Enneagram type can display variations in their traits.
To effectively navigate the influence of your wings, it is essential to understand the motivations of each enneagram type and identify which one resonates most with them. This self-awareness can help individuals to harness the positive aspects of their wings while mitigating potential drawbacks.
Given that every type possesses both strengths and shadow sides, the wings of one’s dominant type can either enhance or challenge their personality. Consequently, self-awareness plays a crucial role in monitoring how these wings impact an individual, making exploratory work aimed at assessing one’s emotional intelligence and overall well-being a valuable endeavor.
Unlocking Personal Growth: The Role of Enneagram Wings in Self-Improvement”
By understanding your Enneagram wings, you can:
- Better discern your strengths and weaknesses.
- Gain insight into your interpersonal dynamics.
- Improve your decision-making for better outcomes.
Understanding your Enneagram type and wing offers valuable insights into your innate tendencies, cognitive patterns, and behaviors. This knowledge empowers you to identify areas ripe with potential for personal growth and development.
Exploring Enneagram wings promotes self-awareness by shedding light on unconscious motivations and behavioral patterns. Armed with this awareness, you can make more intentional and mindful choices in various aspects of your life.
4 Tips To Help You Utilize Both Wings Of Your Dominant Type:
- Understand Your Enneagram Type: Start by comprehending your Enneagram type, as this provides insights into your behavioral tendencies and personality traits.
- Observe Your Behaviors and Patterns: Cultivate self-awareness to identify your strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to recognize and improve your actions.
- Embrace Acceptance And Loving Yourself:Practice self-compassion and accept your unique qualities. Remember that nobody is flawless, and embracing your individuality is a crucial step toward personal growth.
- Apply Mindful Learning: Armed with an understanding of how your dominant type and wings influence you, practice mindfulness as you navigate your thoughts and relationships.
Can Your Enneagram Wing Change Over Time?
The corresponding enneagram wings remain “affixed” to one’s dominant type. However, it’s essential to clarify a few nuances regarding the potential for change in how an individual may develop their wings:
- Primary Type Remains Stable: Your core Enneagram type does not change.
- Flexibility in Wing Usage: While your core type doesn’t change, the degree to which you rely on one wing or the other can vary. Life experiences, personal growth, and self-awareness can influence whether you lean more on your dominant wing or your secondary wing in different situations. This doesn’t represent a fundamental change in your Enneagram wing; rather, it reflects your adaptability and the context-specific use of each wing.
- Integration and Disintegration: The Enneagram system also acknowledges that individuals may integrate toward the positive traits of their adjacent type (wing) in times of growth or disintegrate toward the negative traits of their disintegration type under stress. These movements in times of stress and growth are temporary and don’t indicate a permanent shift in your core Enneagram type or wing.
In essence, while your core Enneagram type and wings are relatively stable, the way you express and utilize them can fluctuate based on your personal development and the circumstances you encounter. This adaptability is a testament to the dynamic nature of human personality and the Enneagram’s capacity to provide insights into our responses to various life situations.
The Wings Of Each Enneagram Type
The 9 Enneagram types and their wings:
- Type One, The Reformer: 1w9, 1w2
- Type Two, The Helper: 2w1, 2w3
- Type Three, The Achiever: 3w2, 3w4
- Type Four, The Individualist: 4w3, 4w5
- Type Five, The Observer: 5w4, 5w6
- Type Six, The Loyalist: 6w5, 6w7
- Type Seven, The Enthusiast: 7w6, 7w8
- Type Eight, The Challenger: 8w7, 8w9
- Type Nine, The Peacemaker: 9w8, 9w1
Enneagram Wings Description Guide
Enneagram 1 Wings
1w9
Enneagram 1w9 individuals tend to be introverted and often think before they speak, aligning their words with their morals. They may sometimes take their time with decisions, which can lead to occasional procrastination, but they generally excel in maintaining relationships.
1w2
An Enneagram 1w2 tends to be more extroverted, displaying warmth and empathy. They are usually helpful and compassionate, with strong problem-solving skills, but they may also exhibit moments of being critical and controlling.
Enneagram 2 Wings
2w1
Enneagram 2w1 individuals lean towards helping others while staying true to their moral values. They aim to be dependable and responsible, though they may struggle at times to express their own needs, being somewhat self-critical.
2w3
Enneagram 2w3s tend to be ambitious, extroverted, and eager to connect with others. They often make effective leaders, driven by their competitive spirit and the desire for recognition for their expertise.
Enneagram 3 Wings
3w2
Enneagram 3w2s are generally charming and persistent, excelling in roles like entertainers or salespeople. They desire attention and recognition, but if it’s lacking, they can occasionally become angry, although they still prioritize helping others.
3w4
An Enneagram 3w4 typically values authenticity over conformity but may struggle with the desire for recognition. They can adapt to different personas in social situations, even though they might feel conflicted about it.
Enneagram 4 Wings
A 4w3 typically seeks to be unique and the best, often displaying competitive energy. They are usually conscious of dialing back their emotional intensity compared to a 4w5, desiring both uniqueness and social acceptance.
Enneagram 4w5s tend to be introverted and are drawn to unique artistic interests, often valuing individuality over recognition. They are generally less concerned with being noticed than a 4w3.
Enneagram 5 Wings
An Enneagram 5w4 is usually sensitive and creative, sometimes appearing self-absorbed. They tend to value independence, have eccentric personalities, and are attracted to the unusual.
Enneagram 5w6 individuals tend to be more anxious and cautious, maintaining a social life and seeking loyal relationships. They are typically aware of their fears and can sometimes appear socially awkward.
Enneagram 6 Wings
A 6w5 is usually introverted, self-controlled, and intellectual. They typically prefer privacy and often associate with like-minded individuals, sometimes coming across as aloof.
An Enneagram 6w7 is typically playful and adventurous, maintaining a backup plan due to underlying anxiety. They tend to be more outgoing than a typical type six but not as risky as a type seven.
Enneagram 7 Wings
Enneagram 7w6 individuals usually have a settled and methodical approach, taking time to work on projects and displaying a slower pace. They tend to commit more readily to relationships compared to a 7w8.
A 7w8 typically appears assertive and competitive, prioritizing fun over power. They can be aggressive when expressing their ideas and make quick decisions.
Enneagram 8 Wings
Enneagram 8w7s are often outgoing, energetic, and fun-loving. They are typically ambitious and determined, although their impulsiveness can sometimes lead to reckless decisions.
An Enneagram 8w9 is typically organized and cooperative, maintaining a calm demeanor. They typically excel in mediation and tend to avoid forcing their desires on others.
Enneagram 9 Wings
An Enneagram 9w8 may typically experience inner conflict, as they combine nine’s avoidance of anger with the influence of the eight wing. They can typically express anger more openly during conflicts.
Enneagram 9w1s typically have a strong sense of right and wrong, focusing on goals. They are usually introverted, self-critical, and inclined to participate in efforts promoting justice and fairness.
4 Best Enneagram Wings Tests With Reports
Truity
Benefits of The Truity Enneagram Wings Test:
- Highly Rated: The Truity Enneagram Wings Test boasts a 4.8 out of 5-star rating.
- Comprehensive Insights: This test not only reveals your dominant Enneagram personality type but also identifies your Enneagram wing type and provides scores for all nine types.
- Efficient Process: With just 105 straightforward questions, this test can be completed in approximately ten minutes.
- Cost: It’s completely free.
To take the Free Enneagram Test offered by Truity, click HERE!
Cloverleaf
Benefits of The Cloverleaf Enneagram Wings Test:
- In-Depth Insights: The Cloverleaf Enneagram Wings Test delves into your dominant Enneagram personality type, your Enneagram wing type, identifies the
- Enneagram triad you belong to, and provides an overview of characteristics associated with your dominant personality and wing types.
- Efficient Process: Despite its comprehensive nature with 22 pages of questions, this test can be completed in a mere ten to 15 minutes.
- Cost: It’s entirely free.
- Valuable Feedback: Upon completing the test, you’ll receive insightful feedback from Cloverleaf via email or their online platform, offering guidance for enhancing your daily life.
To take the Free Enneagram Test offered by Cloverleaf, click HERE!
Crystal
Benefits of The Crystal Enneagram Wings Test:
- Comprehensive Insights: Crystal’s Enneagram Wings Test provides a thorough overview of your dominant Enneagram personality type, delving into your basic desire, basic fear, communication style, and wing types.
- User-Friendly: The test simplifies the process by asking you to rank statements on a scale of one to five based on how well they describe you.
- No Cost: It’s completely free to use.
- Further Resources: Following the test, Crystal offers valuable links to additional free Enneagram resources, enabling you to dive deeper into the Enneagram of Personality.
To take the Free Enneagram Test offered by Crystal Knows, click HERE!
IEQ9
Benefits of The Integrative Enneagram Questionnaire:
- Precision: Renowned for its remarkable accuracy, this test boasts a 95% precision rating.
- Comprehensive: Gain access to an extensive Enneagram profile, featuring insights into the 27 subtypes, Enneagram centers of intelligence, wings, lines, levels of integration, and the six dimensions of stress and strain.
- In-Depth Exploration: With 22 pages of thought-provoking questions, this assessment offers a deeper understanding and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.
- Affordable Options: Choose between the standard version at $60 and the professional version, which provides even more comprehensive information, priced at $120.
For more information about the iEQ9 assessment or to purchase, CLICK HERE.
Final Thoughts
The seven keys we’ve explored in this guide shed light on the significance of Enneagram wings:
- Your Wings Are The Two Numbers Directly Next To Your Dominant Type
- Wings Can Influence Your Thoughts, Feelings, And Behavior
- Wings Enhance Our Personality And Make It Dynamic Rather Than Static
- One Wing May Be Stronger Than The Other
- You Can Determine If You Have A Dominant Wing By Examining The Motivations
- Some Enneagram Tests Can Indicate Your Strongest Wing
- Your Wings Can Offer Additional Strengths To Utilize
Recognizing the significance of Enneagram wings can unlock additional layers of personal growth and self-discovery. It illuminates the intricacies of human personality, reminding us that each person is a one-of-a-kind fusion of their dominant type and the two wings that accompany it. Enneagram wings unearth profound insights into the multifaceted nature of humanity.
