The Directions of the Enneagram:
To Stress and Security Points©
An article written by Bob Sanfilippo
Passion in context to personality functioning is defined as one’s Fixation, or Habit of Attention. The movements of the arrows (directions) from a Passion Point to a Stress Point or a Security Point are predicated on the level of a person’s stress or the sense of a person’s safety. There are lessons to be learned from both the Stress and Security Points. However, it is important to keep cognizant that reaching the Security Point is not to be identified with the Integration of the Essence of that Point. This comparison is later explained in context of a person’s placement in the Levels of Development.
Stress Point. When personality moves
from its Passion Point to its Stress Point, it is usually due the pressure of
stress. The movement to the Stress
Point is usually an unconscious process. Once
the Stress Point is reached, the personality usually takes on and compulsively
acts out the characteristics of the Stress Point.
Security Point. When a person feels
secure and adventuresome to take risks out of the usual confines of the
personality fixation (“feeling one’s oats”), there is an unconscious
movement to the Security Point. The
personality habitually takes on the average characteristics represented by the
Security Point.
The process of transformation. For
real transformation to occur, a person needs to reach a healthy level of
development (Levels of Development 1-3). There
needs to be a heightened awareness, or Presence.
Especially when experiencing the gravity of mounting stress, a person
needs to develop alertness to a “wake-up” call (between Levels of
Development 3 and 4, i.e., when personality drops from a healthy level to an
average Level of Development) to emerging compulsive mental activity and
behavior.
With
the practice of inner work, a person can learn to consciously guide the movement
to and from the Stress and Security Points.
Such meditative maneuvering can guide conscious activity so to interface
and resonate with the healthier aspects of the Stress and Security Points.
Through healthy living including the practice of meditation, the
“missing piece”, or essence of the Stress Point can be recognized and
integrated into consciousness. Once the missing piece is integrated into consciousness, a
sense of wholeness is experienced. Likewise,
when experiencing less stress and more confidence, a person can consciously
guide the movement of conscious activity beyond the average characteristics of
the Security Point so to resonate in its healthier aspects.
This begins the process of transformation.
To
illustrate the directions of the Enneagram, three examples Enneagram
Points are used: 4, 6, and 8.
Point 4. For the 4, the Stress
Point is 2. When under stress, the
energy of the 4 personality moves to Point 2 and unconsciously takes on its
characteristics. In order to cope
with stress, typical 4s adopt a 2-like clinging and neediness to help others. 4s at Stress Point 2 will act out by compulsively (habit of
attention) offering help with the hope that others will validate him for his
good efforts to serve.
The
beginning of real transformation starts with acknowledging a wake up call.
For the 4, it is realizing that they are reacting with compulsive 2-like
helping with the expectation of receiving something in return for their efforts
(entitlement). 4s (like anybody else) need to get healthy and learn to
manage their stress. Developing
Presence creates the conditions for 4s to recognize and integrate the essence
(“missing piece”) of Point 2 (4’s Stress Point).
For the 4, it is integrating the “missing piece” of unconditional
love of self and others. There is
no longer a need to compulsively solicit helpfulness to others. Love is felt without the sense of having to earn it.
For
the 4, the Security Point is 1. When
feeling safe and secure in oneself and his environment, the energy of the 4
personality will move to Point 1. Hence,
typical 4s at their Security Point will unconsciously adopt the average
characteristics of a 1. They become
driven and critical of anybody who differs from their ideals.
Healthy 4s can learn to guide their conscious activity to the direction to of Point 1. For the 4, it is guiding the direction to reap the essence, or healthier aspects, of Point 1. In other words, healthy 4s learn to integrate Point 1’s essential quality of true perfection. Integrating 4s accept that the Universe is unfolding as it is with all its imperfections. It is the realization that there is perfection in imperfection. However, the heightened acceptance of imperfection could not happen unless 4s integrate the Essence of Point 2: unconditional love of self and others.
Integrating
4s embrace a higher order of Perfection that leads to objective discernment.
Integrating 4s move from withdrawal in the world of fantasy to
interfacing with the world and applying creativity into purposeful action.
With heightened discernment of the 1 essence, integrating 4s transform
their personality to Personhood, i.e., the true and genuine self-identity
emerges.
Point 6. For the 6, the Stress
Point is 3. When under stress, the
energy of the 6 personality moves to Point 3 and unconsciously take on its
average characteristics. Under
stress, typical 6s become 3-like driven and workaholic.
At Point 3, 6s become more image conscious in order to win over the
acceptance of others. Like 3s, 6s
become competitive, but through the identification of groups and beliefs.
They can also adopt the 3-like deceit.
Like
any other Point of the Enneagram, 6s need to develop a level of health by
practicing wellness and Presence. With
the onset of undue stress, 6s need to be alert to the wake up call: looking for
the sure thing or the guidance and support from outside of themselves. 6s need to learn to consciously guide their mental activity
to the essence of Point 3: securing the missing piece of becoming inner directed
which leads to true self-esteem.
When
feeling safe and confident 6 moves to Security Point of the 9.
Unless they are coming from a place of healthy development and Presence,
the movement from Point 6 to Point 9 is unconscious and unguided.
At the Security Point, 6s will adopt the average characteristics of Point
9. Like an average 9s, 6s go along
with the wishes of others to avoid conflict.
6s become complacent, self-effacing, and tune out problems by losing
themselves in comfortable routines. Typical
6s at the Security Point of the 9 indulge in wishful thinking and suppress their
anger.
Once
reaching a healthy level of development, 6s can guide the movement to Point 9,
and integrate its healthier characteristics.
Like healthy 9s, integrating 6s get grounded in the here-and-now. Integrating 6s begin to feel both self-supported and
supported from others that helps them stay grounded and not react to their
anxieties. Integrating 6s can
comfortably embrace the paradoxes of reality.
Integrating 6s, like healthy 9s, feel safe to brave on challenges and
take Right Action.
Point 8. The Stress Point for 8 is
5. Under stress , the energy of the
8 personality moves to Point 5 and take on its characteristics.
Under stress, typical 8’s usual self-assertive stance weakens to where
they become overwhelmed. Like
typical 5s, 8s will retreat from stress and conflict to regroup, buy time, and
gather their personal resources. Feeling
stressed, 8s isolate and spend many hours brooding and gathering information so
they can size up their situation. During
periods of stress 8’s can become high strung like 5s.
Like
anyone else, 8s need to learn to become healthy so to better manage their
stress. 8’s need to be alert to a
wake up call: struggling for self-sufficiency.
8s need to learn to trust that they can rely on the support of others and
reach out for help. 8’s need to
discover their missing piece in the essence of Point 5: finding humility in that
they do not have to do everything by themselves in order to survive.
8’s need to see their true place in the interdependence of the larger
scheme of things.
When
feeling safe, 8’s move in direction to their Security Point and adopt the
average of 2. 8s at their Security
Point flatter others and attempt to please them in a forced way to get what want
and need.
8s
need to approach the Point 2 with Presence.
Healthy 8’s reach higher than adopting the average characteristics of
Point 2. To truly integrate the
healthy characteristics of the heart energy of Point 2, 8s need to learn that
the fear of vulnerability will pass and that vulnerability is not lethal.
In order to become big hearted, 8’s must learn the courage to reveal
their hearts. Like healthy 2s,
integrating 8s learn to live with their vulnerabilities and to nurture
themselves. Integrated 8s learn and
practice the true power of love that is applied to a higher order of things.
In summary, the direction to one’s Security Point is distinguished from the Path of Integration. The direction to the Security Point is a feeble (unconscious) attempt to traverse the Path of Integration. Only with the practice of Presence (grounded body + quiet mind = open heart) can someone integrate into a higher consciousness. Personality cannot solve the problems of the personality, only Essence can. Furthermore, there are lessons to be learned from the Stress Point. There is a “missing piece” at the Stress Point that is vital and needs to be integrated into consciousness for the liberation from the fixation of the personality.
