Enjoy Self-care and Build Empathy with Books that Transform Ep.39

November 22, 2023 by Inspired Together Teachers Leave a Comment

Enjoy Self-care and Build Empathy with Books that Transform E.39

Listen to this episode to learn more about how you can engage in guilt free self-care while reading books for pleasure that will help you grow in empathy for others.

Show notes:

Episode Summary:

Do you struggle to find or take time for self-care? Do you love to read for pleasure, but usually feel a little guilty when you take the time to read? Today we’re talking about books that you can read for enjoyment that will also help you to build empathy. These are books that might impact how you see your students or how you view your job. Our book recommendations may also help you understand the power you have as an educator to change lives.

In this episode:

You may not have thought about it this way before, but one form of self-care is doing something that you love to do. For both of us, reading is a form of self-care. Maybe you are nodding your head because reading is self-care for you too. If not, when was the last time you gave reading a try? You may find it to be more relaxing than you remember! Reading is a great form of self-care because you can always fit it in. You can read for just a few minutes before bed, spend hours on a rainy Saturday curled up with a good book, or you could listen to an audio book while driving down the road or hiking through your local nature park.

We like reading because sometimes it is a way to do two things at once. We know that multitasking doesn’t work when you are trying to do multiple things that need all of your attention. Each time you shift to a different task, your brain has to readjust and get focused on the new thing- and those transitions waste a lot of time.

Where multitasking does work is when you are doing something physical, like walking the dog, running on the treadmill, folding laundry or even driving. If you listen to audio books you CAN multitask and get two things done at once.

The 10 books we are going to share today are books we choose because they have the power to transform you. You may learn to see students in a new light, or understand the lives of those who come from backgrounds different than your own.

We’ll share both novels and memoirs so we have a little bit of something for everyone.

Here are our books that will help you to build empathy and transform your world view:

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

We both loved this book, which is a modern retake on the Charles Dickens novel David Copperfield. You don’t need to have read David Copperfield to enjoy this book. It won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize.

Kingsolver reimagines the story set in Appalachia in the 1990’s. Demon is born to a teenage drug addicted mother. We watch him grow through the years moving from foster home to foster home, being mistreated and slipping through the cracks. It is also a portrait of the opioid crisis and how people fall into drug use and become addicted and can’t get help.

Along with the negative portrayals there are people who enter Demon’s life and are good and helpful. Even the smallest acts of kindness make a difference in the life of this young boy. In particular, a pair of teachers become mentors to Demon and affect his life in positive ways. This is a modern coming of age story based on a historic writing that is sure to captive you and help you to understand a life that is likely different than your own. It is heartbreaking and hilarious at the same time. It is also expertly written by Kingsolver.

Paula: If you haven’t read David Copperfield before, I hadn’t, read this book and then go and find a summary of David Copperfield. You will be, like I was, shocked at how closely Demon Copperhead mirrors the original story, even using names that are almost the same as the original text….but not quite. This book is a great way to get engrossed in a some intriguing characters, build some empathy, and learn the storyline of some classic literature at the same time!

Finding Me by Viola Davis

Paula: I was the one begging to have this memoir added to the list so I can talk about this one.

Besides being an Oprah’s Book Club pick and Harpers Bazaar Best Book of 2022, this is on my list for one of the best audio books of all time. Viola Davis of the How to Get Away with Murder fame, reads this book herself on the audio version if you are an audio book reader. She is one of just a few people to have one an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and a Tony so as you can imagine, she is brilliant in reading her story.

The whole memoir is about Viola’s tough childhood and her life journey of finding her voice and her purpose when life was basically working against her. She talks in depth about teachers and mentors who brought her up and those who brought her down.

The first 30 minutes or so of the audio is heavy. Listening to her tell her childhood stories in which her racial, socioeconomic, and family struggles impacted her self-worth and identity will touch you deep in your teacher heart. Don’t give up after those tough few beginning chapters. Though she faces darkness, she is an amazing light in this world and following her on that deeply personal journey is a profound experience.

You will come out of listening to this book, or reading it, as a better person and teacher.

Remarkable Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Michele: I’ll start by saying that I was sure I would hate this book.

This book is unusual. It features three very different characters. The first is an elderly widow named Tova, who works nights cleaning at an aquarium. The second is a young adult named Cameron, who is drifting through life and struggling to find a meaningful path. The third is an giant pacific octopus named Marcellus, who not only talks but who is witty and bright, and amazingly perceptive.

The three connect at the aquarium, and the story develops about how they learn to understand each other, and eventually, to help each other. I see this book as a book about not only friendship, but the power of small kindnesses. I loved that it is hopeful. In the end, I was won over and charmed by this book. The world changes when you understand that in some ways, we are all remarkable bright creatures.

Spare by Prince Harry

We both listened to this on audio, and it is worth hearing the Prince himself read this book. This is somewhat of an odd choice for us, because neither of us are big royal watchers, nor are we particularly captivated by the royal family.

Michele: What I liked about this book is how a person’s perspective frames their understanding of the world. Harry grew up extremely privileged, but in many ways, his childhood was lonely and isolated. Especially after the death of his Mother, Princess Diana, he felt isolated and alone and no one answered his questions or did anything to help him through his grief. I think that loss and that grief changed him in deep ways. I see him as a child who didn’t get the support he needed.

Paula: I also was drawn to the childhood and teen years in this memoir, honestly, much more than the adult years. It was not a story of pity, which I had feared, but instead gave us insight into a person who appears to keep it all together but who is struggling internally and also regularly within his family structure. I would guess we have many more students like Harry than meets the eye. Don’t go into this book hoping for a lot of royal dirt, because it isn’t there. What is there will captivate you if you are a teacher, or person, hoping to learn about what life is like behind the scenes that we often don’t get to see. Plus, I have to admit the British accent of Harry reading the book was lovely.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Michele: This was one of my favorite books in the past year. It takes place in the 1960’s where Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant chemist. She isn’t “allowed” to be a chemist because she is a female, and her Ph.D. does not help her to get into a role where she can use her skills. There is a lot of prejudice against women, who at the time it was thought should be the secretaries and getting the coffee. She is constantly fighting her way, trying to hold her own in a world that doesn’t respect her mind.

Eventually, Elizabeth gets a job as a television cooking show host. This is a more palatable role for a female in society in the 1960’s, but she undermines everyone by turning her cooking show into a series of chemistry lessons. She finds a way she can empower other women and young girls in a positive way.

This book is devastating, and funny, and ultimately helps you to understand how discrimination works. It is also about the power of being your true self. She held her own doing her chemistry experiments in the living room. I loved this character.

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

Paula: Since I seem to be on the audio memoir kick today, I would love to talk about this one.

Do not let the title scare you away – this book is heartbreaking and funny- sometimes both at once and is worth listening to or reading.

Jeannette McCurdy was a Nickelodeon child star on iCarly and then got her own spinoff called Sam and Cat. On the surface, everything looks amazing for Jennette, who reads this story herself if you listen to it on audio. However, she suffered behind the scenes with her mother’s mental and physical abuse and her father’s neglect. She first developed anorexia as an 11 year old at the urging of her mother and viewed her body as a commodity to earn money to support her family.

Personally, I knew of these Nickelodeon shows and of McCurdy but had never really watched them. I read the book on audio at the urging of a friend and have since bought it for my niece and recommended it to my daughters. I was amazed by her grit and determination and the honest sharing of her struggles was touching. As a teacher and a parent, I thought it was amazing.

A Prayer for Owen Meeney by John Irving

This is an older book, but one we both love. It’s the story of two boys, John and Owen, growing up together in New Hampshire in the 1950-1960s.

Owen is an amazing character, you will love him. He is a strange child with uncanny perspective.

This book grabs your attention from the moment when of the two 11 year old boys hits a foul ball in a Little League game and kills the other boys’ mother. This is a book about finding your purpose in life, about irony, about love, and about keeping the faith. The story is told by John, as an adult, and chronicles the depth that our childhood experiences have on the rest of our lives. There is a lot to the storyline, and we don’t want to spoil it for you, but trust us when we say that this is one of those books you will miss reading when it is over.

Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover

We both read this book a couple of years ago, and it is one of those books that stays with you.

Tara lives with her family, which we could describe as survivalist or doomsday preppers. They are isolated from others and lead very restricted lives in terms of having any connection with the outside word.

Tara does not attend school, and her education is very incomplete. At 17 she attends school for the first time when she manages to enroll in college. There she is forced to grapple with her lack of education, her lack of knowledge of society, and the repercussions of her up bringing. Eventually she makes her way to Harvard and Cambridge and earns a Ph.D. This is a story of resilience and the power of education.

11/22/63 by Stephen King

What if you could change history? That is what this story, by Steven King is about.

Jake, the main character of this gripping story is a high school English teacher who makes extra cash by helping adult students prep for their GED. The story involves an essay from his of the students, a local diner and the chance for Jake to time travel back to try and prevent the assignation of John F. Kennedy.

If you want to learn a little history, for example the title of the book 11.22.63 is the date of JFK’s assassination, and get wrapped up in a great story at the same time, this book is for you. It also shows the power of a relationship between a teacher and student in a way I have never read before.

A little known fact about this- Stephan King was 3 months into his first teaching job in 1971 when someone in the teachers’ lounge asked “What would it be like if JFK had lived?” King stood right there in the teacher’s lounge and thought, “I’d like to write that story.” He started, but gave up after writing 14 single spaced pages because it was going to involve too much historical research. He picked it back up 36 years later and you will be glad he did after you read this book.

10% Happier by Dan Harris

Actually, the full title of this book describes it better: 10% Happier- How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works- A True Story

Dan Harris, a former news anchor on Good Morning America and Nightline, describes his unexpected journey from drug addiction and anxiety attacks on air, to becoming a public face for mindfulness and meditation. If you have ever wondered how people become more mindful and 10% happier in their lives, check out this entertaining book. If you listen on audio, Dan reads it himself. Who doesn’t want to be 10% happier, right?

Recap:

Don’t feel guilty if you want to spend some time with a good book. It is a form of self-care, and it might even help you understand the world in a new way. Reading can help you build empathy and understanding of people who have experienced life in a way that is different from your own.

Connect with the Inspired Together Teachers Community:

Download our FREE resource: The Inspired Teachers Guide to Taking Back Your Life.

Website: https:www.inspiredtogetherteachers.com

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More About Inspired Together Teachers:

Are you a teacher struggling to balance your best work with your best life?

If you are dedicated and caring but often overwhelmed and exhausted, join us at Inspired Together Teachers. We’ll give you inspiration, strategies and tips that help you navigate life’s challenges as a stronger, more confident, and more joy filled person, both in and out of the classroom.

Inspired Together Teachers will give you practical tools to experience more of what matters most in your life.

Co-hosts Paula Schmidt and Michele Vosberg are award winning educators with the experience and skills to help teachers thrive in life and work. They’ve taught at all levels, worked with thousands of teachers, and conducted workshops around the world. They are also the authors of the #1 best-selling book The Inspired Teachers Journal: A Weekly Guide to Becoming Your Best Self.

Paula and Michele would love to have you to join them on their quest to lived inspired lives.

The Enneagram Harmony Triads Ep.38

November 15, 2023 by Inspired Together Teachers Leave a Comment

The Enneagram Harmony Triads S.3 E.38

Listen to this episode to learn how the Enneagram Harmony Triads can help you find balance in your life.

Show notes:

Episode Summary:

Have you been following our Enneagram for Educators series? In today’s episode, we’re going to wrap up the series and bring our knowledge and understanding full circle so that you can access the best of the Enneagram and use it for both personal development and to improve relationships with your family, friends and even your students. Ramp up your knowledge and learn more about how to apply the Enneagram in your life in today’s episode.

In this episode:

Please note that this is not a word-for-word transcript. If you would like to hear all of the discussion and the examples, listen to the podcast. The notes below are highlights of the information we share in this episode.

This is the fifth episode in our Enneagram series. In previous episodes, we’ve shared the three types of wisdom in our discussion of the head, heart, and gut instinct types. We’ve also discussed each of the nine Enneagram types including their basic fears and motivations. If you haven’t listened to those episodes, you will want to go back and listen to those. Today we are exciting to bring some of this information together as we discuss the harmony Triads.

What is the Enneagram Harmony Triad?

Even if you have studied the Enneagram, you’ve probably never heard of the Harmony Triads. This is part of the Enneagram model that we were trained to teach and that we think is very helpful in finding balance in our lives.

You may heard of the wings and arrows model of the Enneagram, or you have heard of people saying, “I am a 3 wing 4”, or something like that. Basically, the wings are the numbers on either side of your main type- so if you are a two, your wings would be one and three. Those types influence your main type and you may have characteristics of one of those types. This is one model of the Enneagram that is commonly taught.

We’re not going to go into wings and arrows, because we prefer the Harmony Triads model.

The Harmony Triads model gives you three types, your main type and two others. You can tap into the intelligences of each of the three types.

Most of us focus on one type of intelligence- we lead with our head, or heart or gut. Growth can come from accessing all types of intelligence. Who doesn’t want to be smarter?

If you want more about this- see episode 17 Get Out of Your Head about the three types of intelligence.

Think of the Enneagram types as a baseball team. We all have our own baseball team. You have nine players on your team (the 9 Enneagram types). The star of the team, your MVP, is your main Enneagram type. The key supporting players are your two other Harmony Triad numbers.

The three Harmony Triads are Types 8, 5, and 2, types 9, 3, and 6 and types I, 4, and 7. You can see them in the triangles connecting the numbers in the image below. Each triad has one head type, one gut type, and one heart type. Accessing all three types of wisdom helps you to be stronger and when you are balanced and in harmony, you can be the best version of your unique self. Your baseball team is using the best strengths of its players, which makes it a winning team!

Enneagram map — The Enneagram Harmony Triads

How the Harmony Triads work:

We’ve talked about the Enneagram as a tool for personal growth. This is where the Harmony Triads really come into play. This is one of the ways you can apply your knowledge of the Enneagram to improve things in your life.

We all talk about finding balance, and having harmony and being our unique selves in the best possible way. Isn’t that what we all want? The Harmony Triad helps with this.

Let’s look at examples of the 8, 5, 2 Triad.

Type 8

8s have great confidence and leadership. They lead with their gut instinct. On their edge, they can be demanding, controlling and act without thinking.
8s can access the heart intelligence of the 2. This can remind them that people matter- you can’t just bulldoze through everyone. The 2 energy also encourages them to work for the betterment of others in things that matter so they can use their strong sense of justice for good.
The type 5 energy comes into play when the 8 needs to think through things more carefully. Instinctual decisions can often be good, but sometimes you need to think through the consequences. 8s can benefit from accessing the knowledge and wisdom of others.

Type 5

Fives have great knowledge and wisdom. It is easy for 5s to overthink and get stuck in their head and struggle to make decisions. They can also be self-contained and very cautious with relationships.
The type 8 energy gives 5s the confidence to more forward and trust their knowledge. This increases their potential to bring the best of what they know into the world and act on it.
The 2 energy reminds fives to connect with their feelings. It can help 5s to improve personal relationships and become kinder and more caring to others.

Type 2

2s are heart centered and focused on helping others. They are kind and caring, and self-sacrificing which can be exhausting. On their edge, they can be resentful.
2s who tap into their type 8 energies can become effective leaders. They can use their helpful ways for the good of an organization. They can see a need and then fill it.
2s can use their type 5 to love learning and access information. The 5 energy helps 2s to analyze and systematize that information.

Examples of the 1, 4, 7 Harmony Triad:

Type 1

Type 1 is conscientious and good. 1s like to do things the right way. They may have perfectionist tendencies, and hold themselves to a high standard. They sometimes take that to extreme by demanding everyone else meet their impossible standards.
Tapping into their 4 energy reminds 1s to be connect with the heart, to build relationships and have empathy- not tear down those who don’t meet their high expectations.
Ones on their edge can overwork, becoming intense and overly serious. They need to tap into some of their 7 and bring the joy! They need to relax and have fun and be social and remember that the work will be there later. They can lose the harshness but still keep their strength of good work that is well done.

Type 4

4s are creative, tuned into emotions and have strong empathy.
On their edge, fours can be self-absorbed or overly intense. The 7 helps them to stay in positive, fun energy. 4s hold on tightly to emotions, and 7 energy relaxes them.
1 energy helps 4s to become more focused and productive. They aren’t wallowing in feelings and become effective workers and creative problem solvers. 4s at their best are unique and inspiring!

Type 7

7s bring joy and positivity to the world. They love to experience all life has to offer. On their edge they can become unproductive, unreliable, or undisciplined.
The type 1 energy helps 7s to be productive and visionary leaders. They have great ideas and can apply them.
7s are often very social, and tapping into their type 4 energy makes them sensitive and caring friends and colleagues. Rather than ignoring their negative emotions, tapping into the 4 energy helps 7s to face and feel all of their feelings. They can learn that it is okay to feel their feelings and that they are better for it.

Examples of the 3, 6, 9, Harmony Triad.

Type 3

Type 3s are super achievers with a strong control of their image. Threes get things done! At their edge they can be workaholics who strive to impress others.
Accessing the energy of the 9 reminds 3s to slow down and relax, a message they often need to hear.
Tapping into their 6 energy helps 3s to examine their actions and connect with their rationale side. When they do this, they can see why they are making the choices they make and decide if they are making choices that best serve them.

Type 6

6’s are loyal and faithful. They are excellent workers and great problem solvers. On their edge, they may become overly fearful and anxious.
Accessing the energy of the 3 or 9 will get 6s out of their head and out of over-thinking.
When 6s tap into 3 energy, they become very productive and accomplish a lot. Their sense of dedication makes them great leaders.
When 6s tap into their 9, they can relax and have fun. They can become very social and enjoy life, which relaxes their fears and anxiety.

Type 9

9s are friendly, social and relaxed. They are great mediators and want to avoid conflict at all cost. On their edge, they can become stubborn and passive, preferring to avoid interactions if there is the threat of conflict. They can numb themselves to avoid dealing with anything that causes disharmony.
Tapping into 3 energy helps 9s to be their best. They can become efficient, productive workers. The heart centered three also helps them to be warm and considerate to others.
Accessing their 6 energy helps 9s to become great problem solvers. Rather than ignoring problems, they can actively work to prevent them or deal with them in a positive manner.

All of these examples are typical of ways that the Harmony Triad can help us to be at our best. The more you get to know and understand the Enneagram, the more you can apply it in your own life.

We realize that we have barely scratched the surface of the Enneagram, and there is so much more to learn. We’re considering a weekend Enneagram retreat where we would take the time to explore and discuss the Enneagram with a group of educators. And of course we plan to have fun too! We haven’t made any specific plans, but we are looking at a northern Chicago suburb retreat center as a location. If you are at all interested, drop us a note and let us know if you would like more information.

Recap:

The Enneagram Harmony Triads helps us to find balance and harmony and be our unique selves in the best possible way. Accessing the best of your three Harmony numbers will help you to live your best work life, and home life so, you can live your best life.

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

Inspired Together Teachers podcast:

Episode 17 Get Out of Your Head

Episode 34 The Enneagram for Educators

Episode 35 The Enneagram for Educators Types 8, 9, and 1

Episode 36 The Enneagram for Educators Types 2, 3, and 4

Episode 37 The Enneagram for Educators Types 5, 6, and 7

Connect with the Inspired Together Teachers Community:

Download our FREE resource: The Inspired Teachers Guide to Taking Back Your Life.

Website: https:www.inspiredtogetherteachers.com

Instagram: Inspired-Together-Teachers

Facebook: Inspired Together Teachers

Facebook Teacher Warriors Group: Teacher Warriors Facebook Group

Linked In: Inspired Together Teachers

More About Inspired Together Teachers:

Are you a teacher struggling to balance your best work with your best life?

Inspired Together Teachers will give you practical tools to experience more of what matters most in your life.

Paula and Michele would love to have you to join them on their quest to lived inspired lives.

The Enneagram for Educators Types 5, 6, and 7 Ep.37

November 8, 2023 by Inspired Together Teachers Leave a Comment

The Enneagram for Educators Types 5, 6, and 7 S.3 E. 37

Listen to this episode to learn more about the Enneagram and understand the patterns of types 5, 6, and 7.

Show notes:

Episode Summary:

If you want to learn more about the Enneagram and how Enneagram patterns play out in your life and in the lives of others around you, stay tuned. This is part four of our Enneagram series. Today we are going to talk about the head types- five, six and seven. What does it mean to be a head type and how does that show up in you or in your family, friends, and students? Let’s find out!

In this episode:

Introduction:

Welcome back to our special series on the Enneagram. The following show notes are a summary of the episode, not a complete transcript. To hear all of the discussion and personal examples, please listen to the episode.

This is part four of our Enneagram for Educators series. If you missed episode 34 which was an introduction to the Enneagram, episode 35 where we discussed types 8, 9, and 1, or episode 36 where we discussed types 2, 3, and 4, you may want to go back and listen to those episodes. In fact, we recommend going back and listening to them all because if you only have information about three of the types, you don’t have the big picture of the Enneagram. Today we are going to talk about the head or thinking types. These are types 5, 6 and 7.

Characteristics of Enneagram Type 5

If you remember our Wizard of Oz analogy from the episode 34, The Scarecrow sang, “If I only had a brain”. The Scarecrow represents the thinking types.

Type 5s are sometimes known by the labels The Wise Person, or The Observer. As always, we don’t focus on labels as much as on patterns of behavior.

As we talk about the types, remember that every type has both positive patterns and patterns that are potentially troublesome. You do not have to have all the patterns of your type, and in particular, a person who has done some growth and transformation work may have few if any of the more negative patterns. That said, those patterns are always in the background, ready to come into play if you are tired or stressed or going through a difficult time in your life.

What are some of the patterns of the type 5?

Positive patterns of the 5:

Wise
Knowledable
Visionary
Comfortable with innovative and complex ideas
Observant- they are people watchers and notice things
Good at synthesizing ideas
May be reserved or very witty
Analytical
Often keep their feelings to themselves

Negative patterns of the type 5:

Protective of energy
Carefully guards privacy and space- they can isolate
Overthinking or over-analyzing
Intellectually arrogant
Negative
Controlled
Detached- from others, from emotions and from their bodies
Intense
Highly anxious

Basic fears and way of seeing the world:

Fives fear being seen as incompetent. They find security in watching, analyzing, learning, and understanding the world around them.

5’s are generally calm, wise and perceptive. They love to learn and are curious. They can go down deep rabbit holes when something interests them. They bring the gift of understanding complex ideas and bringing creative innovations to the world.

The challenge for fives is to not get stuck in their heads or detach from others in their relentless pursuit of knowing.

Characteristics of Enneagram Type 6

Sixes are known as The Loyal Person or The Loyalist.

Positive patterns of the Type 6:

Reliable and responsible
Hard -working
Trustworthy
Compassionate
Loyal
Sympathetic to the underdog
Warm and friendly
Vigilant
Fearful or worried
Careful
Good problem solvers

Challenging patterns of the Type 6:

Fixated on worse-case scenarios
Either withdraw to protect themselves or confront fearful situations head or seek them out and confront them
Relentless in getting what they want
Desperate to feel a sense of belonging
Overly cautious
Full of self-doubt
Highly anxious

Basic fears and way of seeing the world:

The six’s basic desire is to be secure in a world they may see as fraught with danger. They want to find a secure group and a secure place to fight against anxiety and insecurity. They anticipate danger and plan ahead to protect themselves as a way of controlling their fears. Sixes often like to organize and plan things, which is an effective way of helping them to reduce anxiety caused by not knowing.

Sixes have great instincts, but don’t always trust themselves because they are too busy over-thinking.

Characteristics of Enneagram Type 7

The type seven is known as The Joyful Person or the Enthusiast. 7s bring the joy!

Positive patterns of the Type 7:

Optimistic
Spontaneous
Playful, fun, humorous
High-spirited
Seek new and exciting experiences
Want to taste everything life has to offer
Visionaries
Highly accomplished
Full of gratitude, they love life
They are very social and good cheerleaders for others

Challenging patterns of the Type 7:

Addicted to being happy
FOMO
Like to keep all their options open, which can lead to indecision or lack of commitment
Overly extended or scattered
Undisciplined
Easily distracted
Easily bored
Must avoid the pain of life at all costs

Basic fears and way of seeing the world:

Seven’s do not want to miss out on any of life’s pleasures. They love freedom to explore and do fun, and interesting things.

Seven’s fear is feeling pain or being deprived of something joyful. They will do to great lengths to avoid feeling anything unpleasant, which means they often need to be “doing” to avoid feeling.

Before we recap, know that the next episode is the final episode in this series. We’re going to bring all of this together and talk about how you can use this information in your life and work.

Recap:

The thinking types of 5, 6 and 7, lead with their heads, constantly filtering the world through their mental faculties. The inner life of the mind gives them energy and inspiration. They tend to analyze and plan, which provides security. Under stress, they can overthink, over-plan or withdraw, which leads to isolation and anxiety which can get in the way of decision making or action.

Connect with the Inspired Together Teachers Community:

Download our FREE resource: The Inspired Teachers Guide to Taking Back Your Life.

Website: https:www.inspiredtogetherteachers.com

Instagram: Inspired-Together-Teachers

Facebook: Inspired Together Teachers

Facebook Teacher Warriors Group: Teacher Warriors Facebook Group

Linked In: Inspired Together Teachers

More About Inspired Together Teachers:

Are you a teacher struggling to balance your best work with your best life?

Inspired Together Teachers will give you practical tools to experience more of what matters most in your life.

Paula and Michele would love to have you to join them on their quest to lived inspired lives.

The Enneagram for Educators Types 2, 3 and 4 Ep. 36

November 1, 2023 by Inspired Together Teachers Leave a Comment

The Enneagram for Educators Types 2, 3, and 4 S. 3 E.36

Listen to this episode to learn the behavior, thought, and motivation patterns of Enneagram types 2, 3, and 4.

Show notes:

Episode Summary:

We are back again today with another episode to help you understand the Enneagram and how Enneagram patterns play out in your life and in others’ lives. This is part three of our Enneagram series. We have already shared an overview of the Enneagram in episode 34, and discussed types 8, 9 and 1 in episode 35. Today we are talking about the heart types- you might be one or you certainly know one. What does it look like to be a heart type? Stay tuned and find out.

In this episode:

Note: The following is not a word for word transcript of the episode. If you want to hear our stories and examples, please listen to the podcast.

Welcome back to part 3 of our special series on the Enneagram for Educators. If you haven’t listened to parts one and two, you might want to go back and check out episodes 34 and 35.

In episode 34 we introduced you to the Enneagram and gave an overview. In episode 35 we introduced the instinctive types, types 8, 9, and 1.

We love talking about the Enneagram, no matter what type we are talking about. We love to teach the Enneagram, and we both got certified because we see the uses in our lives. This has been life changing for us, and we hope it is for you too. If you don’t know your type, we will probably see yourself in this series.

If you listened to episode 34 where we introduced the types, you might remember our Wizard of Oz analogy. We talked about the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion as representing the head type, heart type and gut type. Today we are going to take a look at the heart types-if you remember the Tin Man, you will remember that he was looking for a heart.

Sometimes the world can feel cold or cruel, and we can all use a little more heart. These are the people who will bring heart.

This podcast is meant for educators, and if you are an educator, you are well represented with heart types. The heart types are Type 2, 3 and 4.

We’re going to talk about the patterns of the heart types. Before we jump in, a reminder that they number is less important than the patterns. If you know your number, but don’t know what that means in terms of behaviors and thought patterns, then it isn’t very useful for you.

Let’s start by learning more about Type 2. This is Paula’s type.

Characteristics of Enneagram Type 2

Type 2s are sometimes known by the labels of The Loving Person, or The Helper. We are not into labels so we often don’t use the labels but refer to the number and the patterns.

What are some of the patterns of the type 2? Remember that all types have positive patterns and negative patterns, and that you don’t have to have all the patterns of your type. When we talk about patterns, every type has both positive patterns and patterns that are potentially troublesome.

Positive patterns of the 2:

caring
helpful
generous
supportive
nurturing
self-sacrificing
empathetic
thoughtful
warm
friendly

Negative patterns of the type 2:

they can over reach in helping, smothering
approval seeking, 2s want everyone to like them
overly people pleasing
feel martyr like when people don’t acknowledge all that they do
can feel unworthy or unloved
don’t always care for themselves in the ways they care for others

Type 2 basic fears and way of seeing the world:

Twos want to be loved. They help and care for others as a way to both express love and feel worthy of love. They love to be needed and appreciated. 2s get their approval from helping others.

Twos bring love, kindness and caring into a world that very much needs their heart centered touch. It can be easy to take all they do for granted or even to take advantage of them by letting them do things for you. Find the twos in your life and let them know they are appreciated.

Characteristics of Enneagram Type 3

Threes are known as The Effective Person or The Achiever. Of all of the types, threes know how to get things done!

Positive patterns of the Type 3:

ambitious
self-assured
motivated and can motivate others
they can read the room
productive
efficient
capable
savvy
sociable and relational (this is where you see the heart)
energetic
hard working (many types can be hardworking- but three’s thrive on it)

Challenging patterns of the Type 3:

overwork and exhaustion
they can be addicted to tasks and things to accomplish
they can be overly competitive
they don’t feel worthy of love if they don’t produce enough
they can be very image conscious- they need the latest clothes, tech toys, cars, or expensive and showy things
they can disconnect with their feelings and with others in the drive to produce and achieve more and more

3s basic fears and way of seeing the world:

Threes want to achieve so they can distinguish themselves. They want to be successful and admired. They love to impress others. They feel valuable and lovable when they achieve. Achieving helps them to find their self-worth.

An example in school is the student who is in every club and sport, feels they must maintain a 4.0, works without enough sleep, and is very hard on themselves. They don’t allow themselves to relax. They may feel that if they don’t achieve enough, they are not lovable. This can lead to depression or other mental health issues.

On the other hand, threes make great team members. They get things done and motivate those around the them.

Characteristics of Enneagram Type 4

The type 4 is known as The Original Person or The Individualist. Of all the types, sometimes fours can be misunderstood and unappreciated.

Positive patterns of the Type 4:

creative
love beauty- to see it, create it, bring it into their spaces
highly connected to their emotions and emotionally honest
sensitive and empathetic- a four will cry with you and feel it
unique and original
imaginative
stylish- maybe even flamboyant
can be deeply joyful
can have high highs and low lows

Challenging patterns of the Type 4:

moody
overly dramatic
self-absorbed with their emotions
not feeling good enough
compare themselves to others and come up short
self-loathing
depression
seeks someone to rescue them

4s basic fears and way of seeing the world:

Fours want deep connections with others. They can bring beauty and creativity to the world. They want and need to share their feelings and moods and can sometimes get lost in their feelings.

For example, type 4 children can have big feelings. Particularly young fours can often have big feelings and yet they don’t have the experience or strategies to control their feelings. This is what leads to temper tantrums or outbursts.

As a teacher, you have these kids in your classroom. It may seem like they are trying to annoy you. On our last episode we talked about the gut types. You have a mix of students, and knowing the Enneagram can only help you work with students and understand why they’re doing what they do. They are doing what makes sense to them.

4s are interesting and bring much goodness to the world.

Together, the heart types bring caring, kindness, empathy and many other gifts to the world.

Recap:

Heart types 2, 3, and 4 lead with their heart. Twos bring their help, caring and friendliness to us. Threes accomplish much, while building strong relationships. Fours are creative and artistic and bring love, beauty and acceptance to the world.

Where do you see these patterns in people you know? When we recognize these patterns we can support people in using their gifts in positive ways.

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

Episode 34 The Enneagram for Educators

Episode 35 The Enneagram Types 8, 9, and 1

Connect with the Inspired Together Teachers Community:

Download our FREE resource: The Inspired Teachers Guide to Taking Back Your Life.

Website: https:www.inspiredtogetherteachers.com

Instagram: Inspired-Together-Teachers

Facebook: Inspired Together Teachers

Facebook Teacher Warriors Group: Teacher Warriors Facebook Group

Linked In: Inspired Together Teachers

More About Inspired Together Teachers:

Are you a teacher struggling to balance your best work with your best life?

Inspired Together Teachers will give you practical tools to experience more of what matters most in your life.

Paula and Michele would love to have you to join them on their quest to lived inspired lives.

The Enneagram for Educators Ep. 34

October 18, 2023 by Inspired Together Teachers 6 Comments

The Enneagram for Educators S. 3 E. 34

Listen to this episode to learn about the Enneagram, a tool which helps us to understand our thought and behavior patterns as well as how we are motivated.

Show Notes:

Episode summary:

If you have ever struggled with motivation in your life or classroom, today’s episode is for you! We are going to introduce you to the tool of the Enneagram, which has great potential for educators. The Enneagram will help you understand people’s thinking and behavior patterns and how they are motivated. As certified Enneagram trainers, we are excited to share this episode which is the first episode in our special series on the Enneagram.

In this episode:

What is the Enneagram?

We are so excited to bring you this series on the Enneagram.

You’ve probably taken several different personality traits assessments. Some examples are The DISC, True Colors, StrengthsFinders, the Myers -Briggs Type Indicator, and many others.

The Enneagram is similar to these assessments, but also very different.

In many personality assessments, you learn about yourself, but aren’t really called to do anything. They offer a picture of who you are. The Enneagram shows you who you are at the moment, but even better yet, it gives you a glimpse of who you could be. It’s like a road map, or your personal GPS, it shows us where we are at the moment, and gives up a plan for where we can go. The purpose of the Enneagram is transformation.

The Enneagram focuses on patterns of behavior and the motivations behind them. The Enneagram is not just about understanding our patterns, it is about using that knowledge to transform our ways of thinking, acting and relating to ourselves and others.

Why use the Enneagram?

To understand our strengths and our challenges
Understand the basic needs, fears and desires and motivations of ourselves and others
To understand how to move towards our unique greatness
A way of coming to and owning your authentic self – be more of who you really are
Walk through the world with a stronger sense of compassion and empathy.

Here are some things to consider when talking about the Enneagram:

The Enneagram is more than just a party trick or a little magazine quiz that is fun but doesn’t mean much. You’ve all done those quizzes on social media- Which Harry Potter Character are You?, or Which Disney Character are You?.

Those are often fun in the moment, but don’t tell you much about yourself and have no lasting meaning. They certainly don’t help you to transform in any meaningful way or help you to understand others in a way that helps you improve your relationships.

The Enneagram has a long and deep history. In fact, what we are going to talk about in this series just gets at the very tip of the Enneagram iceberg. You can study this deeply, reading hundreds of books and taking extensive training.

We are both Enneagram certified trainers, so we’ve been doing the work. Even though we have had lengthy trainings, read a lot, and have had experience using the Enneagram in workshops, we feel that we have barely touched the surface. If you are like us, you may find out that once you start learning about the Enneagram you want to understand it more and go much deeper. We’ll just say that the potential is there for deep study.

You may have learned your “number” or type, or heard other people talking about their number. The number is not important- it’s really about understanding the patterns of each type.

You have to apply the knowledge of the patterns in order for the Enneagram to become useful. If the Enneagram helps you to see patterns in yourself or others, and then you use that insight to improve the way you conduct your life, it doesn’t really matter what type you are.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

All models are wrong, but some are useful.

You are more than your number.

This isn’t an attempt to put labels on people or to put them into a box. People often protest about being put into a box, but the Enneagram shows you that you are probably already in a box.

We all have access to three centers of intelligence.

Let’s start with a little quiz. Here are three statements, which one is most like you?

I am connected to my rational side. I tend to analyze and think through things. I follow my head.
I am connected to and often lead with my feelings. I follow my heart.
I am connected to and often follow my gut instincts. I go with my gut.

The answer to your question should be a good first indication of your Enneagram type or number. It can help you narrow from nine types to three types.

The Wizard of Oz Analogy

Before we start explaining the three centers of intelligence and which types align with each center, take a minute and think of three characters you have likely met. This is the trio that travels with Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz books and movie.

There is The Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. Each of these characters is traveling on a journey to find something.

What is the Scarecrow looking for? A Brain. The Brain is the representative of the head type of intelligence. This is the type of intelligence we often think of first- thinking, brain smarts, using your head. This is also known as IQ- or intelligence quotient. This will include Enneagram types 5, 6, and 7. We’ll talk more about that in the next few podcast episodes.

Then there is the Tin Man. What does he want? A Heart. This is feeling intelligence, also known as HQ or heart quotient. You know you are using heart intelligence when say things like, “I just feel that this is the right thing to do,” or “ I know it in my heart.” The heart types include types 2, 3, and 4.

And last but not least is the Cowardly Lion. What is he looking for? Courage. Courage, is GQ,- the gut quotient. You are using your gut intelligence if you say things like, “I feel it in my gut.” This is an instinctual type of intelligence- you go with your gut. You are quick to make decisions and confident in your choices. The gut types of the Enneagram are types 8, 9, and 1.

We will do a separate episode for each of the three centers of intelligence and go into much more detail about each type in those episodes. This episode is the first in a series.

Stay tuned for next time when we continue our Enneagram journey. Make sure you follow the Inspired Together Teachers podcast in your podcast host so you don’t miss it. Or sign up for our free newsletter on this website.

Recap:

The Enneagram is a great tool to help you understand yourself. It is really helpful to discover your behavior patterns, and more importantly what motivates you to do the things you do. You’ll understand more about your strengths and your challenges. It is like your own personal roadmap for personal growth. The Enneagram will also help you to understand others, and to build better relationships. In this episode you learned about the three centers of intelligence and whether you are a thinking type, a heart type or a gut type. Join us next time as we begin digging to the individual Enneagram types.

Related episodes:

Get Out of Your Head

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Free Enneagram test:

https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test

Book:

The Road Back to You by Ian Cron and Suzanne Stabile

Connect with the Inspired Together Teachers Community:

Download our FREE resource: The Inspired Teachers Guide to Taking Back Your Life.

Website: https:www.inspiredtogetherteachers.com

Instagram: Inspired-Together-Teachers

Facebook: Inspired Together Teachers

Facebook Teacher Warriors Group: Teacher Warriors Facebook Group

Linked In: Inspired Together Teachers

More About Inspired Together Teachers:

Are you a teacher struggling to balance your best work with your best life?

Inspired Together Teachers will give you practical tools to experience more of what matters most in your life.

Paula and Michele would love to have you to join them on their quest to lived inspired lives.

Enjoy Self-care and Build Empathy with Books that Transform E.39

Listen to this episode to learn more about how you can engage in guilt free self-care while reading books for pleasure that will help you grow in empathy for others.

Show notes:

Episode Summary:

In this episode:

Here are our books that will help you to build empathy and transform your world view:

Recap:

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The Enneagram Harmony Triads S.3 E.38

Listen to this episode to learn how the Enneagram Harmony Triads can help you find balance in your life.

Show notes:

Episode Summary:

In this episode:

What is the Enneagram Harmony Triad?

How the Harmony Triads work:

Let’s look at examples of the 8, 5, 2 Triad.

Examples of the 1, 4, 7 Harmony Triad:

Examples of the 3, 6, 9, Harmony Triad.

Recap:

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

Connect with the Inspired Together Teachers Community:

More About Inspired Together Teachers:

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The Enneagram for Educators Types 5, 6, and 7 S.3 E. 37

Listen to this episode to learn more about the Enneagram and understand the patterns of types 5, 6, and 7.

Show notes:

Episode Summary:

In this episode:

Characteristics of Enneagram Type 5

What are some of the patterns of the type 5?

Characteristics of Enneagram Type 6

Characteristics of Enneagram Type 7

Recap:

Connect with the Inspired Together Teachers Community:

More About Inspired Together Teachers:

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The Enneagram for Educators Types 2, 3, and 4 S. 3 E.36

Listen to this episode to learn the behavior, thought, and motivation patterns of Enneagram types 2, 3, and 4.

Show notes:

Episode Summary:

In this episode:

Characteristics of Enneagram Type 3

Characteristics of Enneagram Type 4

Related Episodes/Blog Posts:

Connect with the Inspired Together Teachers Community:

More About Inspired Together Teachers:

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The Enneagram for Educators S. 3 E. 34

Listen to this episode to learn about the Enneagram, a tool which helps us to understand our thought and behavior patterns as well as how we are motivated.

Show Notes:

Episode summary:

In this episode:

What is the Enneagram?

Why use the Enneagram?

Here are some things to consider when talking about the Enneagram:

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

We all have access to three centers of intelligence.

The Wizard of Oz Analogy

Recap:

Related episodes:

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Book:

Connect with the Inspired Together Teachers Community:

More About Inspired Together Teachers:

Share this:

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