The Powerful, Dominating Type:Self-Confident, Decisive, Willful, and Confrontational
Type Eight in Brief
Eights are self-confident, strong, and assertive. Protective, resourceful, straight-talking, and decisive, but can also be ego-centric and domineering. Eights feel they must control their environment, especially people, sometimes becoming confrontational and intimidating. Eights typically have problems with their tempers and with allowing themselves to be vulnerable. At their Best: self- mastering, they use their strength to improve others' lives, becoming heroic, magnanimous, and inspiring.
* Basic Fear: Of being harmed or controlled by others
* Basic Desire: To protect themselves (to be in control of their own lifeand destiny)
* Enneagram Eight with a Seven-Wing: "The Maverick"
* Enneagram Eight with a Nine-Wing: "The Bear"
Key Motivations: Want to be self-reliant, to prove their strength and resist weakness, to be important in their world, to dominate the environment, and to stay in control of their situation. The Meaning of the Arrows (in brief) When moving in their Direction of Disintegration (stress), self-confident Eights suddenly become secretive and fearful at Five. However, when moving in their Direction of Integration (growth), lustful, controlling Eights become more open-hearted and caring, like healthy Twos (The Helpers, generous, care giver).
Type Eight Overview
We have named personality type Eight The Challenger because, of all the types, Eights enjoy taking on challenges themselves as well as giving others opportunities that challenge them to exceed themselves in some way. Eights are charismatic and have the physical and psychological capacities to persuade others to follow them into all kinds of endeavors-from starting a company, to rebuilding a city, to running a household, to waging war, to making peace. Eights have enormous willpower and vitality, and they feel most alive when they are exercising these capacities in the world. They use their abundant energy to effect changes in their environment-to "leave their mark" on it-but also to keep the environment, and especially other people, from hurting them and those they care about. At an early age, Eights understand that this requires strength, will, persistence, and endurance-qualities that they develop in themselves and which they look for in others. Thayer is a stockbroker who has worked intensively on understanding her type Eight personality. She recounts a childhood incident in which she could clearly see the development of this pattern.
"Much of my tenacity and toughness comes from my Dad. He always told me not to 'let anybody push you around.' It was not okay to cry. I learned to master my weaker side early on. At the tender age of eight, a huge horse ran away with me. When an adult caught the horse, I resolutely dismounted without a tear. I could tell my father was proud."
Eights do not want to be controlled or to allow others to have power over them (their Basic Fear), whether the power is psychological, sexual, social, or financial. Much of their behavior is involved with making sure that they retain and increase whatever power they have for as long as possible. An Eight may be a general or a gardener, a small businessman or a mogul, the mother of a family or the superior of a religious community. No matter: being "in charge" and leaving their imprint on their sphere is uniquely characteristic of them.
Eights are the true "rugged individualists" of the Enneagram. More than any other type, they stand alone. They want to be independent, and resist being indebted to anyone. They often refuse to "give in" to social convention, and they can defy fear, shame, and concern about the consequences of their actions. Although they are usually aware of what people think of them, they do not let the opinions of others sway them. They go about their business with a steely determination that can be awe inspiring, even intimidating to others. Although, to some extent, Eights fear physical harm, far more important is their fear of being disempowered or controlled in some way. Eights are extraordinarily tough and can absorb a great deal of physical punishment without complaint-a double-edged blessing since they often take their health and stamina for granted and overlook the health and well-being of others as well. Yet they are desperately afraid of being hurt emotionally and will use their physical strength to protect their feelings and keep others at a safe emotional distance. Beneath the tough façade is vulnerability, although it has been covered over by layer of emotional armor.
Thus, Eights are often extremely industrious, but at the price of losing emotional contact with many of the people in their lives. Those close to them may become increasingly dissatisfied with this state of affairs, which confounds Eights. ("I don't understand what my family is complaining about. I bust my hump to provide for them. Why are they disappointed with me?") When this happens, Eights feel misunderstood and may distance themselves further. In fact, beneath their imposing exterior, Eights often feel hurt and rejected, although this is something they seldom talk about because they have trouble admitting their vulnerability to themselves, let alone to anyone else. Because they fear that they will be rejected (divorced, humiliated, criticized, fired, or harmed in some way), Eights attempt to defend themselves by rejecting others first. The result is that average Eights become blocked in their ability to connect with people or to love since love gives the other power over them, reawakening their Basic Fear. The more Eights build up their egos in order to protect themselves, the more sensitive they become to any real or imaginary slight to their self-respect, authority, or preeminence. The more they attempt to make themselves impervious to hurt or pain (whether physical or emotional), the more they "shut down" emotionally to become hardened and rock-like.
When Eights are emotionally healthy, however, they have a resourceful, "can-do" attitude as well as a steady inner drive. They take the initiative and make things happen with a great passion for life. They are honorable and authoritative-natural leaders who have a solid, commanding presence. Their groundedness gives them abundant "common sense" as well as the ability to be decisive. Eights are willing to "take the heat," knowing that any decision cannot please everyone. But as much as possible, they want to look after the interests of the people in their charge without playing favorites. They use their talents and fortitude to construct a better world for everyone in their lives.
You want to be open, honest, direct and straightforward. Morei mportantly, you want to be independent, make your own decisions anddirect your own course. You see yourself as assertive, decisive andresourceful. You would like others to see you as strong, fair-minded andmagnanimous. Your idealized image is that you are protective andpowerful.
You are charismatic and exude confidence. You have a take-charge, nononsense, can do attitude. You have great pride in your ability to face, endure and overcome adversity, believing that what doesn't kill youmakes you stronger. Your assertive stance and imposing presence make youa 'force of nature'. You like challenges and usually overcome the kindsof obstacles that limit or deter others. You have a lust for life andwant to experience everything to the fullest. You believe that 'too muchof a good thing is almost enough'.
Your word is your bond and you do not suffer fools gladly. People areoccasionally intimidated by you and have a tendency to misinterpret yourdirect manner as insensitivity. Self-possessed, you easily speak yourmind and can come across as too aggressive. You believe that being trueto yourself means that you say what you mean and mean what you say. Youstand up for your beliefs and perceive backing down as a sign ofweakness - even though at times doing so may be common sense and in yourown best interest. Behind your tough exterior you are gentle, playful, childlike andinnocent. Always one to laugh, you can see the humor even in the mostpainful and difficult of circumstances. You are also unusually devotedto and protective of those in your 'inner circle,' often secretly goingwithout so that others will have what they need. Living by your ownpersonal code of honor, you have a strong sense of justice which compelsyou to act whenever you see any kind of injustice taking place. This often inspires great loyalty from those who see you as a protective authority.
Need
You need to be your own authority, and seek independence to be masterand commander of your own life. You have the need to feel confident,self-reliant and in charge of your emotions. You don't need to be liked,but you do have a strong need to be respected. You also need a sense offairness and justice in your dealings with others, or you are likely toassert your willful and stubborn nature.
Avoid
You avoid being weak, vulnerable, controlled or manipulated. Secretly,you fear being caught off guard, harmed and/or humiliated. Beingmistreated and at the mercy of injustice are among your deepest fears.You resist and defy anything that is imposed upon you. Fearingdeprivation, you avoid ever having to go without what you deem essentialto your survival. You do everything in your power to avoid beingdependent on anyone or anything. You have a distaste for mediocrity andanything that feels contrived.
Virtue
Your greatest strength is your sense of justice and desire to protectthe weak, vulnerable, down-trodden and under-represented. Big heartedand generous by nature, you willingly protect others even at your ownexpense. A person of your word, you stand up for what you believe in anddeliver what have you promised. You have the ability to quickly assess asituation, cut to the chase and 'call a spade a spade', simplifying whatinitially appears to be complex and confusing. This ability toinstinctively see the truth in any given situation and act decisivelymakes you a natural born leader.
Vice
Your vice is excess and going to extremes. Whatever you like, you wantmore of and whatever you do, you overdo at full speed. Quick to respond,you can over react and come on too strong. You can be too much, toointense, and unwilling to self-limit. This can lead to escalatingconflict due to an over reliance on your own truth and self-definedjustice. Under stress you can become myopic, believing your truth as 'The Truth'. Seeing life as a battlefield or a contest of wills, you canbecome confrontational and have difficulty backing down or admittingdefeat. You have a tendency to push things to the edge and sometimes may run over others in the process.
Attention
Your attention goes to issues of power- who has it and most importantly,if it is being used fairly. You instinctively sense a power vacuum andyou often step in to fill it. You are not interested in subtle nuancebut rather in the big picture, like a general surveying a battlefield.You can be relentless in your search for truth, justice, power and influence.
Spiritual Path
Your spiritual journey is to reclaim your sense of innocence. Spiritual growth will come when you can acknowledge a higher truth and a higherpower. As the king or queen of the jungle, you can either take advantage of others with your powerful and commanding presence or make the jungle a safe place for everyone.
Mantra
True strength comes from surrendering the need to have power and control. Remember that sensitivity to others and acknowledging your owntender emotions is a sign of strength, not a sign of weakness. Cynicismand insensitive teasing are red flags that you are feeling hurt anddisempowered.
Eights are the true "rugged individualists" of the Enneagram. More than any other type, they stand alone. They want to be independent, and resist being indebted to anyone. They often refuse to "give in" to social convention, and they can defy fear, shame, and concern about the consequences of their actions. Although they are usually aware of what people think of them, they do not let the opinions of others sway them. They go about their business with a steely determination that can be awe inspiring, even intimidating to others. Although, to some extent, Eights fear physical harm, far more important is their fear of being disempowered or controlled in some way. Eights are extraordinarily tough and can absorb a great deal of physical punishment without complaint-a double-edged blessing since they often take their health and stamina for granted and overlook the health and well-being of others as well. Yet they are desperately afraid of being hurt emotionally and will use their physical strength to protect their feelings and keep others at a safe emotional distance. Beneath the tough façade is vulnerability, although it has been covered over by layer of emotional armor.
Thus, Eights are often extremely industrious, but at the price of losing emotional contact with many of the people in their lives. Those close to them may become increasingly dissatisfied with this state of affairs, which confounds Eights. ("I don't understand what my family is complaining about. I bust my hump to provide for them. Why are they disappointed with me?") When this happens, Eights feel misunderstood and may distance themselves further. In fact, beneath their imposing exterior, Eights often feel hurt and rejected, although this is something they seldom talk about because they have trouble admitting their vulnerability to themselves, let alone to anyone else. Because they fear that they will be rejected (divorced, humiliated, criticized, fired, or harmed in some way), Eights attempt to defend themselves by rejecting others first. The result is that average Eights become blocked in their ability to connect with people or to love since love gives the other power over them, reawakening their Basic Fear. The more Eights build up their egos in order to protect themselves, the more sensitive they become to any real or imaginary slight to their self-respect, authority, or preeminence. The more they attempt to make themselves impervious to hurt or pain (whether physical or emotional), the more they "shut down" emotionally to become hardened and rock-like.
When Eights are emotionally healthy, however, they have a resourceful, "can-do" attitude as well as a steady inner drive. They take the initiative and make things happen with a great passion for life. They are honorable and authoritative-natural leaders who have a solid, commanding presence. Their groundedness gives them abundant "common sense" as well as the ability to be decisive. Eights are willing to "take the heat," knowing that any decision cannot please everyone. But as much as possible, they want to look after the interests of the people in their charge without playing favorites. They use their talents and fortitude to construct a better world for everyone in their lives.
You want to be open, honest, direct and straightforward. Morei mportantly, you want to be independent, make your own decisions anddirect your own course. You see yourself as assertive, decisive andresourceful. You would like others to see you as strong, fair-minded andmagnanimous. Your idealized image is that you are protective andpowerful.
You are charismatic and exude confidence. You have a take-charge, nononsense, can do attitude. You have great pride in your ability to face, endure and overcome adversity, believing that what doesn't kill youmakes you stronger. Your assertive stance and imposing presence make youa 'force of nature'. You like challenges and usually overcome the kindsof obstacles that limit or deter others. You have a lust for life andwant to experience everything to the fullest. You believe that 'too muchof a good thing is almost enough'.
Your word is your bond and you do not suffer fools gladly. People areoccasionally intimidated by you and have a tendency to misinterpret yourdirect manner as insensitivity. Self-possessed, you easily speak yourmind and can come across as too aggressive. You believe that being trueto yourself means that you say what you mean and mean what you say. Youstand up for your beliefs and perceive backing down as a sign ofweakness - even though at times doing so may be common sense and in yourown best interest. Behind your tough exterior you are gentle, playful, childlike andinnocent. Always one to laugh, you can see the humor even in the mostpainful and difficult of circumstances. You are also unusually devotedto and protective of those in your 'inner circle,' often secretly goingwithout so that others will have what they need. Living by your ownpersonal code of honor, you have a strong sense of justice which compelsyou to act whenever you see any kind of injustice taking place. This often inspires great loyalty from those who see you as a protective authority.
Need
You need to be your own authority, and seek independence to be masterand commander of your own life. You have the need to feel confident,self-reliant and in charge of your emotions. You don't need to be liked,but you do have a strong need to be respected. You also need a sense offairness and justice in your dealings with others, or you are likely toassert your willful and stubborn nature.
Avoid
You avoid being weak, vulnerable, controlled or manipulated. Secretly,you fear being caught off guard, harmed and/or humiliated. Beingmistreated and at the mercy of injustice are among your deepest fears.You resist and defy anything that is imposed upon you. Fearingdeprivation, you avoid ever having to go without what you deem essentialto your survival. You do everything in your power to avoid beingdependent on anyone or anything. You have a distaste for mediocrity andanything that feels contrived.
Virtue
Your greatest strength is your sense of justice and desire to protectthe weak, vulnerable, down-trodden and under-represented. Big heartedand generous by nature, you willingly protect others even at your ownexpense. A person of your word, you stand up for what you believe in anddeliver what have you promised. You have the ability to quickly assess asituation, cut to the chase and 'call a spade a spade', simplifying whatinitially appears to be complex and confusing. This ability toinstinctively see the truth in any given situation and act decisivelymakes you a natural born leader.
Vice
Your vice is excess and going to extremes. Whatever you like, you wantmore of and whatever you do, you overdo at full speed. Quick to respond,you can over react and come on too strong. You can be too much, toointense, and unwilling to self-limit. This can lead to escalatingconflict due to an over reliance on your own truth and self-definedjustice. Under stress you can become myopic, believing your truth as 'The Truth'. Seeing life as a battlefield or a contest of wills, you canbecome confrontational and have difficulty backing down or admittingdefeat. You have a tendency to push things to the edge and sometimes may run over others in the process.
Attention
Your attention goes to issues of power- who has it and most importantly,if it is being used fairly. You instinctively sense a power vacuum andyou often step in to fill it. You are not interested in subtle nuancebut rather in the big picture, like a general surveying a battlefield.You can be relentless in your search for truth, justice, power and influence.
Spiritual Path
Your spiritual journey is to reclaim your sense of innocence. Spiritual growth will come when you can acknowledge a higher truth and a higherpower. As the king or queen of the jungle, you can either take advantage of others with your powerful and commanding presence or make the jungle a safe place for everyone.
Mantra
True strength comes from surrendering the need to have power and control. Remember that sensitivity to others and acknowledging your owntender emotions is a sign of strength, not a sign of weakness. Cynicismand insensitive teasing are red flags that you are feeling hurt anddisempowered.
Wing
If you are the Enneagram Type 8 with the 7 Wing, you desire to appear commanding. You see yourself as outspoken, innovative, intense, daring, striking, attractive and tenderhearted.
If you are the Enneagram Type 8 with the 9 Wing, you desire to appear solid. You see yourself as earthy, simple, honest, practical, authoritative, solid, wise and considerate.
1 comment:
I really liked this! It was very well written!
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