Barbara Bush, John Travolta, Florence Nightingale, and Me.

As it turns out, I have something in common with Barbs, John, and Flo. While sitting in the Tattered Cover the other day, I decided to take the Enneagram personality test. Studying Psychology in school, there is part of me that loves diving into personality tests, both for a greater self awareness, and also to grasp insight to why others are the way they are. After taking the test, my answers placed me as a distinct Number Two. "The Helper" the book tells me, is my personality level (just as Barbs, John, and Flo were all Twos). And before jumping on the wagon fully, I quickly made Matt take the test. I figured that if mine seemed accurate, and his as well (for the most part) in describing those main traits so distinct to each of our cores, then I could read more about our so called Numbers and go from there. And as it turns out, his was pretty spot on as well. So I continued to read...

I still don't like getting completely caught up in a book telling me who I am, but I think there is a lot to say about these personality tests that have been refined over hundreds of years. This is what the Enneagram says about Number Twos, or "The Helpers":

"You want to be appealing, giving, caring and heartfelt. More importantly, you want to be needed, considered important and appreciated for your efforts. You would like others to see you as empathetic, supportive and altruistic. Your idealized image is that you are a loving and helpful person...

You have a warm, sociable and enthusiastic personality... Relationship orientated, you reach out to others and are often the first one to lend a hand. A good listener, you focus on the needs and concerns of others. You usually know what people need and feel, and enjoy taking on the kind of role where you can show your giving and generous nature...

Secretly, you can feel needy and vulnerable feeling that you must earn the right to be loved. Avoiding a deep sense of loneliness, you find ways to connect to and be of service to others. You have an innate sense of what to say or do to make people feel seen and admired...you like to do special things for people and surprise them with unexpected gifts. You take note of others’ desires and try to fulfill them. You take pride in your ability to comfort and support others.

You find it gratifying to be of service and are drawn to people that have power and influence. You enjoy being the power behind the throne and make yourself appealing by being indispensable. Always ready to be helpful, others often depend on you...and value interpersonal relationships above all else. Your extraordinary insight about what people need and your ability to create mutual trust and affinity are rare gifts. You love to be instrumental in helping others achieve their full potential."

Each personality description gets super in depth about all aspects of life. Chapter upon chapter you could read, and analyze, and gain insight. But I am still a bit skeptical. I read the overview, so who knows what more there is that is actually me. Also, this description of a Number Two seems super flattering when I read it, but when I read about my personality type at its lows, what to avoid, and my "weaknesses", ugh-scary! But on the other hand, it's actually a bit strange reading a description that hits the target so closely. Even the weaknesses are pretty true. Reading the descriptions, Matt fell in line also--with a Number 3, "The Achiever." I want to read more about the relationship across personalities, and see what it has to say. I'm a bit wary, though. I want to make sure what I am reading isn't all just fluff but actually true tests that psychologists use, and have deemed appropriate. I know Enneagrams have been used over centuries, but I'm still hesitant; as with anything that I haven't truly looked into deep enough. So I have to ask: what do you think about these personality tests? Have you ever figured out your Enneagram Number?