Better well-being starts with a better understanding of yourself.
If you want to make changes in your life and take steps towards self-improvement, it’s really important to start with a solid foundation of self-awareness. This is where knowing your Enneagram type can be really helpful.
Our Enneagram Relationship content was co-developed with marital therapist-turned relationship coach Christa Hardin (MA)*.
Enneagram head types are motivated by a desire to be mentally and emotionally safe. They are often logical and analytical people who can be counted on to make decisions in a crisis. There are three Enneagram head types: Five, Six and Seven.
This blog post is part of our Fundamentals of the Enneagram series, which takes a deeper dive into all the Enneagram elements - wings, arrows, subtypes, centers of intelligence, growth pathways and more. For an overview of the series, start with our introductory post here, then read Subtypes and Instincts of the Enneagram: What are They, and How Do They Affect Human Behavior?
The Enneagram Type 6, “The Skeptic,” has an innate desire to avoid danger, maintain security, and find peace. Because of this intense need for preparedness against potential hazards, including avoiding manipulative and untrustworthy people, Type 6s remains exceptionally loyal to those they trust. If you’re the Skeptic, you’ll find you either have an aptitude for avoiding danger altogether (aka a Phobic Type 6) or for breaking some rules in an attempt to conquer your fears face on (Counter-Phobic Type 6).
Friendships and relationships can be a source of safety and protection. When we belong to a person or group, whether through shared interests, ideals or experiences, we feel a sense of belonging. We are reassured the group or relationship will go some way to buffering us from the calamity of daily life. For Enneagram Sixes, finding people or groups they can belong to is crucial.
Thoughtful and protective of those who they love, Enneagram Sixes make loving and loyal partners. However, when less healthy, the Six can come across as controlling and have trouble trusting their partner, which can lead to issues within the relationship.
Which Enneagram types are the most compatible with the Six? The answer isn’t so simple. Any type can be compatible with a Six — and each type will experience their own joys and struggles within the relationship.
One of the most common mistakes people make when trying to find their Enneagram type is that they over-identify with a single specific trait. For example, someone who over-identifies with anger might assume they are an Enneagram type 8, another with anxiety assumes they are a Type 6, while someone who identifies with helpfulness assumes they are a Type 2.
If you study the Enneagram, you know how complex the system is. Beyond the nine primary habits of attention, there are wings, subtypes, countertypes, arrows, levels of integration, and more. To find your type, you need to consider many factors, and one personality that is noted for its complexity is the Enneagram Type 6.
The Enneagram Type 6 is called the Loyalist and the Skeptic and if you have this habit of attention, your mind is gifted at spotting danger and identifying problems before they materialize. You see the fissures before they become cracks, and with your eye for potential pitfalls, you can help make the world a safer place. When you function in a balanced way, you are loyal, committed, hard-working, generous, cooperative, and idealistic in your pursuit of creating a safer and more secure world.
Bubbly and ambitious, with a hint of anxiety, Mindy Kaling is the kind of woman with whom we wouldn’t mind becoming best friends (translation: she is in fact our dream BFF). She is hilarious. She keeps it real. And she’s written some of the most incredible comedies over the past decade, refusing to be stereotyped and relegated to the sidelines as a “sidekick” character.
According to her written work and observed traits, Mindy Kaling is most likely an Enneagram Type Six and an ENTJ in Myers’ and Briggs’ framework. Here is more about her multifaceted personality.
THE FINE PRINT:
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The Five Love Languages® is a registered trademark of The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, which has no affiliation with this site. You can find more information about the five love languages here.
