What is the stress and growth of the enneagram 5? Find out in this blog where we break down the enneagram type 5s stress and growth numbers!
What Is Enneagram Stress And Growth?
As you probably know, the enneagram is shaped like a clock with lines connecting each number to 2 others. These lines represent our stress and growth. When we are in stress, we take on the behaviors of a different type and in growth, we take on the behaviors of another.
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Our enneagram type does not change as we move between stress and growth. Our core desire remains the same however, how we try to fulfill our core desire changes based on whether we are in a stressed state or in our growth.
The Enneagram Actually Grows Both Ways!
We actually are supposed to grow towards both numbers that our enneagram type is connected to, taking on the healthy aspects of both types. And vice versa, we can be stressed and take on the behaviors of either number we are connected to but there is a number that we need to reach into for more growth and one we reach more easily in stress.
In this blog, we are covering what the stress and growth numbers of the enneagram 5 are including signs that you are in stress, signs you are in growth, and how to step into your growth. Enjoy!
Enneagram 5 Overview
The enneagram type five is called The Investigator. Your core desire is to have knowledge/resources and be capable.
Common traits of a 5 are…
- Logical
- Cerebral
- Reserved
- Analytical
- Introverted
- Methodical
- Factual
- Inquisitive
- Neutral
- Curious
As a 5, your core desire comes from the fear that if you don’t have all the knowledge then you will be incapable. Being emotionally expressive and spontaneous doesn’t come naturally to you.
Enneagram 5 In Stress
In stress, the enneagram 5 takes on the negative traits of the enneagram 7, The Enthusiast.
The normally systematic and responsible type 5 becomes impulsive and irresponsible. This stress number doesn’t always make an enneagram 5 become the life of the party, though it can. This stress number mainly means that the 5 seeks pleasure like a 7 and forgoes their long-term plans.
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Enneagram 5s are meant to be analysts, turning information into plans and plans into action. But an enneagram 5 in stress gets tired of being disciplined and chooses to step back into comfortable, unhealthy habits.
As the enneagram 5 is part of the Fear Triad, fear is the trigger for type 5s to go into stress, specifically, the fear of having their resources used up.
The type 5s core desire is to have resources, whether that’s in the form of knowledge, food, space, time alone, money, etc. Type 5s want a lot of everything in order to feel stable. And when they feel those resources have been threatened, a type 5 goes into their gluttonous type 7 stress by hoarding their resources and withdrawing from discomfort.
I believe the most common reason a type 5 goes into stress is feeling that their alone time is being taken away.
Signs You Are An Enneagram 5 In Stress…
- Hoarding resources
- Dropping responsibilities
- You feel like you don’t know what you’re supposed to do
- Going to excess in food, comfort, and stimulus
- Withdrawing from people
- Or vice-versa, seeking out people for validation
- Spending your days chasing enjoyment
- You are out of touch with your feelings
- Unrealistic plans or no plans at all
- Overly-focused on material gain or success
- You put on a facade of confidence but feel insecure
- Impulsive decision making
- You feel scattered
A type 5 goes into stress by having their childhood wound triggered. A situation happens (,or many situations) where their childhood belief of “if I am incapable, I’ll be harmed” is brought back to the surface and so they go into survival mode to avoid being harmed.
Should type 5s avoid situations entirely where this belief may get triggered? No, that would be ridiculous. Mindfulness is key here. If we can notice when our childhood beliefs get triggered and pay attention to the negative behaviors that we start using in reaction to it, then we can start healing ourselves and work on stepping into growth.
Enneagram 5 In Growth
In growth, the enneagram 5 takes on the positive traits of the enneagram 8, The Challenger.
The methodical and logical type 5 embraces confidence, leadership, and, most importantly, action. An enneagram 5 in growth learns to trust their instincts and do the things they want to do.
The best word to describe type 5s growth is simply action.
A type 5 in growth takes action in work, in relationships, in social settings, in big decisions, and in all of life. Instead of feeling as if they are never prepared or knowledgeable enough, they open themselves up to learn from experience and be brave.
Type 5s make great leaders, but it takes them stepping into their growth number of the type 8 to take on that role. They need some of the type 8s gut instincts to make the best use of their information.
An enneagram 5 in growth also learns confidence by taking such imperfect action. Often times in stress, the type 5 can put on a facade of confidence that can come off as egotistical but a 5 that is truly in growth finds the confidence they’ve needed to value themselves and use their gifts to serve the world.
By learning to take action, the enneagram 5 feels stronger self-esteem and a higher purpose in life. They don’t struggle with their fear of lack because they realize that they can always find a way to get what they want. This also makes the type 5 aware of their emotions and form closer connections with others.
Signs You Are An Enneagram 5 In Growth…
- You feel confident and stable even without resources
- You take massive imperfect action
- In touch with your emotions
- Feeling a sense of purpose and leadership in your life
- Not hoarding your time alone
- Close relationships
- Balancing discernment and trust
- Openness to new ideas
- Not feeling stuck in your head
- You feel like you are in reality
- You have a long term and short term vision for your life
- Spontaneity
- Making time for expression
Stepping Into Growth As An Enneagram 5
So how can we move from stress into growth as enneagram 5s? To 5s, this growth number can sound ridiculous. “You want me to be a loud and impulsive 8? I’m good.”
We think that our growth number means that we have to forgo our personality but this is not the truth. Type 5s, you are meant to be your inquisitive and rational self and it would be ridiculous to ask you to be any different!
Remember that growth for you, type 5, isn’t about just the actions you do, it’s about the mindset you embrace.
We can often think we are stepping into our enneagram’s growth number by doing different things in our reality when, in fact, we are just avoiding change.
While the enneagram 5s growth is about taking bold action, the deeper part of the Investigator’s growth is about taking bold action in the direction they truly desire.
The core of a type 5s growth means learning that the world isn’t a test that you succeed or fail in. It’s a place of abundant possibilities that are here for you to experience. You can have anything you want, you just have to go for it.
A healthy 5 learns to recognize when they are starting to over-analyze and say “okay, are these worst-case scenarios really likely? I’ve recognized all of the possible scenarios, lot’s of which scare me, but now I am going to just put my thoughts aside and take action in the direction that I truly want to go.”
Overall, growth for the enneagram 5 isn’t just about being bold, type 5s need to become balanced about their logical ways of thinking that have kept them competent but also have limited their experiences of life.
Try recognizing the assumptions you make about life and people and remind yourself of what positive outcomes are possible.
A type 5 can embrace their growth by going to new places, writing their highest desires for life, leading a group, and any other situation where they put themselves out in the world.
Give yourself permission to live, make mistakes, learn, and be human.
When you are in your stress and hoarding resources, ask yourself “what behavior am I going to look back at and be proud of? What outcome am I afraid of? How likely is this outcome?”
How do you step into growth as an enneagram 5? Let us know in the comments. Hope this blog helped you understand the stress and growth of the enneagram 5!
Still feeling stressed? The Enneagram Cheatsheets are FREE and have self care activities for each enneagram type!
Related Blogs:
- Enneagram 6 In Stress & Growth
- Enneagram 4 In Stress & Growth
- 12 Gift Ideas For The Enneagram 5
- Enneagram 5w4 VS 5w6 Comparison: Which Wing Are You?
- Mindfulness For Enneagram 5s
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