What is the stress and growth of the enneagram 6? Find out in this blog where we break down the enneagram type 6s 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 6 are including signs that you are in stress, signs you are in growth, and how to step into your growth. Enjoy!
Enneagram 6 Overview
The enneagram type six is called The Loyalist. Your core desire is to have security, safety, and loyalty.
Common traits of a 6 are…
- Loyal
- Protective
- Assertive
- Cautious
- Dedicated
- Grounded
- Prepared
- Honest
- Strong
As a 6, your core desire comes from the fear and belief that the world is dangerous and will harm you. Thinking positive and being a daredevil don’t come naturally to you.
Enneagram 6 In Stress
In stress, the enneagram 6 takes on the negative traits of the enneagram 3, The Achiever.
The normally caring type 6 becomes self-centered and aggressive. They lose their compassion and focus on achievement in an unhealthy manner. Often cutting off their friends and family.
Enneagram 6s are meant to protect others but when the Loyalist goes into stress, this protectiveness turns into justification, mainly of their beliefs and actions. An enneagram 6 in stress can be hard to talk to, because they always seem to need to tell you why they are right.
As the enneagram 6 is part of the Fear Triad, fear is the trigger for type 6s to go into stress, specifically, the fear of being betrayed because their core desire is loyalty.
However, the type 6 tends not to recognize that fear is the trigger and will likely see it as anger, which is their stress response.
An enneagram 6 is most likely to go into stress after an argument with a loved one, co-worker, or from an immoral encounter. They feel that they are going to be betrayed so they shield themselves by being unreasonably stubborn and pushing people away.
Signs You Are An Enneagram 6 In Stress…
- Resistant to help others
- You feel like you aren’t receiving the help you deserve from others
- Hostile emotions
- You are over-protective of your beliefs
- Building resentment
- You assume that you’re always right and the other person is wrong
- You don’t feel calm when sitting still
- “Pouting”
- Overly focused on material success
- You feel unstable internally
- Strong feelings of worry or anxiety
- Shallow breathing
- You care how you appear to others and what they think of you
A type 6 goes into stress by having their childhood wound triggered. A situation happens (,or many situations) where their childhood belief of “the world is dangerous and I will be betrayed” is brought back to the surface and so they go into survival mode to avoid being harmed.
Should type 6s 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 6 In Growth
In growth, the enneagram 6 takes on the positive traits of the enneagram 9, The Peacemaker.
The cautious and protective type 6 embraces peace, relaxation, and, most importantly, diplomacy. An enneagram 6 in growth learns to find loyalty and grounding within themselves.
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The best word to describe type 6s growth is release.
An enneagram 6 in growth has built such a strong sense of internal grounding that they can release their attachment to all things external. This doesn’t mean that they don’t care, it means they learn when it’s time to hold on and when it’s time to let go.
What exactly do they release? An enneagram 6 in growth releases their emotions, they release attachment to their opinions, they release attachment to others’ actions or opinions.
A type 6 releases attachment to everything that doesn’t serve them by having so much inner stability and peace.
By learning to release, the enneagram 6 feels more inner harmony and creates more peace externally as well.
They no longer struggle with worry or anxiety because they’ve overcome the fear of being betrayed.
By stepping into their growth of the type 9, they can channel their powerful protectiveness into places where it is needed.
Signs You Are An Enneagram 6 In Growth…
- You have an easygoing attitude
- Calmness in your day-to-day life
- You don’t get easily offended by others’ actions or words
- Welcoming energy rather than defensive
- You feel a sense on grounding within yourself
- Taking care of yourself
- Helping people with their struggles happily
- You recognize your own emotions
- Not holding tension in your physical body
- Breathing deep
- Prepared but non-controlling
- Good connections with loved ones
- Making time for creativity
Stepping Into Growth As An Enneagram 6
So how can we move from stress into growth as enneagram 6s? To 6s, this growth number can sound ridiculous. “You want me to just let people do things that are wrong and not care? No way!”
We think that our growth number means that we have to forgo our personality but this is not the truth. Type 6s, you are meant to be your loyal and protective selves and it would be ridiculous to ask you to be any different!
Remember that growth for you, type 6, isn’t just about 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 6s growth is about finding physical relaxation, the more important part of the Loyalist’s growth is creating inner peace.
The core of a type 6s growth means learning that no outer force will bring you the stability you desire if you don’t have your own intrinsic stability
A healthy 6 learns to recognize when they feel unstable and say “okay, something just triggered me to feel betrayed, what was it? How do I really feel right now? Now, what do I need to feel stable again? What value will I uphold myself to in order to feel safe?”
Overall, growth for the enneagram 6 isn’t just about “vegging out,” type 6s need to learn to release the internal pressure they’ve taught themselves to constantly repress. And by doing this, they will feel less angry and master the balance of being both a peacemaker and a defender.
Try recognizing your emotions regularly to build the inner grounding you need and recognize what values you act from. If you want something more tangible, literally walking around barefoot can help you feel more grounded
A type 6 can embrace their growth by journaling, repeating mantras, scheduling how you want your day to go, and doing anger/anxiety release meditations.
Give yourself permission to be loyal to yourself first before anyone else.
When you are in your stress and becoming aggressive, ask yourself “what if I treated myself like someone I loved? If I were a friend of mine, how would I protect myself? What do I need right now?”
How do you step into growth as an enneagram 6? Let us know in the comments. Hope this blog helped you understand the stress and growth of the enneagram 6!
Still feel stressed? The Enneagram Cheatsheets are FREE and have self-care activities for each type!
Related Blogs:
- Enneagram 5 In Stress & Growth
- Enneagram 7 In Stress & Growth
- 13 Gift Ideas For The Enneagram 6
- Enneagram 6w5 VS 6w7 Comparison: Which Wing Are You?
- Mindfulness For Enneagram 6
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