What is the stress and growth of the enneagram 7? Find out in this blog where we break down the enneagram type 7s 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 vise 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 to more easily in stress.
In this blog, we are covering what the stress and growth numbers of the enneagram 7 are including signs that you are in stress, signs you are in growth, and how to step into your growth. Enjoy!
Enneagram 7 Overview
The enneagram type seven is called The Enthusiast. Your core desire is to have fun and be happy.
Common traits of a 7 are…
- Playful
- Excited
- Energetic
- Enthusiastic
- Social
- Talkative
- Joyful
- and Friendly
As a 7, your core desire comes from the fear of feeling negative emotions and discomfort. Sticking to a schedule and embracing silence don’t come naturally to you.
Enneagram 7 In Stress
In stress, the enneagram 7 takes on the negative traits of the enneagram 1, The Perfectionist.
The normally care-free type 7 becomes controlling and uncooperative. Not in the sense that they suddenly lose their free-loving spirit and become a responsible person, in fact, this stress amplifies their need for fun more and they go about attaining it with more intensity and control.
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Enneagram 7s are meant to bring joy to the room, but when the Enthusiast goes into stress, they start to become annoying. They crack jokes at inappropriate times, are uncomfortable with sitting still, and are always looking for a new, exciting thing to focus on.
As the enneagram 7 is part of the Fear Triad, fear is the trigger for type 7s to go into stress.
Specifically, the fear of feeling negative emotions. When a type 7 feels that they might get pulled down into that negativity, they start to over-compensate by chasing more fun in unhealthy ways. This can show up as excessive partying, addiction, lack of focus, unrealistic planning, or avoiding responsibilities.
A type 7 in stress also become more emotionally volatile. Instead of embracing their negative emotions, they are trying to block them off and so they become hostile, easily being aggressive, then apologetic, and using humor to play the whole conflict off.
Signs You Are An Enneagram 7 In Stress…
- Inability to focus
- Hostile emotions
- You are over-protective of an opinion
- Chasing stimulus
- Uncomfortable sitting still
- You find yourself trying to control the fun
- Over-consumption of social media, alcohol, sugar, or other substances
- Unexpected aggression
- Using humor in uncomfortable situations
- You get defensive about who you are
- Having trouble staying grounded
- You can’t have a serious conversation
A type 7 goes into stress by having their childhood wound triggered. A situation happens (,or many situations) where their childhood belief of “If I feel negativity, I will be abandoned” is brought back to the surface and so they go into survival mode to avoid being harmed.
Should type 7s 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 7 In Growth
In growth, the enneagram 7 takes on the positive traits of the enneagram 5, The Investigator.
The social and energetic type 7 embraces silence, rationality, and balance. An enneagram 7 in growth learns to enjoy being alone and in their mind. (I know, so boring.)
I think is best for type 7s to remember for growth is moderate.
An enneagram 7 in growth will be able to moderate everything they do. They can moderate how much they speak and consume, they moderate their emotions, their reactions, they moderate their social time and alone time. A healthy 7 even learns to moderate how much they moderate.
Because the enneagram 7 likes to swing between stress and growth very fast as a way to embrace their stress behavior. An enneagram 7 that is truly in growth will find balance and can stay there for long periods.
By embracing this neutral side of them, the enneagram 7 finds more enjoyment in life because they’ve created a space for their negative emotions and can experience more emotional depth. They learn to be more fulfilled by small things rather than always chasing something new.
Signs You Are An Enneagram 7 In Growth…
- You are in touch with your negative emotions
- Chasing stimulus less
- You can process your emotions without feeling overwhelmed
- More focus and can complete tasks
- You make space for others’ negative emotions
- Relaxed around others rather than amped
- You can have a serious conversation
- Healthy moderation
- Channeling your positive attitude in ways that helps others
- Spending time alone happily
- You handle responsibilities
Stepping Into Growth As An Enneagram 7
So how can we move from stress into growth as enneagram 7s?
This enneagram 7 stress and growth can seem very confusing. A type 7 should be more like a 5, but not like a 1? What’s the difference between these 2?
In stress, the enneagram 7 becomes like the perfectionist by seeking external “order” and becoming rigid in their way of doing things. This is defining quality of the type 1, they do things their way and believe it’s the right way.
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Whereas the investigator, which is what the enneagram 7 becomes in growth, is all about doing things as logically as possible, they are open and receptive to finding new ways of doing things as long as they are more functional.
The type 7 in growth also learns to focus on their internal environment like a 5 rather than the external like a 1. A 7 in growth goes within, learns self-control, and finds strength.
Remember, our growth number doesn’t mean that we have to forgo our personality. Type 7s, you are meant to be your energetic and joyful self and it would be ridiculous to ask you to be any different!
The core of a type 7s growth means learning to be satisfied. That sometimes, having, attaining, and doing less can be more.
You learn to sit in lack of stimulation, in abstinence and say “okay, I recognize that this is uncomfortable for me, I feel antsy and uncomfortable, I can feel my negative emotions rising and instead of running, I’m going to sit in the stillness and breathe. Breathe into the negativity and know that I am okay.”
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This can be applied to social situations too. When your loved one is feeling down, recognize how it makes you uncomfortable, embrace your rational 5 growth number, and help them process their negative emotions instead of cheering them up.
Turn your weakness into your power by embracing it.
A type 7 can embrace their growth by meditating, cutting back on stimulating activities or habits, spending time alone every day, and journaling their negative emotions.
Give yourself permission to feel down.
When you are in your stress and becoming rigid, ask yourself “what if I stopped running from what I’m feeling and everything was okay?”
How do you step into growth as an enneagram 7? Let us know in the comments. Hope this blog helped you understand the stress and growth of the enneagram 7!
Related Blogs:
- Enneagram 8 In Stress & Growth
- Enneagram 6 In Stress & Growth
- 12 Gift Ideas For The Enneagram 7
- Enneagram 7w6 VS 7w8 Comparison: Which Wing Are You?
- Mindfulness For Enneagram 7s
Pin This To Your Enneagram 7 Boards!!!
