Wings for Enneagram Type 7
Enneagram Type 7
Summary
As a Type 7 (The Enthusiastic Optimist), you are joyful, enthusiastic, and social. You love variety, live life big, and are eager to enjoy all the new experiences this world offers. You see endless possibilities and innovation. However, you hate to be limited, restricted, or bored because that's when you feel a deep emptiness, so you settle for any stimulation or experience to constantly distract yourself from your anxieties.
You are connected to the two numbers on the right and left of the Enneagram diagram. We call these numbers wings. As a Type 7, your wings are Type 6 (Faithful Guardian or Loyalist) and Type 8 (Passionate Protector or Challenger).
Just as wings are connected to the body of a bird, your Enneagram wings are always the numbers directly beside your main type.
These wings bring balance and nuance to your main type, offering you unique traits from both connections. However, the way we use our wings mirrors our level of health. When we are healthy and mindful, our wings can be strong and supportive, helping us navigate life with greater agility and balance. But if we are unhealthy or unaware, our wings—like a bird’s damaged wings—may hinder rather than help us.
Understanding your Enneagram wings provides a deeper and more nuanced understanding of yourself, especially when it comes to internal conflicts. It explains why you may exhibit traits seemingly contradictory to your main type. This awareness allows for greater self-compassion and the ability to leverage the strengths of both your main type and wings.
Both wings are always present, and you use them in varying degrees depending on your current circumstances and needs, much like a bird adjusts its use of each wing based on navigational requirements. By cultivating mindfulness and understanding how to use them effectively, you can allow your wings to benefit you when you need them most, enabling you to respond intentionally and with greater flexibility. This awareness lets you soar rather than struggle.
Enneagram Type 7 Wing 6:
The Entertainer (7w6)
The 7w6, also known as The Entertainer, combines the Type 7's desire to be happy, fully satisfied, and content with the Type 6's desire to have security, guidance, and support. This combination creates an individual who is reliable, trustworthy, and a natural troubleshooter. The 7w6 may feel an inner tension between their desire to be happy and content and their desire to be secure and supported.
✅ Healthy 7w6
⚠️ Average 7w6
❌ Unhealthy 7w6
💡Expert Insight: Mistyped as Type 6 - Both are in the Thinking Triad, but Type 7s are self-focused and reframe negative situations so they are not trapped in pain or boredom. Type 6s, on the other hand, are others-focused and don’t usually reframe negative circumstances.
Enneagram Type 7 Wing 8
The Realist (7w8)
The 7w8, also known as The Realist, combines the Type 7's desire to be happy, fully satisfied, and content with the Type 8's desire to protect. This combination creates an individual who is self-reliant, protective, independent, strong, blunt, and has a take-charge attitude. The 7w8 may feel an inner tension between their desire to be happy and content and their desire to be strong and in control.
✅ Healthy 7w8
⚠️ Average 7w8
❌ Unhealthy 7w8
💡Expert Insight: Mistyped as Type 8 - Both types are aggressive and assertive personalities who know what they want and go after. Type 8s deal with life as it truly is, while Type 7s are true optimists with quick minds that reframe anything negative.
Remember, both wings are always present:
Both wings are always part of you, influencing your actions to varying degrees depending on the situation.
The key is to recognize which wing is at play and intentionally choose your response.
By aligning your wings with truth and embracing all aspects of yourself, you allow them to support your journey toward growth and transformation.
Next Steps in Learning for Enneagram Type 7:
Enneagram Internal Profile (EIP)
As you explore how your wings influence your Type 7 personality, you might be curious to understand even more about the different parts that make up who you are. At Your Enneagram Coach, we've developed a unique approach called the Enneagram Internal Profile (EIP), which goes beyond just your main type and wings.
EIP reveals the distinct "parts" within you, like the Wounded Child and Beloved Child, as well as how your wings and paths (Enneagram arrows) interact to create your unique inner world. This can be a powerful tool for self-understanding and growth. If you're intrigued to discover more about how EIP can help you, we invite you to:
