Home > Explore the Enneagram > Tour the Nine Types > Enneagram Type 7: The Epicure
Enneagram Type 7: The Epicure
Definitions used in describing each type
“Lost” essential quality:
The full spectrum of possibilities experienced freely and deeply through sustained concentration.
Compensating
belief: The world limits and frustrates people, and causes pain that one can escape from.
Attention/coping strategy:
Planning for pleasurable, positive possibilities. Imagining and engaging in appealing activities and experiences. Focusing attention on multiple options and opportunities.
Trap: Keeping life up and idealized, believing one can avoid suffering.
Driving energy: Gluttony for interesting ideas and pleasurable experiences, now and in the future.
Avoidance: Frustrations, constraints, limits, getting enmeshed in suffering.
Strengths: Playful, optimistic, inventive, life-loving.
Paradox:
Seeking the positives of life and avoiding the dark side is limiting. Trying to avoid pain creates pain.
Path of development:
- Realize it is limiting to seek only the positive
- Make and fulfill commitments
- Simplify, live in the present moment
- Learn to become more aware of others
- Allow pain and uncomfortable emotions
Ultimate task:
Recognizing the escapism in the pursuit of experience and idealized future plans. Reclaiming and accepting all of life in the present moment: pain, fear and limits as well as pleasure, joy and options.
More on Enneagram Type 7: Enneagram Type 7 Practices
for Growth | Enneagram Type 7 Key Themes
Next: Enneagram Type 8
Tour the types: Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Type 4 Type 5 Type 6 Type 7 Type 8 Type 9
Registered? Learn how type 7 differs from all other Enneagram types

Buy a DVD
The video clips of the types speaking for themselves are brief excerpts from these outstanding DVD and video collections by Dr. David Daniels and Helen Palmer.
 
|