I was first introduced to the Enneagram when I was teaching at a therapeutic boarding school for struggling youth about fifteen years ago. I have kept the principles of it in my back pocket, but have just started putting the wisdom into practice in the last five years. Wow – what a ride! Learning about all the complexities of my Enneagram type was so hard, but liberating at the same time. I didn’t understand why others saw me as aggressive when I didn’t see myself that way. I didn’t understand why I would fight tooth and nail for the underdog. I didn’t understand what drove me to do ‘big things’ like ride my bike around Uganda to bring the plight of orphans to the attention of others. I didn’t understand why my husband and I had the same struggles over and over again and why I hate to be vulnerable. The Enneagram helped bring these things to light and I will never be the same.
Understanding my Enneagram Type (I’m an 8 with a 9 wing) and the Enneagram Types of my family, co-workers and friends has been absolutely transformational and given me unparalleled insight into relationships, parenting and how to bring out the best in others. It has also helped me become a better teacher, mom, wife, friend, and a healthier leader as I better understand the motivations of other Types and how my own Type relates to, and is perceived by, those around me. When I realized how significant the Enneagram has been in my own growth, I just had to share it with others. So I became a certified coach through Your Enneagram Coach. As a Type 8, I am all about empowering others!
I am also an online high school teacher and principal and have over thirty years of experience working with teens and their families. When I am not serving my students or studying the Enneagram, I enjoy riding my bike, bike-packing, camping in my VW van, cold-plunging, yoga, hiking, spending time on the lake, working on my projects in Uganda and spending time with my young adult children and my husband of thirty-three years. I am currently writing some courses that explore how your Enneagram type can affect the workplace, or the classroom which I am super excited about.
Please consider letting me introduce you to this insightful tool and help you discover your true identity and how to be your healthiest self by booking a free consultation. It would be my privilege to walk along side you.
