3: Working with the Information You Get
In this part I slow it down a bit and help you digest what you've read so far in this book. You may have come across a number of technical terms as well as details about the various personality structures and the nine type mechanisms. In Part 3, I provide you with examples of what you can actually do with everything discussed so far. After all, that’s what this is about. The possible applications that you read about here are meant to guide and inspire you. You can already start using them right now, before tackling the more intensive path toward personal development that I introduce in Part 4. In Chapter 11, you can read about general applications in the workplace — applications appropriate for a number of different work environments. In Chapter 12, you get the chance to look at applications for managers to use when mediating conflicts. Chapter 13 deals with applications in the kind of one-on-one work situations experienced by coaches, therapists, (corporate) social workers, and others.
Part 4: I Know My Type — Now What?
You can read in Part 4 what the path of development and self-realization might look like and what you can do for it. You will gain insights into your learning and the course of learning that you have already (subconsciously) completed. You will discover that what you have learned so far by falling down and getting up again is probably no coincidence. You’ll find out about the difference between learning and developing on a psychological level and about functioning on different levels and states of consciousness. Even when it comes to human development, many roads lead to Rome. You will also get to know two paths of development based on spiritual traditions: the via negativa and the via positiva. In various sections, you’ll find tips on your personal development and self-observation, along with tasks. You will read what you can practice to continue developing yourself. The last chapter covers the spiritual Enneagram. Even if you aren’t interested in spirituality, I recommend that you read this chapter because it too contains valuable, “worldly” tips for your personal development.
Part 5: The Roots of the Enneagram
In Part 5, you’ll discover that internal work is timeless and find out the origins of the word therapist. You will read how you can consider the Enneagram from this perspective and what it contributes to the image of the psychological Enneagram. In this part you’ll read about the origin of certain perspectives that you encountered with the spiritual Enneagram in Part 4. I will walk you through the more recent history of the Enneagram in the West, and then you can read about the different currents or schools that exist now. This knowledge might help you make a more informed decision on which type of Enneagram work fits you and will help you progress. You will learn a few things about different Enneagram currents and the tradition of this internal work throughout the centuries. The Enneagram also has the tradition in which wisdom is passed from one person to the next, from one generation to the next. You will see that the Enneagram doesn’t exist, that it remains a work in progress. And, you’ll see how this situation preserves it as a consistent source of meaning for individual people — for people like you and me.
Part 6: The Part of Tens
I close this book with a mainstay of the For Dummies series: The Part of Tens. I decided to populate this part with ten possible applications for the Enneagram and ten book recommendations — in the hope that the Enneagram can inspire you to even greater heights.
Icons Used in This Book
In the margins of this book you'll often find icons used to call attention to specific information. Here's what each icon means:
Beyond the Book
In addition to what you’re reading right now, this publication comes with a free, access-anywhere Cheat Sheet that offers a number of tips, techniques, and resources related to the Enneagram. To view this Cheat Sheet, visit www.dummies.com and type enneagram for dummies cheat sheet in the Search box.
Where to Go from Here
Though some people will open up Enneagram For Dummies and read just the bits about their own type, I hope that the many opportunities offered by the Enneagram will touch you and inspire you to use it in a more active fashion. For Dummies books are structured so that you can read them chapter by chapter from beginning to end, scroll right to the end, or jump around between the chapters that happen to interest you most at the moment. Are you looking for basic knowledge about the Enneagram? Then look at Parts 1 and 2 of this book. In Chapter 4, you’ll find specific information on how to discover your type. If you want to use the Enneagram at work or as a manager, open Chapters 11 and 12. Do you want to use the Enneagram as a professional companion? Go ahead and jump to Chapter 13.
Everyone is warmly invited to delve deep into Enneagram For Dummies and reap the rewards. I wish you much success and joy in the process!
