Spontaneous: Five Minute Friday

September 16, 2022 The Ameri Brit Mom6 Comments

It’s Friday and that can only mean one thing on the blog–Five Minute Friday! This week, I am joining friends from the link up to write according to our prompt which is Spontaneous.

Do you ever feel the urge to restart?

Right now, I wish I could crawl back in bed with my husband (and our daughter who made her way into our bed at some point in the night.) I woke up this morning after hitting snooze a few too many times. My preset coffee pot didn’t work and I think it’s actually broken this time. My head’s a little fuzzy from having stayed up too late watching Grey’s Anatomy last night. And my preplanned outfit for teaching on Constitution Day is wrinkled because my daughter saw it laying out last night and messed it up.

Despite all of my efforts to produce a smooth Friday morning it’s already shaping up to be anything but smooth.

I’m already running behind and I’m going to have to stop and get a coffee on the way to work. I need to iron my t-shirt, but I probably won’t if I’m being honest.

I just want to curl up in bed and restart.

It’s days like these that can make teaching a difficult job. I am an Enneagram One, and when my well-planned mornings don’t follow routine it can throw me off. I depend on the order and efficiency to start my day and when those things aren’t there I can get moody quickly.

Studying the Enneagram taught me many things about myself. It allowed me to recognize my habits and gave voice to my inner dialogue. Because I read about the Enneagram in Ian Morgan Cron’s book I also know that spontaneity is not natural for me. I thrive on planning and organizing my life as much as possible. But one thing I have learned about being a One is that as unnatural as it may be that being spontaneous every now and again can breathe life into the routines.

Today, I will seek out ways to be spontaneous in the midst of the chaos. Maybe I’ll try a new food or go for a stroll on a new path. Whatever may come today may opportunities to deviate from my plans bring the restart that I so desperately need.

The Ameri Brit Mom

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Enneagram Eight

May 9, 2022 The Ameri Brit MomLeave a comment

I took a short hiatus from the Enneagram study to spend time catching you up with my travels and life. Today, I am returning with the next installment of The Enneagram series using The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron as a guiding text.

Check out Enneagram Types here:

Enneagram Eight: The Challenger

Triad–The Anger or Gut Triad (8,9,1)

Security Number– When Eights are feeling healthy and balanced they lean into the positive attributes of a Two (The Helper).

Stress Number- When Eights are stressed and living in an unhealthy mind space, they take on the less desirable attributes of a Five (The Investigator).

Deadly Sin- Lust

The Ameri Brit Mom

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Enneagram Seven

March 28, 2022 The Ameri Brit Mom3 Comments

We all have that one friend who is an Enneagram Seven. These are the people who make us smile during tough times. They always seem to see the silver lining and pack their schedules full of events and adventures to indulge their desires as an adrenaline junkie. For me, some of best friends are sevens. Because (as a One) I tend to overthink and find security in following rules, I admire those who swallow their fears and live with a sort of lightness that I could never achieve.

As I read this chapter about Enneagram Sevens I am reminded that just because they seem outwardly optimistic, that Sevens struggle as all of us do with negative emotions. The difference between Sevens and the rest of the Enneagram numbers is that Sevens tend to use energy and experiences to mask the effects of pain, fear, and failure. I am reminded as I read this chapter that although I turn to my Seven friends for comfort in my difficult times that I must allow them space to be negative too.

Check out Enneagram Types here:

Enneagram Seven: The Enthusiast

Triad– The fear or head triad (5,6,7)

Security Number– When Sevens are feeling healthy and balanced they lean into the positive attributes of a Five (The Investigator).

Stress Number- When Sevens are stressed and living in an unhealthy mind space, they take on the undesirable attributes of a One (The Improver).

Deadly Sin- Gluttony

The Ameri Brit Mom

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Enneagram Six

March 16, 2022 The Ameri Brit Mom4 Comments

Reading about Enneagram Sixes this week was difficult.

In the past, I have typed myself as a Six. However, when I’m feeling good and at my best I gravitate more toward a One. This week, personal struggles have brought out some of my most unhealthy traits. In the midst of conflict I tend to exhbit some of the unhealthy attributes listed below. This sentiment of being a Healthy One and Unhealthy Six is not totally aligned to the Enneagram as illustrated in The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron, but whether or not every page is accurate I am loving the way that this book is giving language to my emotions and experiences.

Here are other Enneagram pages to check out:

Enneagram Six: The Loyalist

Triad– The fear or head triad (5,6,7)

Security Number– When Sixes are feeling healthy and balanced they lean into the positive attributes of a Nine (The Peacemaker).

Stress Number- When Sixes are stressed and living in an unhealthy mind space, they take on the undesirable attributes of a Three (The Performer).

Deadly Sin- Fear

The Ameri Brit Mom

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Enneagram Five

March 7, 2022March 7, 2022 The Ameri Brit Mom3 Comments

As I continue on my journey of understanding each of the nine Enneagram types, I cross the threshold of half-way this week . I am using Ian Morgan Cron’s book, The Road Back to You, as I explore the attributes of an Enneagram Five, also known as the Investigator.

My father is an Enneagram Five.

There is no doubt in my mind that my genius, computer programmer, quiet, and anti-social father fits the description of a Five to a T. He is the perfect balance for my emotional overloads as a One. Growing up with a Five as a father was amazing. I always felt heard and supported. I also learned to give him solitude and spaces where he could go to recharge. So all of the descriptions below resonate with me and helped draw up the image of my very first superhero…DAD!

Here are some other Enneagram numbers to check out:

Enneagram One: The Improver

Enneagram Two: The Helper

Enneagram Three: The Performer

Enneagram Four: The Romantic

Enneagram Five: The Invesitagor

Triad– The fear or head triad (5,6,7)

Security Number– When Fives are feeling healthy and balanced they lean into the positive attributes of an Eight (The Challenger)

Stress Number- When Fives are stressed and living in an unhealthy mind space, they take on the undesirable attributes of a Seven (The Enthusiast)

Deadly Sin- Avarice (hoarding or witholding)

The Ameri Brit Mom

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Enneagram Four

February 28, 2022 The Ameri Brit Mom1 Comment

This week I am taking a look at the eccentric and unique qualities that make up an Enneagram Four. Not only are Fours masters of creativity, but they long to fulfill a special role in their relationships. In their quest for love, Fours may come on a little strong,

they pack the emotional punch to follow through. Reading about Enneagram Fours in The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron has really helped me to better understand the best ways to interact with the Fours in my life to ensure that I am promoting their mental health by my responses to their projections.

Other posts that you may want to check out: Enneagram One and Introduction, Enneagram Two, and Enneagram Three.

Enneagram Four: The Romantic

Triad– The Feeling or Heart Triad (2,3,4)

Security Number– When Fours are feeling healthy and balanced they lean into the positive attributes of a Two (The Helper)

Stress Number- When Fours are stressed and living in an unhealthy mind space, they take on the undesirable attributes of a One (The Improver)

Deadly Sin-Envy

The Ameri Brit Mom

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Enneagram Three

February 21, 2022 The Ameri Brit Mom5 Comments

The three weeks I have invested in studying the Enneagram have already been such a blessing in my relationships. Diving into the thinking behind each of these personality types has helped me empathize and understand the people around me. Reading each chapter of Ian Morgan Cron’s book The Road Back to You has helped me to not only add language to my own emotions, but helped me to better communicate with the people in my life.

Other posts you may want to check out: Enneagram Introduction/One and Enneagram Two.

Enneagram Three: The Performer

Triad– The Feeling or Heart Triad (2,3,4)

Security Number– When Threes are feeling healthy and balanced they lean into the positive attributes of a Six (The Loyalist)

Stress Number- When Threes are stressed and living in an unhealthy mind space, they take on the undesirable attributes of a Nine (The Peacemaker)

Deadly Sin-Deciet

The Ameri Brit Mom

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Enneagram Two

February 16, 2022February 14, 2022 The Ameri Brit Mom6 Comments

Last week I explored the purpose of The Enneagram using The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron. You can read up on my Introduction to the Enneagram, but essentially, “It’s full of wisdom for people who want to get out of their own way and become who they were created to be.” (14)

Over the next several weeks, I will be summarizing what I have learned from this text about each personality type. I am a ONE, but it is hard to finally land on your correct number so I recommend reading the book (and not just my notes) before declaring your Enneagram type.

Enneagram Two: The Helper

Triad– The Feeling or Heart Triad (2,3,4)

Security Number– When Twos are feeling healthy and balanced they lean into the positive attributes of a Four (The Romantic)

Stress Number- When Twos are stressed and living in an unhealthy mind space, they take on the undesirable attributes of an Eight (The Challenger)

Deadly Sin-Pride

An infographic that I created about the attributes of Enneagram Twos

The Ameri Brit Mom

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Enneagram One

February 7, 2022February 7, 2022 The Ameri Brit Mom8 Comments

Introduction to the Enneagram

Over the past couple of years my husband and I have focused on our relationship through the Enneagram, an ancient tool that helps to describe the nine major personality types. When you are able to understand the facets of your own Enneagram type you are able to work on your own mental health, growth, and relationships in a way that is productive and tailored to your motivations and thinking.

For many months, I was convinced that I was an Enneagram Six, however the more I read, the more I am convinced that Enneagram One is more aligned to my fears, securities, and motivations. I have struggled with anxiety for my entire adult life and I think because I have anxious tendencies when I am unhealthy, I saw myself as a Six. But when I am in a place of self-actualization and indulging healthy thoughts I am far less motivated by fear and more focused on being the best version of myself and helping others to do the same.

It can be difficult to type yourself because the Enneagram is based on the why behind your actions and decisions. To look at someone else and know their Ennegram type is to diminish the power of each person to identify their own locale on the Enneagram. We cannot possibly know the driving force behind another person’s decision making and so I caution you against trying to “type” another person. Instead, I encourage you to share all nine types with them and ask them which resonated most with them. You will know that you have found the correct Enneagram number when reading the chapters or infographics about that type feel like reading a diary entry that you could’ve written.

During the next nine weeks, I plan to share what I am learning about each Enneagram type. I will do so using the book, The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron. I really enjoy the format and language used in this book and highly recommend that if you have not yet studied the Enneagram that you start there.

Here is a look at the Enneagram One: The Improver.

Triad– The Anger or Gut Triad (8,9,1)

Security Number– When Ones are feeling healthy and balanced they lean into the positive attributes of a Seven (Enthusiast)

Stress Number- When Ones are stressed and living in an unhealthy mind space, they take on the undesirable attributes of a Four (Romantic)

Deadly Sin-Anger

An infographic detailing the attributes of an Enneagram One.