The fun fact says, “Type 8 and proud of it! Some people think us 8’s are intimidating and can be hard to get along with, but to really know us is to truly love us.” I feel like this couldn’t be more true. I felt this way about myself long before I knew what the enneagram was or knew anything about my type. After learning more about enneagram and reading some about each type, I had a strong feeling that taking a quiz would confirm that I’m an 8.
So, what is an enneagram type 8? Type 8 is often known as either, “The Protector” or, “The Challenger.” Both names are very fitting in my opinion. Type 8’s tend to be confident, powerful, and assertive. They enjoy a good debate and typically don’t have trouble making a difficult decision. They are very independent and often dislike being dependent on others. Type 8’s tend to not only stand up for themselves, but also for those around them. They especially stand up for and root for the underdog, feeling the need to protect them. Strengths of typical type 8’s include having the ability to express themselves even in difficult situations, acting quickly and decisively, successfully leading those around them, and defending and protecting the people in their circle. Weaknesses of typical type 8’s include being seen as intimidating or aggressive, having the tendency to disregard others’ opinions, having a hard time following rules, and tending to step in when it isn’t their place.
The very first thing I read about type 8’s said, “They want to be direct, straightforward, and honest. More than this, they want to be independent, make their own decisions, and pave their own path. It is important to know that beneath their tough exterior is a tender, gentle, playful, loyal, and caring person. They have a good sense of humor. They have an ‘inner circle’ of people they are very loyal to and protective of.” If that isn’t me, I don’t know what is. I say it like it is and sugar coating definitely isn’t my thing. I have always found pride in being independent and have struggled at times to ask for help when needed. However, people who truly know me know that I’m also loyal, sometimes to a fault, when it comes to the people who mean the most to me. I’ll do absolutely anything I can for you and I’ll love you with my whole heart.
Since learning more about my own type, I’ve started looking more into the other types so that I can better understand the people around me and now know the types of several of my close friends. It truly helps me understand them better and I feel like our relationships function more healthily because of it.
If you don’t know your type, I highly recommend taking a quiz to find your type and the types of those close to you! There are several quizzes out there, but my favorite can be found here. Some of my favorite enneagram resources on Instagram are @enneagramashton, @ashton.creates, @enneagramandcoffee, and @enneagramexplained. I hope those resources are helpful and am excited to take a deeper dive into the enneagram in a later post! In the meantime, comment and let me know what enneagram type you are. I would love to know what types we have in this community!
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