The OS Metaphor: Upgrading Your Soul with the Enneagram
- Lukas de Beer
- Jan 3, 2024
- 2 min read
Like your Smartphone, your soul too has an operating system. Although, it doesn't come standard. It is developed as a protective and defensive mechanism when we are kids.
The problem?
We're not kids anymore.
Ever seen a grown-up throwing a tantrum? Yes. Still running the same software. We fall into familiar patterns and wonder why we're not able to change. Every operating system has a predetermined outcome, linked to its protective and defensive system.
Which means we're pretty stuck in a personality rut.
Over the next few weeks, join me as we explore the nine 'operating systems' presented by the Enneagram. We'll delve into how understanding these systems can help us rediscover our authentic 'factory settings'—the way we were originally created to be.
The OS Metaphor
The Enneagram, a powerful personality system, identifies nine distinct personality types, each equipped with its own operating system. While we all share the same human hardware in terms of anatomy and basic structure, our software—comprising personality, perspective, and behaviour—varies significantly.
Your Enneagram type serves as your default operating system, influencing how you interact with the world. It determines your primary user interface and user experience. It also shapes the impressions others have of you. By gaining insights into your Enneagram type, you gain the ability to upgrade your user interface and transform your overall user experience.
“We see things not as they are, but as we are. Because it is the 'I' behind the 'eye' that does the seeing.” ― Anaïs Nin
Self-awareness is the key to optimising your operating system. Understanding your Enneagram type allows you to enhance your interactions with others, leading to substantial personal growth and fulfilment.
It's a journey toward realising and embracing your true self.
Once we acknowledge and comprehend our default operating system, we open the door to a profound journey of self-discovery and personal transformation.
And when we change, everything changes.
We'll explore each of the nine Enneagram types and map out strategies to return to your authentic self. 2024 is a great time to upgrade your soul and start living a deeply fulfilling life.
If you're keen to read a little more, see my previous posts.
Hoping you will join me on the journey ahead.
Your point about how deeply our core motivations shape our daily interactions really resonated with me. It's often these unconscious patterns that lead to repeated challenges, both personally and professionally, until we bring them to light. While recognizing these patterns is crucial, the next logical step for many is often finding a robust framework to accurately identify and then work with their unique motivational blueprint. For anyone looking to delve deeper into their core drivers and understand their unique lens on the world, a comprehensive Enneagram personality test can be an incredibly insightful starting point.
For professionals in fields like healthcare, teaching, or management, high empathy is a huge asset. An empathy test can be a great tool for self-assessment and professional development.
Ready to start your journey of self-discovery? Take a free Enneagram test to understand your personality and core motivations.