Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Your Enneagram Number
🧪 1. Take a High-Quality Test
Start with a reliable, in-depth Enneagram test. Some of the best:
RHETI by the Enneagram Institute (paid, $12):
https://www.enneagraminstitute.com
Truity Enneagram Test (free or paid):
https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test
Eclectic Energies Test (free):
https://www.eclecticenergies.com/enneagram/test
📝 These tests will give you a few top type options to explore.
🔍 2. Read In-Depth Descriptions
Once you have your top 2–3 likely types:
Read full descriptions of each type (try the Enneagram Institute or books like The Wisdom of the Enneagram by Don Riso and Russ Hudson).
Focus not on behavior, but core motivations, fears, and desires. That’s the key to accurate typing.
For example, both Type 2 and Type 9 may be kind and giving — but 2s do it to feel loved, while 9s do it to avoid conflict and maintain peace.
🧠 3. Ask Reflective Questions
These help identify your core drive:
What do I fear the most deep down? (e.g. rejection, being controlled, not being enough)
What do I desire or crave emotionally?
What’s my automatic response when stressed or hurt?
🌀 4. Notice Patterns Under Stress and Growth
Your Enneagram “arrows” (the types you move toward in stress and integration) can offer clues.
Example:
A Type 4 under stress can resemble a low-functioning 2 (clingy, over-giving).
A Type 1 in growth can resemble a healthy 7 (joyful, spontaneous).
🧘 5. Check Your Instinctual Variant
Once you have a likely type, you can explore your subtype (Self-preservation, Social, or Sexual/One-to-One). These explain how your core type energy expresses in the world.
📚 Bonus: Best Resources to Explore
Books:
The Wisdom of the Enneagram – Riso & Hudson
The Complete Enneagram – Beatrice Chestnut (especially for subtypes)
YouTube Channels:
@EnneagramandCoffee
@FrankJames (funny but insightful)
@PersonalityHacker
