Our personality determines the way we live, feel and think, giving us a view of the world around us accordingly. Our personality in different situations can define our success or failure, so ignoring it and not working on it is a determining factor in our lives.
Being aware of the way we relate to the world and working on the strengths of our personality is the key to success and this is where a free Enneagram test can be very useful during our personal development.
The Enneagram system is a psychological classification of human development that is composed of 9 types. It allows us to understand our fears, behaviors and strengths to improve different aspects of our life.
Here we will talk about how the Enneagram type 7, also known as “The Adventurer” and “The Enthusiast”, behaves and relates to its environment.
What is an Enneagram Type 7 Meaning?
Being the Enneagram type 7 means that you are an energetic, optimistic person who makes a lot of plans. They are quick thinkers who love life and all things exciting, as well as being outgoing, talented and open-minded.
They have many abilities, however, they get carried away by the emotions of the moment and get bored easily, abandoning projects that start with a lot of energy because of that.
Brief Overview of the Enneagram Type 7
Other names: The Enthusiast, The Entertainer, The Realist & The Enthusiast
Strengths
The strengths of the Enneagram type 7 are that they are adventurous and like to live different experiences, so they are not afraid to go out of their comfort zone.
They are visionary, quick thinkers, energetic and like to make many plans, as they are passionate about the future.
They are also outgoing, talented, creative and open-minded. Enneagram type 7 are enthusiastic and versatile people who like to promote their interests and talents. They also like to be enterprising and can inspire others to achieve their successes.
Weaknesses
On the other hand, the Generalists have a hard time staying focused and disciplined, so it is normal for them to start something with a lot of energy and end up abandoning it.
They tend to tirelessly pursue pleasure and happiness, believing that there will always be better opportunities for them, which prevents them from being objective and goal-oriented.
Also, they avoid problems when they don’t like something and although they are aware of the problem, they do not focus on solving it but on escaping from it by seeking new pleasurable experiences.
They focus on their strengths and virtues and minimize their defects and vices, becoming egocentric and narcissistic. They also lack feelings of guilt for what they do and are not empathetic to the suffering of others.
Fear
The enthusiasts are afraid that activities will bring them suffering and unhappiness and that they will be trapped in pain. This fear causes them to maintain a markedly optimistic attitude and avoid anything that might dull their happiness.
Desire and Need
Their happiness is the most important thing for them, so they seek to feel happy at all costs, pursuing the pleasure of new experiences to feel satisfied and fulfilled with the life they lead.
Core Motivation
They want to be free and happy, live to the fullest and enjoy exciting experiences to avoid pain and unhappiness.
Speaking Style
They speak exuberantly, change topics quickly and spontaneously, and are very idea-oriented. They may be perceived by others as self-absorbed and indifferent to the opinions of others.
Wings for the Enneagram Type Seven
The Enneagram type 7 wings are Six (7w6) and Eight (7w8). The variations in the personality of the enneagrams, called wings, are secondary characteristics present in the profile of the main enneagram. Their influence on this type of enneagram is as follows:
These variations are presented as follows:
Wing 6 (7w6)
Wing 6 (7w6) also called “The Entertainer“: They are more affectionate, cheerful, organized and responsible than the other Enneagram types. They have faith in life and people, and use their optimism to connect with others.
Wing 8 (7w8)
Wing 8 (7w8) Also called “The Realist“: They are more reckless and decisive than other enneagram types, which makes them excellent leaders, especially in difficult times. They are also more energetic, ambitious and imposing.
Enneagram Type 7 Key Characteristics
Extrovert
All 7 are very outgoing, they enjoy sharing their ideas and their outlook on life. They become self-absorbed and do not give importance to the opinions of others, as they are more concerned with externalizing what makes them happy and their adventurous ideals.
Fun-Loving
The strongest characteristic of this Enneagram is its love of fun and how hard it tries to enjoy it. They are so fun-loving that they completely ignore anything that has nothing to do with it because anything that doesn’t make them happy has no place in their lives.
Adventurous
They love new and exciting experiences and see life as a grand adventure to be lived. They are not afraid to leave their comfort zone whenever they see an opportunity to have fun and be happy.
Upbeat
They are lively, cheerful and animated. They look to the future with enthusiasm and put aside their problems, always waiting for the best and most exciting opportunities.
Friendly
They are very friendly and do well in social settings. They are liked by others for their spontaneity, freedom and joy in expressing themselves, as well as being very loyal friends.
Optimistic
Optimism towards the future and towards pursuing everything that generates pleasure and happiness is another notorious characteristic of the 7.
This same enthusiasm for living life allows them to motivate others to pursue their dreams and to spread good vibes.
Enneagram Type 7 Core Values
Freedom
Choosing what makes them feel happy and satisfied is the most important thing for Enneagram type 7.
Joy
What is most desired and valued for them is the fullness of being and exciting experiences that make them feel joyful all the time.
Open-Minded
They remain open to experiencing new sensations that open their eyes and senses to see and feel the meaning of everything.
Flexibility
They believe that everyone has the opportunity to live and experience what they can, that is why a non-judgmental attitude is another of the main values of the 7.
Jobs and Careers Paths for Enneagram Type 7
Enneagram type 7s are well-liked in the workplace because of their spontaneity, quick thinking and adaptability. They are very positive and enthusiastic about how they view life and how they perceive their work environment and coworkers.
Where others see problems, they see opportunities and this quality makes them excellent leaders, especially in times of crisis.
On the other hand, they can sometimes seem scattered, find it difficult to empathize with the pain of others and recognize their problems and limitations, as they refuse to face what causes them pain and unhappiness.
As they are people who focus a lot on the future and on opportunities that have not yet arrived, it is difficult for them to keep their focus on the present and concentrate on the tasks they are doing and must deliver. Sevens excel in careers and jobs that offer new and exciting experiences, as well as changing routines.
They like to learn new skills to experience new things, so they also tend to start their own businesses.
Thus, jobs such as chefs, pilots, designers or event planners will be ideal for an Enneagram type 7.
List of the best career paths for the enneagram type 7
- Operations Manager
- Athletic Trainer
- Personal Trainer
- Chef
- Travel Agent
- Copywriter
- Event Planner
- Marketing Assistant
- Pilot
- Interior designers
Type 7 Development Levels
Healthy levels
At the first and best level, they are joyful, grateful, able to deepen the experiences they have had and what they have learned from them, allowing them to appreciate what they have.
They see beauty in the little things in life and get that happiness and personal satisfaction in the goodness of life seen from a realistic and spiritual approach.
At a second level, the Enthusiasts are enthusiastic, receptive and excited by new sensations and experiences. They are also extroverted, spontaneous, cheerful, eager and find everything stimulating.
At a third level, They are practical, multifaceted, productive and tend to devote themselves to different areas of interest in search of new and different experiences and skills. They are successful in what they do and tend to be prolific.
Average levels
At a fourth level, they become restless and as a result, they want to have more options and choices. They become less focused, adventurous and a bit libertine, constantly seeking new things and experiences in new trends, money and variety.
At a fifth level, they become uninhibited, and hyperactive and throw themselves into constant activity, as they are unable to limit themselves. They say whatever comes to mind, becoming exaggerated, extravagant and even unwise. They are afraid of getting bored, so they pursue many ideas and focus on none.
On a sixth level, they are materialistic, greedy and indulge in excesses. They can also be overbearing, and demanding and never feel they have enough.
They are insensitive and not very empathetic with others, besides indulging in addictions and being hard-hearted.
Unhealthy levels
At a seventh level, they are depraved, offensive and abusive. In their desperation to calm their anxieties and frustrations, they can be impulsive and childish. They lose control of themselves and don’t know when to stop, so addictions and excesses take over.
At an eighth level, they try to run away from themselves instead of dealing with their anxiety and lose total control over their actions and decisions. They act only on impulse, experiencing erratic mood swings and manias.
At the worst and lowest level, their energy and health collapse, becoming claustrophobic, depressed and suffering from panic.
Desperate, they give up on themselves and life, falling deeply into self-destructive overdoses, and in the worst cases, committing suicide. At this point, they develop bipolar disorder and histrionic personality disorder.
Personal Growth for the Enneagram Type 7
Take it easy and live in the moment
Sevens can be hyperactive and fast-paced. They like to be busy to avoid negative situations that cause anxiety or frustration. Therefore, they live fast-paced lives and do not take the time to relax and be aware of what is going on around them.
Recommendation: Stop and live in the moment. Take a breath and contemplate everything around you. Your ability to see the positive in the negative will allow you to live a better life if you stop avoiding negative situations and emotions, which are also part of life and success.
Value pain
They run away from pain, depression, fear and all negative emotions and feelings. They take refuge in the future and the best opportunities it offers, diverting their objectivity from the present moment so as not to feel pain or face reality.
Recommendation: Learn to value pain because, without it, happiness would not exist. Only pain and difficult moments make us enjoy the joy and good times. Avoiding it will only make you remain empty and not know what you want, chasing in vain everything that can make you feel some emotion. When you learn to value pain, happiness will take on a deeper and more real meaning for you.
Go deeper and look beyond sensations
Sevens sometimes tend to be very shallow, despite their ability to connect deeply with other people through the way they are. Part of this is because they dislike sharing negative experiences, having difficult conversations, and being vulnerable in front of others.
Recommendation: Look beyond your feelings and go deeper with others. Allow yourself to connect with others through vulnerability and don’t avoid absolutely everything. Uncomfortable moments can also free you from those negative emotions and give way to happiness and other feelings of well-being.
Learn to be comfortable with solitude
They are extroverts and enjoy connecting with others because of the stimulating experiences they get from the social environment. When they are alone, they get depressed, bored and sad easily, so they are always looking for emotions on the outside and do not take time to be with themselves.
Recommendation: Learn to be comfortable in solitude and be aware of yourself and your emotions. It is not as scary as it seems and not everything is perfect in our lives. Only by being aware and at peace with this, you will know what you want and look for what really makes you happy.
Behaviors and Patterns of the Type 7
Action Patterns
The enthusiasts tend to leave tasks half done when starting another one, as they get bored easily and repetitive tasks can depress them. They will actively seek out anything that offers excitement and adrenaline, so they try new things often.
Under pressure, Sevens multitask and may commit to taking on more than they can do. They are very energetic, do not sit still and are constantly on the move, leading a hectic lifestyle.
They may seem scattered because of this hyperactivity and their habit of juggling plans and initiating new tasks or activities simultaneously.
Feeling Patterns
This enneagram type stands out for having a markedly optimistic and energetic attitude, as they only admit the positive side of the emotional landscape, avoiding at all costs experiencing or facing uncomfortable, negative and painful emotions such as anxiety, fear, stress, boredom or sadness.
They react almost instinctively to these negative emotions by looking toward positive possibilities and plans for the future to avoid them.
In this way, they escape from harsh reality and override the discomfort it causes them. Sevens are also adept at transforming negative experiences into learning opportunities.
This form of rationalization prevents them from taking personal responsibility for a negative situation, but on the other hand, helps them to remain positive in the face of these same adversities.
They like to lighten tense environments with jokes and are always looking to change the mood of both themselves and those around them into a more positive and relaxed one.
Thinking Patterns
The Seven’s thinking style combines rapid mental processing with a great need for mental stimulation. They have a very active mind that is very susceptible to stimuli, yet they want to devote their time, energy and thoughts to their interests and whatever excites them or makes them feel happy.
They hate to feel limited and like to have options, so it is very easy for them to produce ideas quickly and accumulate varied knowledge around this need.
They process new information and learn as they go and the “doing” quickly, and are also stimulated to share this generalist and innovative knowledge with others.
Famous Enneagram Type 7 You Might Know
- Leonidas – Ancient Spartan warrior and leader
- J.P. Morgan – Entrepreneur
- J.D. Rockefeller – Promoter of the U.S. Oil Industry
- Julius Caesar – Roman emperor
- Socrates – Philosopher
- Diego Maradona – Soccer player
- Henry VIII – King of England
- Donald Trump – Ex-president of the United States
- Vladimir Putin – President of Russia
- Josef Stalin – Leader of the Soviet Union during World War II
- Hugo Chavez – Ex-president of Venezuela
- Fidel Castro – Ex-president of Cuba
- Martin Luther king – Pastor and activist
- Rasputin – Healer
- Madonna – Singer
- Kobe Bryant – Basketball player
- Miley Cyrus – Singer
- Sean Connery – Actor
- Al Capone – Gangster
- Pablo Escobar – Drug trafficker
- Frank Sinatra – Singer
- Danny DeVito – Actor
- Pablo Picasso – Plastic artist
- Johnny Cash – Singer
- Attila the Hun – Asian conqueror
How To Get Along With Enneagram Type Seven?
Don’t get caught up in his talk and be aware that he is always talking about probabilities, not commitments. Let him dream, ask him questions and enjoy the conversation. Set clear boundaries and deadlines, so that he will deliver under time pressure.
Talk to him about your problems, they often see opportunities where you see difficulties. Always express clearly their duties and obligations, but without being authoritarian or telling them what to do because it bothers them.
How Does an Enneagram Type 7 Handle Stress?
In stressful situations, they try to keep their minds busy and away from the situation and the negative emotions it provokes, thinking about the future and making plans.
They tend to try everything and resort to anything to avoid facing and resolving their frustrations and anxieties, which makes them prone to addictions and loss of self-control.
Is the Enneagram Type 7 Rare and How Rare?
Type 7 enneagrams are rare, but not very rare. They represent approximately 9% of the population.
Final Words
If you have already taken the free Enneagram test and discovered that you are a Seven then you will have identified with the behaviors and characteristics described in this article.
Your energy, optimism and idealistic, future-oriented thinking make you unique and versatile, as well as a potential leader.
However, you must stop running away from negative emotions and become more disciplined and decisive, especially when there is no impulse from euphoric feelings and emotions. If you focus on them and bring out your talent to see opportunities in problems, you can succeed.
We recommend living in the moment, valuing pain and loneliness, connecting deeply with people and being more empathetic with them to achieve an emotional balance that will lead you to live a happier, more stable and realistic life.
