u/GM_Writing

People often wish they were a different type, but not only is this impossible, it would just be changing one set of problems for another.

It is possible to become a healthy and fulfilled person of any type, and looking to role models or admirable examples of types can give something positive to help motivate through the challenge of growth and inner work.

Tell me someone (preferably real) who makes you think that being your type could end up being a blessing!

I just wanted to write about one of my favourite bands, Dream Theater. In many of their songs, both the lyrics and music reflect the battle between hope and despair, struggles to overcome addiction, doubt and 'hollow years'.

I got into them as a metal fan before knowing about the enneagram, but once I came to understand my own 4-fixed 9 struggles some of these lyrics hit me hard.

Space Dye Vest

There's nowhere to set my aim, so I'm everywhere
Never come near me again, do you really think I need you?
I'll never be open again, I could never be open again
I'll never be open again, I could never be open again
And I'll smile and I'll learn to pretend
And I'll never be open again
And I'll have no more dreams to defend
And I'll never be open again

Surrounded

I know it's easier to walk away
Than look it in the eye
But I had given all that I could take
And now I've only habits left to break
Tonight I'll still be lying here
Surrounded in all the light

Octavarium

A doctor sitting next to me
He asks me how I feel
Not sure I understand his questioning
He says I've been away a while
But thinks he has cured me
From a state of catatonic sleep
For 30 years, where have I been?
Eyes open but not getting through to me

Far From Heaven

No one truly has the answers
Every day, I struggle through it once more
Keep things bottled up, never speaking my mind
Misinterpreted, I'm doing just fine

Barstool Warrior

Call it bad luck, call it fate
Call it stuck here the rest of my days
Serves me right
What went wrong?
And where do I belong?
Promises made, crying in vain, all empty
Never accepting the blame
And not letting go of the shame
A river of tears as months turn to years, all wasted
On someone not willing to change
Now only a shadow remains

Learning To Live

Once again we dance in the crowd, at times a step away
From a common fear that's all spread out, it won't listen to what you say
Once you're touched you stand alone to face the bitter fight
Once I reached for love and now I reach for life
//
Another chance to lift my life
Free the sensation in my heart
To ride the wings of dreams
Into changing horizons
It brings inner peace within my mind
As I'm lifted from where I've spilt my life
I hear an innocent voice
I hear kindness, beauty and truth

Scarred

And how come you don't want me asking?
And how come my heart's not invited?
You say you want everyone happy, well, we're not laughing
And how come you don't understand me?
And how come I don't understand you?
Thirty years say we're in this together
So open your eyes
People in prayer for me, everyone there for me
Sometimes I feel I should face this alone
My soul exposed
It calms me to know that I won't

I thought of an insight which might not be original or even correct, but I thought I would share it anyway.

Those with a 2 fix see the social image world as a collection of distinct individuals. A positive impression must be left on each one individually through giving attention, help or anything that can instil gratitude. This requires lots of tracking of individuals and what is going on in each of their lives.

Those with a 3 fix see the social image world as a collective entity like a hivemind, sometimes with smaller component collectives like cliques. Displaying objective qualities like being shabby or funny will gradually shape the collective impression, proportionally to how much attention is on them and how much they stand out. This requires a lot of tracking of what is generally seen as desirable or undesirable, with important or high status people having more influence over the heuristic.

So one tendency of 2s and 2 fixers is to infantilize themselves or others in some situations. I've been trying to picture how this manifests in combination with a 5 fix but not seeing it.

What does this look like if it happens at all?

I'm trying to get a clear picture of how all the fix combinations manifest in various ways, but I'm having a bit of trouble with 2+8 (in anything like 582, 872 etc).

I'm specifically wondering about the communication style and emotional expression. I think there's some kind of guardedness combined with warmth or fierceness that is hard to pin down. This is in contrast with other combinations like the 9+2 'sweet' presentation.

I only know a couple of people with this combo in person, so it's hard to generalize. Please share your observations!