Table of Contents
Intro
Last week I got great feedback on my article Enneagram Type 5 vs Enneagram Type 4. Everyone enjoyed it, and everyone complained that it was too long. So, for the Enneagram Type 5 article, I am breaking up the normally almost 2500 word blog post into several 300-500 word posts. If you liked the long version (you fellow Type 5’s), don’t worry I will release it at the end of the week. Since I am breaking up the posts into bite-size bits, you might want to check this one to get a better introduction into the series.
Type 5 Healing = Understanding
Besides Enneagram Type 4’s, it has been my experience that Enneagram Type 5’s are the most misunderstood. I would say it was the Enneagram Type 8 whose blunt reactions and speech is often misinterpreted, but Type 5’s have access to the energy when they are healthy making their statements all the more confusing to people.
What really confuses people is often the deep well Type 5’s communicate from. We can pull information from inside all our walls. Most people don’t know about all our divisions. We can hit people out of nowhere with information that they thought they should have had. Family (both genetic and chosen), tragedies, and triumphs all each receives their own space. When we speak to people from previously unknown spaces, it catches them off guard, disorienting them with our depth and dimension.
The beautiful thing is that Type 5’s get each other. Information that catches us off-guard does not disorient us for nearly as long as other Enneagram Types. We give the most grace for that information because new info is exciting to us.
Two Examples
You would be surprised at how often, despite promoting and advertising to the best of my ability, how few people at my own church know I have written a theology book, have a Faithful Fatherhood blog, and am working starting a podcast and youtube channel. I have known this family for, in some cases, decades. Still, because I keep things walled off I can reference my book or blog and it just totally catches them off guard. They have no idea how to respond most times.
On the other hand with my Enneagram Type 5 friends, new information is commonplace. I tend to be a bit of a history buff (in my spare time), and we love discussing the Greek Classics or Ancient Mesopotamian society. Alongside that, I have the drive to make the history applicable. That means I am very likely to pull information from quantum computing, current farming practices (I have an agricultural engineer for a father-in-law), CRISPR, or even social media trends. The wide variety of knowledge doesn’t surprise them. They hope for it, and I am always excited to hear from them as well.
When your discussion topics can range from the ancient Akkadian Empire to how the modern church should be thinking about CRISPR, we lose a lot of people. As a friend calls us, “SUPERNERDS!”
You just can’t have that conversation with most people. I have found Type 8’s with access to Type 5 energy can keep up quite well. Alongside those with 5 wings, but it isn’t the same as true Type 5. They just get me and can keep up.
Finding those people that just get you is incredibly healing. Enneagram Type 5’s can often be the most lonely people, and we do it on purpose. Just finding someone that understands you can dramatically alter how lonely you are and your outlook on life. Everyone should find that someone.
