Scott Mills, Ph.D.
Fours are the artists of the world bringing a highly personal approach that can be as easily at home with joy as it is with despair. They live to experience themselves deeply and long for others to see them for who they really are. They are often known as Romantics.
You might be a Four if most of the following statements describe you:
1. It is very important that you are understood by others.
2. You experience big shifts in your mood.
3. You can enjoy being in a melancholy or sad space.
4. Your intuition serves as a strong guide for you.
5. You enjoy being seen as unique.
6. You may find yourself longing for what other people have.
Fours are the guides to the soul experiencing the dark nights of the soul and the joyful days. They are our artists, poets and playrights. They live on the edges of experience rarely being satisfied with the simply mundane.
They develop a perspective, often very early in life, of being somehow different that their families. As children they may have fantasies that they are orphans or perhaps even aliens. And they often experience their families as stifling their creative energy.
With such a strong focus on the self and a fierce inner critic, Fours can get be overly focused on what's missing in their lives. This can lead them to be envious of those around them as well as to not be appreciate of all the gifts that they do have. Even when they get what they want, satisfaction is difficult. As soon as they have it, they begin to focus on everything that is deficient in it. You can imagine that this can make relationships particularly challenging.
The true opening for Fours comes when they can begin to see all of themselves, to realize that they don't have to construct an identity as an outsider and see that they have much in common with other people. Then all of their creative energy and wisdom can serve as a guide for others.
This is a part of a series on supporting health in wellness in people using the Enneagram as a tool. Please keep reading at www.mindbodyexperience.com for more information and tools for transformation.
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