Enneagram 3

THE SUCCESSFUL ACHIEVER

Enneagram Type 3: The Successful Achiever © 2019 by Beth McCord All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means— electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other— except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. Published in association with Alive Literary Agency.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® ), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Any Internet addresses, phone numbers, or company or product information printed in this book are offered as a resource and are not intended in any way to be or to imply an endorsement by Thomas Nelson, nor does Thomas Nelson vouch for the existence, content, or services of these sites, phone numbers, companies, or products beyond the life of this book.

Graphic Designer: Jane Butler, Well Refined Creative Director, wellrefined.co Interior Designer: Emily Ghattas Cover Designer: Greg Jackson at Thinkpen Design ISBN-13: 978-1-4002-1572-0 Printed in China 19 20 21 22 23 GRI 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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SHARING WITH OTHERS HOW BEST TO LOVE ME

Affirm me by telling me that you like me and like being around me.

Express how proud you are of me and my achievements.

Please don’t distract or interrupt me while I am working.

I welcome feedback as long as it is not overly critical or judgmental.

I thrive when my surroundings are harmonious, tidy, and peaceful.

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DAY 3

Core Mot ivat ions

We’ll begin discussing the fundamentals of the Enneagram by looking at our motivations.

Your Core Motivations are the driving force behind your thoughts, feelings, and actions. The internal motivations specific to your Type help explain why you do what you do. (This is why it's impossible to discern someone else's Type. We don't know what motivates them to think, feel, and behave in particular ways. It's their Core Motivations, not their actions, that determine their Type.)

These Core Motivations consist of:

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THE SUCCESSF UL ACHIE VE R

• Core Fear: what you’re always avoiding and trying to prevent from happening • Core Desire: what you’re always striving for, believing it will completely fulfill you • Core Weakness: the issue you’re always wrestling with, which will remain a struggle until you’re in heaven and is a reminder you need God’s help on a daily basis • Core Longing: the message your heart longs to hear The Enneagram, like a nonjudgmental friend, names and addresses these dynamics of your heart.

When you use the Enneagram from a faith-centered approach, you can see how Christ’s finished work on your behalf has already satisfied your Core Longing and resolved your Core Fear, Core Desire, and Core Weakness. It’s a process to learn how to live in that reality.

When we stray from the truth that we are God’s beloved children, it’s harder to look inside. After all,

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Scripture tells us that “the heart is deceitful . . . and desperately sick” (Jeremiah 17:9). When we forget God’s unconditional love for us, we respond to our weaknesses and vulnerabilities with shame or contempt, leaving us feeling worse.

When we only focus on obeying externally, we attempt to look good on the outside but never deal with the source of all our struggles on the inside.

However, when we allow ourselves to rest in the truth that Christ took care of everything for us, we can look at our inner world without fear or condemnation. Real transformation begins when we own our shortcomings.

Here are the Core Motivations of a Type 3: • Core Fear: being exposed as or thought incompetent, inefficient, or worthless; failing to be or appear successful • Core Desire: having high status and respect; being admired, successful, and valuable • Core Weakness: deceit; deceiving

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yourself into believing you are only the image you present to others; embellishing the truth by putting on a polished persona for everyone (including yourself) to see and admire • Core Longing: “You are loved for simply being you.”

The Enneagram exposes the condition of our hearts, and it will tear down any facade we try to hide behind. Since we are God’s saved children, we don’t have to be afraid of judgment. We can be vulnerable because we know God has taken care of us perfectly through Christ— He has forgiven us and set us free from fear, condemnation, and shame. His presence is a safe place where we can be completely honest about where we are. With this freedom, allow the Enneagram to be a flashlight to your heart’s condition. Let it reveal how you are doing at any given moment so you can remain on the best path for your personality Type.

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Going Deeper How challenging is it for you to look at the condition of your heart?

What response do you typically have when you recognize your struggles?

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How would you like to respond when the struggles inside you are exposed?

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