The Enneagram: Why Now?

People occupy more space on this planet, however, we are moving away from one another even as we experience this expansion and find ourselves closer to one another. Our society is made up of silos of similarities—our families are increasingly divided by politics and beliefs, our communities struggle with the acceptance of our ever-expanding diversity and our own lives become compartmentalized into acceptable paradigms. We are faced with so many divides because we have forgotten the path to our hearts and we have ignored the power of human connection. As we learn to restore and strengthen our connections we will acknowledge our similarities and differences as the beautiful complexities that add to the rich tapestry of humanity.

When this process begins through the Enneagram we begin to build a strong foundation for truly transformational change. A fundamental flaw in our foundation and ability for human connection is the failure to pick up the mirror and do the work of coming to fully understand ourselves as individuals who ultimately become part of a collective community in a societal structure. If we truly intend to repair the divides our world currently faces, we must start with ourselves. The Enneagram provides a detailed guide for inner work and allows us to move out of a “me and mine” mentality and into an “us and ours” way of being—this is the framework for accelerating a cognitive shift into mindfulness at an individual level which can help us to become more present to how we show up in the world in relation to “other” human beings. Engaging in our own personal Enneagram journey is essential to becoming an authentic Ally, Advocate, and Love Warrior, but we must all remember that the work doesn’t stop once we acquire the knowledge; we must do something with it. We must be willing to look in the mirror and see ourselves, accept our warts, foibles, and all, and acknowledge that we are all works in progress. However, the work must also include how our beings are received by the outside world. Are we kind? Are we judgmental? Are we dismissive? Are we able to admit when we make mistakes and try to do better next time? Are we willing to uncover the biases and stereotypes that are hidden behind elements of our personality? These are the questions we must ask ourselves as we move toward finding alignment of our three centers and unearthing our authentic selves. We all need to step into our place in order to bring hope and healing out into the world.

The inner work aligned with the exploration of the Enneagram can be a transformative and healing experience. When the work is honored and continued beyond self-reflection, its wisdom extends into our spiritual growth and touches the world. The Enneagram teaches us how to heal our own wounds by illuminating our blind spots and showing us what we are really up to when we show up in the world. We become more open and accepting that we all see the world through 9 different lenses as we begin to heal by doing our inner work. As we heal our own wounds we are able to move beyond seeing people as objects and the shift toward regaining our own humanity allows us to begin to honor the humanity of every individual.

My book Know Justice Know Peace: A Transformative Journey of Social Justice, Anti-Racism, and Healing through the Power of the Enneagram is available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online retailers. If you want to learn more about the Enneagram and how it can bring us back to our humanity here's a little sneak peek:

The Enneagram can help us to peel back the layers of our individual internal programming to do the work of releasing what no longer serves us for our individual growth and the greater good. Inner work involves waking up and becoming present to how you show up in the world. When you begin to pay attention to how your attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs have you trapped in a fortress of judgmental binary thinking, you are beginning to do inner work. Inquiry without judgment and expansion of your heart space is the resulting awareness from this work. Learning about and understanding yourself in terms of what drives and motivates you is essential. Becoming more open and accepting that we do not all have the same way of moving through the world and understanding how you relate with others based on what drives and motivates them is all part of doing your inner work. It is how we are able to move beyond dehumanizing people by no longer seeing them as objects or pawns in the game of life and move toward honoring the humanity of every individual, thus regaining our own humanity. We can allow ourselves to experience the world around us in a new way. A kinder, more compassionate, and more loving community must emerge. This can only happen if we do our individual work and come together as a community that treats no one as less than but rather seeks to elevate each individual to reach their highest and best. This is how we come to know peace. The Enneagram can help us to become fully present as we grow and learn how to be connected to one another across differences. Remember: presence is not a privilege; it is a necessity.

Know Justice Know Peace: A Transformative Journey of Social Justice, Anti-Racism, and Healing through the Power of the Enneagram

How the Enneagram Became My Secret Weapon in Business

When I founded Trinity Transition Consultants I worked with organizations on a national and global platform to develop healthy, sustainable organizational cultures through executive coaching, management training, culture change initiatives, all forms of harassment prevention, and compliance & ethics training. Little did I know that my company would take on a life of its own and transform the very fabric of how organizations function from the ground up. The evolution of traditional DEI work soon grew exponentially when I discovered the power of utilizing the Enneagram in the corporate world. This unique approach allowed me to go beyond the normal scope of work and dive deeper into the heart of the organization: the people. I learned that while many organizations operate as a singular entity, many people fail to recognize and appreciate the individuals as the foundation for the organization’s culture. By bringing the wisdom contained in the personality archetypes of the Enneagram to each person within an organization the culture can transform at a molecular level and create sustainable connection, engagement, and balance.

I began teaching the Enneagram in boardrooms and in maintenance yards. I found that it was the key to connecting people, and I was determined to bring the Enneagram to every corner of whatever organization I found myself consulting for—and I did. In one organization I was hired to coach the executives and the senior team and asked to focus my attention on making them better leaders. After a few sessions, it became clear that the problems they faced were widespread and usually involved communication and cross-departmental or multi-management level relationships. I coached them as they requested but they soon realized the work couldn’t end with the senior team members, it was too transformational and powerful to reserve it for the few. These leaders would emphatically advocate for total organizational culture change and it always started with the Enneagram. Of course, there were some leaders—usually close to retirement—who were set in their ways and refused to take the necessary steps to transform into better leaders. They were the people who needed the Enneagram the most.

Nevertheless, the work I did with the Enneagram permeated all aspects of the organizational culture. It was a game-changer. People at all levels began to communicate in new ways, they were more respectful and adapted better when challenges emerged. The culture within the organization began to shift, one by one, department by department, it was unmistakable and it was intentional. That was the key difference: the intentional culture that manifested became thoughtful, inclusive, productive, energetic, and sustainable while it replaced the toxic culture that had festered for years. People at all levels began acting with intention and engagement and were actually invested in the people around them and in the organization.

In my book KJKP I illustrate the transformative process when we use the Enneagram to move beyond our ego-driven agendas and work towards a more connected and compassionate way of being:

A fundamental flaw in our foundation and ability for human connection is the failure to pick up the mirror and do the work of coming to fully understand ourselves as individuals who ultimately become part of a collective community in a societal structure. If we truly intend to repair the divides our world currently faces, we must start with ourselves. The Enneagram provides a detailed guide for inner work and allows us to move out of a “me and mine” mentality and into an “us and ours” way of being—this is the framework for accelerating a cognitive shift into mindfulness at an individual level which can help us to become more present to how we show up in the world in relation to “other” human beings. Engaging in our own personal Enneagram journey is essential to becoming an authentic Ally, Advocate, and Love Warrior, but we must all remember that the work doesn’t stop once we acquire the knowledge; we must do something with it. We must be willing to look in the mirror and see ourselves, accept our warts, foibles, and all, and acknowledge that we are all works in progress. However, the work must also include how our beings are received by the outside world. Are we kind? Are we judgmental? Are we dismissive? Are we able to admit when we make mistakes and try to do better next time? Are we willing to uncover the biases and stereotypes that are hidden behind elements of our personality? These are the questions we must ask ourselves as we move toward finding alignment of our three centers and unearthing our authentic selves. We all need to step into our place in order to bring hope and healing out into the world.

The inner work aligned with the exploration of the Enneagram can be a transformative and healing experience. The Enneagram teaches us how to heal our own wounds by illuminating our blind spots and showing us what we are really up to when we show up in the world. We become more open and accepting that we all see the world through 9 different lenses and engage in intentional inner work. As we heal our own wounds we are able to move beyond seeing people as objects and the shift toward regaining our own humanity allows us to begin to honor the humanity of every individual.

When we develop the awareness of our connectedness as people who belong together, especially within the workplace, we can begin to cultivate a healthier environment where inclusion and respect are valued. The individualism we are predisposed to begins to fade away and make space for the grounded connection we share with our sisters, brothers, and siblings within the human race. Our actions, behaviors, and beliefs become less self-serving and evolve into a shared awareness of our undivided connection as a single species. We take mutually beneficial actions grounded in generosity, we behave in collaborative ways with consideration for our fellow human beings, and we hold beliefs anchored in a compassionate approach to finding common ground.

It’s no secret that a lot of us spend more time with the people we work with than with our families. So why wouldn’t we want to make our workplaces better? Isn’t it logical to invest some time and effort into making the place we spend the majority of our time more pleasant, or kinder, or maybe just more tolerable? The answer should be yes. And it beings with the people, and with seeing others as people and not as objects or obstacles in our way. Being able to see another human as you see yourself can bring on a wave of gratitude, generosity, and connectedness. The inner work aligned with the exploration of the Enneagram can be a transformative and healing experience. When the work is honored and continued beyond self-reflection, its wisdom reinforces our spiritual growth and expands out into the world with an energy that can “create the ripples on the pond”.

If If you would like more information about the Enneagram in business please visit

TRINITY TRANSITION CONSULTANTS

"We are Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Anti-racism specialists. Our culture change initiatives utilize the Enneagram and trademarked TTC tools to design workplace and community workshops. Our work creates the mindset shift necessary within communities and organizations to respect the diversity of every individual at all levels of society. We coach individuals, organizations, and communities to move from the space of apathy & tolerance to acceptance & inclusion. Our work in the Social Justice arena is unapparelled and ever-evolving with the strength of our highly skilled and diverse team of Business Consultants."

My book Know Justice Know Peace: A Transformative Journey of Social Justice, Anti-Racism, and Healing through the Power of the Enneagram is available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online book retailers.

KNOW JUSTICE KNOW PEACE: A Transformative Journey of Social Justice, Anti-Racism, and Healing through the Power of the Enneagram

"Us Versus Them"

As we approach the middle of May and reflect on AAPI Month, I am reminded of the unfortunate reality of the disconnection between people who find themselves pushed to the margins of society based on some dimension of their diversity. Instead of recognizing the connection of lived experiences and the challenges faced, marginalized communities have historically existed in silos of similarity. Groups of people, whether they are Asian, Black, Latinx, members of the gender and sexual diversity community, or any group that faces discrimination, have historically adopted the mentality of “us versus them”. It is no secret that communities of color across the globe have suffered alone in individual silos. We have not been as supportive of one another as we should or could be.

When we approach conflicts around our different dimensions of diversity many people revert to an “us vs. them” or a “me vs. you” perspective. The predisposition toward disconnection has become a natural way of navigating challenges for most of us, and if we are to evolve as a species we must be willing to acknowledge our connectedness as a single human race.

No one wants to occupy the lowest rung of the ladder. But if we intend to repair the divides our global community is currently facing we must dismantle the ladder completely. Marginalized people can cultivate the awareness needed to move past disconnection and competition and find common ground to come together and work towards equity and justice. I have realized over the years that my work must extend outward beyond my own sphere of diversity and include all people who find themselves pushed to the margin. To illustrate this I would like to share another excerpt from Know Justice Know Peace: A Transformative Journey of Social Justice, Anti-Racism, and Healing through the Power of the Enneagram:

Very early in my career, I gravitated toward work that created opportunities for marginalized communities. While living in El Paso, Texas the path for the youth held limited access to opportunity. I took a job working for a government-funded program and began mentoring and tutoring Mexican-American students to help them find jobs after they graduated from high school. The job included driving an old school bus to pick them up and drop them off in the evening. I was pretty proud of my ability to get that bus down these little tiny narrow streets.

When students disappeared from the program I’d worry. I was aware of their comings and goings across the border but I had no clue as to who was at risk for being detained at the border crossing. I learned a lot about your personal lives and the circumstances that you had to navigate. I worried about your safety and well being.I wondered where you went or who you turned to when things got rough at home. This inquiry led me to look for a runaway shelter so that I could add the location to my list of resources. I discovered that there was not a Runaway Shelter anywhere in El Paso. I had some strong thoughts and feelings about it and I was determined to fix it. I took the anger in my belly, the love in my heart, and the God-given intelligence of my brain and went to work. I became a consultant for the City of El Paso and began reviewing social service programs that operated with City and/or federal funds. I was able to broker a deal between Lee Moor Children's Home and the City of El Paso for funding for a new runaway shelter. The private funding that came from Lee Moor Children's Home would enable a runaway shelter to sustain itself when there were gaps in the government funding

When I say I was determined to “fix it”, I wasn't playing around.… When the City gave me the green light and Lee More consented to the partnership I sprung into action. I secured a location, interviewed, hired and trained the staff, and ultimately resigned from my job as consultant for the city and became the Director of the Runaway Shelter of El Paso. My [Enneagram One] energy was tested so many times as I watched young people come in and out of the shelter. The daily flow of underage youth who had been abused by people who should have been better humans was heart-wrenching. As a human who stands at Point One the anger that I felt coursing through my veins was unbearable. I felt the need to do something that would provide protection for these young people and I was hell-bent on changing the system. Fortunately for those young people, I was not a bridge burner so I was able to find allies. I was a force to be reckoned with. I recognized that the anger that I was experiencing served me well as a call to action …The shelter has gone through many highs and lows over the decades. The last time I checked, the runaway shelter in El Paso still exists.

Let's continue this conversation and find ways to bring all communities together for a more equitable and peaceful existence. Check back next week for another glimpse into my life and into my book Know Justice Know Peace.