Well, to address my enneagram scores, I score 3 or 5; and it makes sense according to this article that when I am in enneagram 3 mode I am less healthy, because as an INFJ- I am playing less towards my strengths- aka my intuition, and more to my Fe and pleasing others or worrying about others.
"Enneagram 3 (Three)
Healthy:
For Promoting/Motivating: EFJs, ENPs
For Status/Wealth: ESPs
Less Healthy:
For Promoting/Motivating: ISJs
For Status/Wealth: INJs
For Fame/Affirmation: ITPs
The Enneagram Three is more complex and multi-dimensional. Threes are sometimes called “Motivators” or “Promoters,” both of which are suitable descriptors for ENFJs, ENTPs, and ENFPs. There is also a status-conscious side to Threes which is most natural for ESPs to display, since their dominant function, Extraverted Sensing (Se), is naturally attuned to popular trends and material comforts. While many Myers-Briggs types (whether healthy or unhealthy) may score high as Threes, generally speaking, it is healthier for Extraverts to do so than it is for Introverts. When INJs identify as Threes, they are probably being unduly controlled by their inferior Se, which can become obsessed with acquiring wealth or status. When ISJs identify as Threes, they are likely to do so as aspiring promoters, which gratifies their inferior Ne. When ITPs identify as Threes, they often do so in hopes of seeking praise or affirmation craved by their inferior Fe."
When I am acting more in 5 mode, I tend to be more self-satisfied- and I am also playing towards my Ni and my Ti by investigating or learning about new things.
"Enneagram 4 (Four) & 5 (Five)
Healthy: IN types, some ENPs
Less Healthy: S types
Both Fours and Fives are generally IN types. We might roughly associate the Five with INTs (INTPs and INTJs) and the Four with INFs (INFPs and INFJs). Introverted Intuition (Ni), which serves as the dominant function for INTJs and INFJs alike, can be healthily employed by either Fours or Fives. That is, it can be used creatively/ imaginatively (Four) or theoretically/ intellectually (Five). Despite this, because of their respective auxiliary functions, most INTJs (especially males) will type as Fives and most INFJs (especially females) will identify with the Four. While INTPs may function healthily as 5w4s and INFPs as 4w5s, it would be highly unusual and probably unhealthy for INTPs to test as Fours or INFPs as Fives.
Most INJs, whose Intuition is dominant, will rightly score as Fours or Fives. INPs, however, whose Intuition is auxiliary, are more prone to deviation. As I’ve written elsewhere, it can be easy for INPs to get stuck in Judging mode, hopping between their dominant and inferior functions, without allowing themselves to relax into Perceiving mode, where they can use and develop their develop their auxiliary function, Extraverted Intuition (Ne). Those who fail to regularly employ their Ne are more apt to identify with other Enneagram types."
It's interesting because for awhile I thought that my shadow would manifest as an ESTP, but I have recently begun to realize that my shadow is more similar to being ENFP- which is all of my functions but more reversed aka Ni/Ne, Ti/Te, Fe/Fi, Se/Si. So it makes sense that when I am more in 3 mode I am more in my shadow functions, and when I am in 5 mode I am in my natural mode.
This was a really great article, thanks for sharing Niffer!