A Few Things to Know About Sevens
If we’re not careful, the Enneagram archetypes can easily be treated as oversimplified stereotypes. Maybe you’ve already seen examples of this! This post is intended to give a little more clarity about Type Sevens— to dig deeper, highlight some things that you may not know, and break down common assumptions.
Just because Sevens can be enthusiastic and fun-loving, this doesn’t negate their intelligence or their ability to take matters seriously! Whether in their relationships or ambitions, Sevens can be very committed. So don’t underestimate them or think they can’t do something because they just might be up for the challenge to prove you wrong.
Also, because Sevens are often the ones to keep high spirits in most situations, it can be easy to forget that they too need encouragement at times. Even if it’s short and sweet, let the Sevens in your life know how they’re appreciated!
So what else could we be overlooking when it comes to Type Sevens? Let’s dive into it!
Quick note: This may not resonate 100% with every Type Seven, and that is okay! There are many individual differences within each Enneagram type. I want to emphasize that humans are complex, and it’s okay to not perfectly align with everything you read about your type. If you’d like to see what other Sevens have to say about this post, you can find it on Instagram right here. Join the conversation!
Alright, Let’s get into it!
Here are a few things to know about Enneagram Sevens!
Common Underlying Motivation
To be free to explore possibilities without limitation
→ Sevens experience the world as expansive, beautiful, and full of possibilities! They tend to have a million ideas per second, it seems. Their enthusiasm and positivity can be contagious! And even though this seems like they’d be out-going and always “the life of the party,” 7s can also be introverts!
Consistently Avoiding
Being trapped in pain or boredom
→ For many 7s, there’s nothing worse than feeling stuck. It’s not necessarily that they can’t feel their feelings, it’s just that they don’t want to get stuck in those feelings. Similarly, boredom can feel panic-inducing because it feels so limiting to be trapped. And now all the 7s have broken into a cold sweat just reading this description.
You might not know that…
→ 7s are often quite cerebral - They are mental types, after all - they are often fun and enthusiastic, AND they are thinkers. It can be hurtful for 7s to feel like they are overlooked or dismissed as “too silly to be smart” when in reality, they can be intelligent and serious about things they do, but why not make it enjoyable?
→ Some 7s don’t experience themselves as happy - they might feel like that’s how they’re supposed to be, but they can feel more anxious than happy a lot of the time.
→ Looking for the next thing sometimes feels like a huge pressure - it can feel like they have to find the next thing before this moment ends. It is sometimes driven by enthusiasm, but it can also be driven by fear or anxiety or something internal they can’t explain. Some 7s have described that they feel like they’re on a treadmill, and if they don’t find that next thing soon, they’ll be thrown off the treadmill into boredom or anxiety. Just “slowing down” is not that simple.
→ 7s are often deeply loyal and committed to their people. This can refer to long-term, committed romantic relationships, but it doesn’t always! 7s often build a family around them of friends, connections, and other people who are fixtures in their lives.
→ The idea of being “selfish” doesn’t always resonate with 7s - in fact, a lot of 7s care deeply about helping and encouraging others. Many 7s resonate with the idea that you have to put your own oxygen mask on first - if you’re not taking care of yourself, you can’t be there for anyone else.
→ 7s can have a bit of a rebellious streak, but it’s not always overt! It often means they abide by the letter of the law, not necessarily the spirit of the law… “You didn’t say I couldn’t!”
And BTW…
→ As much as they are fun, enthusiastic, and positive, 7s also need love, compassion, and space to process a bit, just like anyone else. When they have those safe people, they’ll process deeper things with them.
