The grounded body, open heart, and quiet mind are well-known in the Enneagram field as the three centers of intelligence.

Feedback from other people plays a role in shaping our personalities as well.

The way we organize each day is largely dictated by our personalities.

much of our lives just happen, and we aren’t really paying attention.

supposed to be—based on our life experiences, our internal neuro-wiring, our career choices, and input from the people around us. Our sense of self can become distorted (either inflated or deflated), and it often doesn’t match what is real.

unconscious filters that only accept supporting information. Regrettably, that means these filters miss and dismiss data that would otherwise provide alternative perspectives. Information that doesn’t fit our core belief patterns is subliminally discarded.

Inner Critic Message: “You are responsible for making sure everyone gets along and feels happy. Don’t blow it!” Resulting Thought: “If I express my real opinion on this topic, it will start a huge argument. I don’t want to rock the boat, so I won’t say anything.”

The problem with all these personality labels is that they are inherently limiting. We start to live within the narrow walls of who we think we’re

Think of noticing (without judgment) as a capacity you can develop to observe yourself more clearly. Noticing allows you to go underneath the stories you’ve told yourself and into the territory where real change can begin to take place.