Within the Enneagram world, there is a concept known as the Centers of Intelligence. The Centers refer to the different ways in which individuals interact with, process, and react to the world around them.
The first of these three centers is called the Head Center.
The Head Center is comprised of three Enneagram types:
- Type 5: The Analytical Investigator
Individuals craving knowledge and understanding. - Type 6: The Faithful Guardian
Individuals with a deep loyalty to people and the ideological belief systems they’ve ascribed themselves to.
- Type 7: The Enthusiastic Optimist
Individuals fueled with a natural curiosity and desire for adventure.
Alright, you might look at those brief descriptions and think, “Huh, those groups are nothing alike.” While each type has its own unique differences in behavior or outward expression, this triad is united at a deeper level.
The Head Center is also commonly known as the “Thinking Center.” As the name would suggest, individuals who fall within this Center of Intelligence tend to rely on thinking as their primary means of interpreting the world around them.
They lean on logical processing as their way of making themselves feel safe and autonomous. In other words, they combat negative feelings like fear or anxiety with understanding and rational thought.
Due to the nature of being a “thinker”, head types struggle with always being in their (you guessed it) head.
This is a double-edged sword.
At its best, the inclination towards deep thought can lead to bursts of new insight and innovation! Head type individuals are often very creative and thoughtful people. They also can be very perceptive to the thoughts and opinions of others.
Unfortunately, there are also a few drawbacks to this Center. Individuals in this triad often get stuck in some pretty unhealthy thought patterns. They may find themselves going down the rabbit hole of “what if” questions or replaying “worst-case scenario” situations in their minds.
For this reason, it’s no surprise that head types often struggle with fear and anxiety. (This is proof that “overthinking” is a real phenomenon.)
Although this is a common struggle for each of the three types in this triad, it typically manifests in different ways (hence the differences in outward appearance or behavior.)
When these types are not operating as their highest and best selves, a few unique behaviors may arise, such as:
- An anxious 5 will typically retreat into their own mind. They tend to focus on consuming new information and gaining knowledge as a way to combat feelings of stress and anxiety.
- 6’s are your doomsday people. In states of anxiety or stress, these are the individuals analyzing each “worst-case scenario” option and creating a detailed plan for combating those scenarios should they arise.
- Type 7’s try to focus their internal anxiety outward, by actively pursuing difficult or stressful situations as a “new adventure” to chase.
See what I mean?
Each of these types share a common fear: lack of security. The ways in which they experience these struggles are unique.
Here’s the good news…It doesn’t have to be a struggle.
Although each individual person (or type) may experience various challenges throughout their life, we never have to be “stuck.” There are always different thought patterns each type can embrace to experience life in a healthy, more aligned way.
In essence, you can choose a different story.
Want to learn more about the Centers of Intelligence?
You’re in luck! Over the next two weeks, we will be unpacking the other two Centers: The Heart Center and The Gut Center. Click HERE to receive notifications about this incredible upcoming content!
Article was contributed by: Maria Lees, Team Writer with Sarah Boxx
