April 12, 2026
With so many great personality assessments out there (Myers-Briggs, StrengthFinders, Buzzfeed quizzes) why use the Enneagram?
While the Myers-Briggs and other personality assessments may help you better understand yourself and others to an extent, they fail to show you that you can be more than your personality.
That’s where the Enneagram comes in. The Enneagram is a resource that helps you understand why you do what you do so that you can better respond to those around you.
An ancient tool for self-discovery and personal growth, the Enneagram was originally used by the early Desert Fathers and Mothers. It is based on nine personality types and their unique ways of relating to the world. By learning the “why” behind the way we think, feel and behave, we gain more understanding, compassion and mercy for ourselves and others.
In other words, the Enneagram isn’t just a personality test: it’s a journey to discovering the real you. It is the only tool I’ve found that can generate real life change; while most personality test put you in a box, the Enneagram shows you what box you’re already in and how to get out of it.
The Enneagram also allows us to name and acknowledge the parts of ourselves we keep closed off from God. When we learn our specific (and unique!) Enneagram Type, we learn all the ways that personality type has kept us from living as our authentic selves. As Russ Hudson, founder of the Enneagram Institute, once said in a class I attended: “Type isn’t a ‘type’ of person, but a path [back] to God.”
If this sounds like something you would be interested in learning more about, then I hope you’ll join me on Saturday, April 18 for a two-hour Enneagram workshop. During this time, we will take a deeper look at:
- The history of the Enneagram
- An in-depth overview of all nine personality types
- The unique Gospel message for each Enneagram type
- How to use (or not to use) your new-found Enneagram wisdom
Whether this is your first time learning about the Enneagram or you’ve been studying it for years, all are welcome! You can register here or by calling (216) 228-7451.
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” – Leo Tolstoy
~ Mary Kate Strimpfel