This podcast dives into the intriguing world of Enneagram Type 8s, known as The Challengers, who exude strength to hide their buried weaknesses. From famous examples like Steve Jobs to exploring the levels of consciousness, this episode uncovers the insecurities and motivations that drive Type 8s. It offers tailored practices for Type 8s to rise up in consciousness and thrive in personal and professional lives, making it a valuable resource for understanding and supporting them.
Type Eights exude strength to cover deep-seated fear of weakness and vulnerability.
Eights balance protective nurturing with control to confront conflicts but must guard against intimidating behaviors.
Deep dives
Understanding the Essence of Type Eight
The essence of the Type Eight is characterized by qualities such as fortitude, aliveness, and majesty. This essence revolves around the feeling of strength and power, not just as dominance but as an intoxicating sense of being alive, a force channeling for a greater purpose. Eights bring a grounded presence into a room, exuding a larger-than-life aura, announcing their arrival with strength and vitality, a stark contrast to the fear of feeling weak that underlies their demeanor.
Unveiling the Basic Fear of Type Eight
The basic fear of Type Eight is rooted in the terror of being weak, vulnerable, shut down, or violated by others. This fear drives Eights to exude strength and control in all aspects of life, as any hint of insecurity is vehemently denied. An example shared highlights an Eight's refusal to acknowledge insecurity, showcasing the deep-rooted belief that any display of vulnerability is synonymous with weakness.
Navigating the Levels of Consciousness for Type Eight
For the creative Eights, their powerful force is manifested through immense care and protection towards others. They display a tendency to nurture, yet their innate protective energy outshines, allowing them to bravely confront conflicts and injustices for the greater good. However, the notion of overcompensation and control can lead Eights down destructive paths, where suppression of vulnerabilities results in intimidating behaviors and a profound fear of violation, highlighting the exigency of self-awareness and authenticity in embracing true strength.
Enneagram Type 8s, nicknamed The Challenger, are all about strength and showing who’s in charge to reassure themselves that they don’t have a weak bone in their body. They often can’t admit to themselves how scared they really are of their buried weakness, and so they show up larger than life in nearly all situations hoping to leverage their power for the people they love. Famous examples include Steve Jobs, Chelsea Handler, MLK Jr, Donald Trump, Aretha Franklin, and Putin.
In this episode, we explore the essence of the Type 8 and the insecurities and motivations that drive their every action and relationship. We walk you through the story of the Type 8’s life by looking at their journey through the Levels of Consciousness from their healthiest to their average to their most destructive ways of operating. We close the episode by offering a critical type-tailored practice to help 8s rise up in consciousness and be the best version of themselves.
This episode is designed to help Type 8s thrive in their personal and professional lives by fostering a deeper understanding of their insecurities and motivations. It’s also an invaluable resource for friends, partners, and colleagues of Type 8s who wish to better support and relate to them.