Grieve, Breathe, Receive with Steve Carter (Type 3)
Dec 26, 2024
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Steve Carter, author of "Grieve, Breathe, Receive," brings his insights on navigating grief as an Enneagram type 3. He shares his personal journey of loss, including the death of his adopted father, and how it transformed his self-awareness. The conversation dives into the challenges Type 3s face with grief and their drive for achievement. Steve explores the intersection of grief and faith, emphasizing vulnerability as a path to healing. His reflections encourage listeners to reframe their self-worth beyond external validation and embrace authenticity.
Grief serves as a transformative process that requires honoring emotions and can foster deeper self-awareness and authentic connections.
Enneagram Type Threes often confront grief through achievement, but embracing vulnerability is essential for true healing and self-acceptance.
Deep dives
Understanding Grief Through Change
Grief is largely framed as a response to change, whether that change is significant loss or even positive transitions like a child leaving for college. It manifests as a natural and necessary process to honor feelings associated with these changes, requiring time and space for reflection. One insightful perspective shared is that grief can be viewed as the price we pay for love, emphasizing that every emotional attachment brings the potential for grief. This recognition encourages individuals to validate their feelings instead of suppressing them, especially during poignant times like the holidays, when grief can feel especially overwhelming.
The Enneagram Type Three Perspective on Grief
For individuals identified as Enneagram Type Threes, the journey through grief can be complicated by a deep-seated fear of failure and a drive for achievement. As described, Threes often cope with painful experiences by resorting to their natural inclination to succeed, which can lead to avoiding grief altogether. The internal struggle between managing one's image and confronting grief reveals a significant aspect of the Three's experience, where the perception of losing relevance or value can evoke existential crises. This process emphasizes the importance of moving beyond mere accomplishment to embrace emotional vulnerability and authenticity.
Finding Healing in the Desert
The speaker shares a transformative journey that began with a significant personal and professional loss, followed by the decision to move to the desert to seek healing. This relocation became a metaphorical and literal sanctuary, enabling a confrontation with grief, self-discovery, and personal growth. Here, the act of walking in nature served as a powerful mechanism for processing complex emotions, highlighting how physical movement can facilitate emotional healing. Ultimately, this experience helped shift the focus from external validation and achievement to a deeper understanding of self-worth, emphasizing that it is essential to allow oneself to feel and process grief authentically.
How can grief operate as a transformative experience, leading to deeper self-awareness and a more authentic connection to oneself and others? Join us as we dive deep into the topic of grief through the lens of the Enneagram, featuring special guest Steve Carter, author of "Grieve, Breathe, Receive: Finding a Faith Strong Enough to Hold On."
In this episode, Steve, an Enneagram 3, shares his personal journey of navigating grief after significant life changes, including the loss of his adopted father and the collapse of his professional life. We discuss the unique challenges that threes face when dealing with grief, the importance of recognizing and honoring emotions, and how to find a healthy perspective on achievement and self-worth.
Steve also shares valuable insights on the intersection of grief and faith, and how embracing vulnerability can lead to healing.
Whether you're grappling with your own grief or seeking to understand the experiences of others, this episode offers profound wisdom and encouragement.