Enneagram Sevens | Thriving at Work and Home

Welcome to the eighth episode of the Nine Types Spring Series. This episode is dedicated to learning all about the Enneagram Seven!

You will want to listen to each episode of this series if you know your Enneagram Type or are beginning your personality discovery journey! You will also want to share this special 9-part series so that your friends and family can learn about the Enneagram and maybe figure out their personality Type. Best of all if you listen to learn about each Type it will really help you know how to strengthen your relationships no matter their Type. Whether you are married, raising kids, or working with others, chances are that you are interacting with all the Nine Enneagram personalities! 

Guest interview mentioned that Amy was on, called "A Romance Recharge with Amy Wicks, 7-9 Pairing," listen here

Past episodes about Enneagram Sevens:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-problem-of-lonliness-with-enneagram-seven-bonnie-gray/id1216920050?i=1000530163677

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-a-comparison-free-life-leads-to-joy-peace-and/id1216920050?i=1000553131530

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-your-glow-on-enneagram-seven-christa-hardin/id1216920050?i=1000545508863

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chasing-wonder-ginger-stache-enneagram-7w8/id1216920050?i=1000539657997

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/calling-all-enneagram-sevens-and-their-friends/id1216920050?i=1000497076593

Amy's Enneagram Momprenuer Guide free PDF found here!

Take the new Enneagram Quiz here!

Follow Amy on IG
Amy's Website

The Enneagram can name your patterns. It can't set you free from them. That's the difference between insight and transformation, and it's the whole focus of this summit.

Learn more, check out the speakers & get your free seat!

https://www.simplywholehearted.com/wholehearted-2026

Transcript

Copy Transcript Copied

SPEAKER_00 1:41

Hi, I'm Amy Wicks, a Jesus and Enneagram enthusiast. As a wife, mama of three humans, and a fur baby, I get it. Juggling entrepreneurship in a family is challenging, but I believe the Lord does want your work to be enjoyable. As an Enneagram type 7, I am all about the fun factor. And this podcast is here to help you put the joy back into working mom life. So you can see 1 Timothy 6.17 come to pass in your own thing. It's a verse that says, God has given us all things to enjoy. All friends, it means all. Motherhood, work from home life, or work out of the home life. With the Lord's help, there's truly a way to feel calm, balance, joy, clarity, and peace in any arena of life. Welcome to the Simply Full Hearted Podcast, where you can expect solo style and interview style episodes that are full of faith-based concepts, simple ideas, Enneagram insights, alongside practical tips to help you put that smile back on your face when it comes to doing life with Jesus. Now get your headphones and head to that big pile of dishes in the sink. Or maybe that bathroom that needed cleaning two weeks ago. And let's get to learning together. Welcome to the eighth episode of the Nine Type Spring series. And this specific episode, well, it's all about the Enneagram 7. I hope that you have listened to each of the episodes in this series so far. Whether you are new to the Enneagram or you are a sage and you definitely know your Enneagram type. This special nine part series is designed to share with your friends and family to help them understand the Enneagram and also maybe help them figure out their Enneagram type. And plus, if you listen to learn about each Enneagram type and not just to learn about yourself, well, you're gonna strengthen and enhance your relationship so they can really thrive no matter their type or your type. Here's the deal: if you are married, if you're raising kids, working with others, or basically breathing and interacting in the world, you are probably engaging with all nine Enneagram types. So it's really helpful to better understand what other lens people are looking through. Now, if you've been listening for a little bit, you may have heard this best kept secret. But if you're new here, make sure you don't skip this part. Here's the deal: you are able to utilize character traits of all nine Enneagram types because you are made in God's image. And the triune nature of God is all the nine types and more. It is possible to reflect God's nature and his character traits too when you're living as a beloved child of our Heavenly Father. I promise you, Scripture wouldn't tell you to be an imitator of Christ if it wasn't possible. So, another benefit of listening to all the episodes in the series is to hear and learn about the positive attributes, the ones that you can take on and that you can give to the rest of the world. Now, all of the nine types spotlights one Enneagram number as I mentioned, and we're gonna do a deep dive in about 30 minutes. We are gonna talk about core traits, childhood experience, I'm offering parenting tips, plus I'm giving an overview of how each Enneagram type pairs up with the other personalities. There is new information in each episode. Also, I'm giving you a storied version about one of my clients, and in this episode, it's specifically about an Enneagram 7. And at the very end, I'm going to share my favorite insight. So make sure you listen all the way through so you don't miss a minute. Now, have you gotten the free resource that accompanies the special Enneagram series? The Enneagram from Preneur's Guide is the Enneagram Guidebook for moms who desire to thrive in their faith, family, and business. You can use the link in the show notes or head to simply wholehearted.com to get your free copy of the beautiful PDF with content for each Enneagram personality. You can get more understanding about your type's strengths, your weaknesses, and get ideas for the small pivots that you can make today. Are you ready to dive in to hear more about the Enneagram 7? Okay, let's go. First up, 10 common traits of an Enneagram 7. 1. You are busy and energetic and are really bored. 2. You struggle with commitment and focus. 3. You tend to move on quickly from loss or grievances. 4. You're idealistic about the world and all the possibilities. 5. You wear your heart on your sleeve and you're very open with your feelings. 6. You wrestle with feelings of loyalty, yet at the same time you desire freedom and independence. 7. Others perceive that you make quick decisions, but you've actually probably been thinking about that decision for a really long time. 8. You prefer to be around others who are upbeat and share similar goals. 9. You do a lot of things well, but you struggle with finishing big projects. Um yeah. Enneagram 7 over here saying, gotta witness. And 10. You get frustrated when others place responsibilities on you. Alrighty, friend, did you nod your head to most of these traits? Or did a person or two come to mind that you know fit this description? If yes, you might be an Enneagram 7, or you might know someone who is. But here is the most essential fact of the Enneagram before you listen anymore. The Enneagram identifies motivations, not just outward behavior. And yes, there are common character traits or behavior patterns of each personality type, but the question to ask yourself is what is the real reason behind your action? Or what is your core fear, longing, desire, or emotion behind your conduct? You may share learned behavior traits based on your family or community culture, but what's really beneath the surface? Take time, my friend, to pay attention to the motivations, not just outward qualities. You see, a type of seven might be labeled by others as the party animal, right? They have this reputation of being the entertainer. But not all Enneagram 7s feel like they're the fun ones or actually enjoy being the center of attention. So just because they're the comedian of a group, it doesn't mean that they are a seven. With this fact established, here are some core motivations attributed to the Enneagram 7. An Enneagram 7 desires to be satisfied and to feel content and to have all their needs fulfilled. Sevens may often be mistaken as feeling types because they carry a lot of charm and win some energy. And though a seven is very heartforward and are frequently assumed to be rooted in the heart, they are actually surreal in their approach to life, which means they do spend a lot of time in their mind, maybe more than what others see. Sevens are motivated by their need to be happy and to plan enjoyable activities. They want to contribute to the world, and most of all, they want to avoid suffering and pain. Sevens do their darnest to eliminate or reframe painful situations, and this conveys an essence of flightiness or possibly even denial. Sevens have a strong desire to plan what is next, and it's this coping mechanism that helps them to quickly put the past behind them and help others plan positively for the future. An Enneagram Seven possesses the innate bravery to be spontaneous and free-spirited. While sevens have varied interests and abilities, they also are generous and they really do desire to make the world a better place. When a seven is at their best, they approach their experiences with depth. This makes them genuinely grateful and appreciative for what they have. A seven can learn to be awed by the simple wonders of life and live joyously. This contentment guides their spiritual belief in the boundless goodness of life. And while it's true that sevens have a variety of interests and do change focuses easily, when they're living in self-awareness and are healthy, they do possess the ability to follow through with all the fantastic things they have. Okay, well, this all sounds dreamy until you find out what is actually hard for a type seven. So a type seven really longs to hear from parents, their spouse or loved ones is that they will be taken care of. So when a seven has an experience that tells them it's not okay to depend on others for anything, it perpetuates their struggle with gluttony, which they engage in to feel satisfied and content. But the gluttony is not always connected with food. Rather, this struggle is aimed at their determination to overdo everything that brings them gratification. Now, this struggle often causes the seven to feast on options and experiences or adventures until they are overwhelmed by their indulgences. And this can lead them to overbook themselves, both intentionally and unintentionally, so if something falls through, they're not stuck without options. A seven's desire for gratification also creates their avoidance behavior with the emotional pain of sadness. A7 may get skilled at employing various coping mechanisms to avoid what they deem to be unpleasant. If you've been around for a hot minute, you know I say when you take an Enneagram test, when you read an Enneagram book, or like this, you're listening to material on the type that you need to filter the content based on what you were most like as a kid. Or if you have a hard time remembering that far back, filter the information based on your 18-year-old motivations. So with that in mind, here is a glimpse of what a type 7 might look like as a young person. A type 7 child keeps busy, they don't really like to be alone, and they're really good with adult interactions. They love to talk and dream about their future plans for adventure and experiences. A type 7 child also wants to avoid pain and limitations, so they become very adept at distraction and surrounding themselves with plenty of options. Their well-used imaginations empower them to create a world of pleasant thoughts or experiences that reframe or help them avoid any painful surroundings. Because they naturally seek out a limitless life and have an insatiable appetite for all the things, they may push back and feel disconnected from their parents when they aren't provided all the options that they desire, or if they're given boundaries that do create limitations. Early on, they also may develop a sense that their care or provision for their needs to feel happy and satisfied is up to them. And perhaps in their experience, no one else is reliable or can take care of or will provide as many opportunities as they will for themselves. Now, if you've listened to all of this and you're pretty certain that you're Enneagram 7, and you are also a parent, I have some specific encouragement and caution for you. As an Enneagram 7 parent, you help your children to be exposed to a variety of experiences. You're enthusiastic and adventurous. You are motivated to transform tedious daily tasks into something fun and exciting for yourself and your kids. Your parenting superpower enables you to be creative and provide upbeat energy to inspire those you lead to see the positives in life. Now there's many things to be cautious about as a type 7 parent, but here are a few practical tips for you. While you have a larger-than-life capacity to do all the things, and you're generous with your time and energy to many people, you may come across as too busy and unavailable to your kids. You also tend to move on quickly with high expectations for your kids to keep up with your pace. But your children need you to slow down and savor the simple moments that you have together. Be fully engaged in the current moment, not just with what is in the next fun opportunity. And remember to learn to prioritize and rest in the truth that your Heavenly Father has good things for you. And when you surrender to his leadership, you won't miss out on what is important. Now because I always love to tell a good story. Here is one about an Enneagram 7 coaching client. Of course, I've changed their name and the story details just a little bit to make listening a lot more fun. Charisse remembers distinctly counting down the days that she could move away from her mom and siblings for the adventure and freedom she craved. She longed for fewer limitations and endless possibilities that she assumed adult independence would grant her. And because she was the oldest of four kids and her mom was parenting alone, Sharice often felt like she had to be the one responsible and the one to take care of everyone, when really she just longed to be taken care of. But life taught her that she couldn't depend on anyone else to do that but herself. While Sharice was able to explore the vast world and enjoy a multitude of relationships in her early adulthood, she also quickly realized that there were more responsibilities and disappointments than she had imagined. As a young adult, Sharice couldn't have articulated what specifically created the disappointment, because as was her habit, she would dismiss her feelings and press on to the next thing. After she had traveled the globe to satisfy some of her wonder list, Sharice began the next chapter of her life. And in a blink, she had a career change and was raising two toddlers, and then faced a sudden end to what she thought was a good marriage. In all of this transition, Sharice found herself feeling trapped, limited, bored, and there was deep sadness that would rise to the surface. But she was afraid if she gave in to the sadness it wouldn't stop. So she would just push past it and throw herself into the next project. Being an entrepreneur by nature, Sharice started lots of little home-based businesses through the years, providing a welcome distraction from life with two busy kids. There was always something fun, interesting, and new to explore. Cherice found herself in a unique predicament when she realized as her kids were creating lives of their own and moving on, her mom was facing a terminal cancer diagnosis. She was also very unhappy with her work. She found herself becoming more manic, overdoing everything in life, and avoiding people who would expect an upbeat, cheerful person that she felt like she couldn't be anymore. A friend encouraged her to try counseling, but she was honestly afraid to talk about all the hard things, afraid that it would make her sad and she would never be happy again. So when she heard about Enneagram coaching, she thought maybe that would be a better distraction and wouldn't ask her to talk about those hard emotions. Cherise quickly discovered that her typical approach of amassing information and making a quick deduction wasn't going to just work with the Enneagram. This personality typology was very different and it was going to take time, attention to her emotions, and willingness to get it totally wrong the first time. As Cherisse continued with her coaching sessions, she found herself talking about the darker emotions and being more willing to dive into the painful parts of her story. Instead of suffocating from exploring the hard emotions, Sharice actually found it liberating. She began to realize that she could feel pain and suffering without drowning in the intensity. In fact, as she allowed herself to acknowledge what was painful, her upbeat nature gradually returned, and she was able to confess that her evening routine of two glasses of wine had become an unhealthy escape. Sharice also began to make changes with her kids. She started checking in on them more often, intentionally slowing down and not multitasking as they were discussing everyday things. She also decided to take on a more authoritarian role, not overly restrictive, but reinforcing healthy boundaries for them and giving them more responsibilities. Sharice not only continued her Enneagram coaching, but she also decided to restart her career coaching business and integrate Enneagram teaching. She was embracing her multi-passionate nature, yet harnessing her energy into making one business work really well before starting the next thing. In fact, she began to realize that all the experiences she had with entrepreneurship were going to empower her to build the business of her dreams as long as she stuck to it. Even after the loss of her mom, Cherise continued to practice moments of silence to allow some of her grief to rise to the surface. As uncomfortable as it made her, she says it helps her process the pain without turning to coping mechanisms, like overeating, playing games on her phone for hours, or planning trips she can't really take. Or even on the extreme end of manic behaviors like scrubbing her floors or being nitpicky with her kids. Cherise says her new motto comes from Psalm 23, I shall not want. It has taken her several years, but she has found her relationship with the Lord to bring her more satisfaction and contentment than she thought was possible. So if you've listened and you're pretty sure you're an Enneagram 7, or some of the elements of the story feel familiar to you, here are a few tips for awareness so you too can experience growth in your parenting and in your work and in your spiritual life as a seven. First, remember commitments such as marriage and parenting don't have to be limiting. They can be lifelong adventures with many opportunities. Second, intentionally slow your pace of thinking when you're interacting with others, especially family, friends, and clients. They need your full attention. Third, once you've created a plan, commit to a course of action. The fruit of finishing well can be as exhilarating as starting something new. Fourth, getting acquainted with grief and difficult emotions makes you a more rounded spouse, parent, and friend. Fifth, authority structures are beneficial. Your children need you to be an authority figure in your home, and you need to model how to healthily be led by others. 6th, your up-beat energy might be out of sync with others' needs. Be mindful of how you use it. And seventh, remember to be as demonstrative as you feel. Others can't be in your head to realize that your love is present. So, friend, hasn't Enneagram 7, when you identify the internal message that you've heard your whole life, you can make a choice to rest from running from the things you'd rather forget and give your emotions to the Lord as you practice silence. The message that you may have heard is, if I have boundaries, then I am limited and I can't have the freedom that I crave. But here's the deal the truth from the Word of God tells you something different. One of my favorites comes from John 1510. When you obey my commands and remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commands and remain in his love, I have told you these things that you may be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow. As in Enneagram 7, you may be constantly on the hunt for joy. Even when you are in the midst of something fun, you might find yourself dreaming about what is next, because you're a little bit concerned about the boundaries or limitations or lack of freedom coming up next. But when you find joy in the Lord's presence, as in God's lasting joy, it will quench the thirst for your constant quest for the next exciting thing. Now, one of my favorite parts about these episodes this season, and that is I'm gonna give you details on how the Enneagram seven gets along, or doesn't get along, with all the Enneagram types. But there is one important fact that you need to know about Enneagram and relationships. There is no one perfect type for your personality. In fact, all personality types are compatible. The only question to ask yourself when considering a relationship, or rather how to engage in that relationship, is that person healthy or are they unhealthy? This will make a big difference to know your level of interaction and what your relationship can look like. So that being said, here are some general similarities or differences between the types. The Enneagram 7 and Enneagram 1 have a unique connection between growth and stress. So when the 7 is stressed, they experience a 1's low side of behavior. But on the flip side, a 7 can learn from the 1 how to set clearer boundaries, slow their pace, and have the ability to complete tasks. The 1 needs more fun and spontaneity that the 7 is happy to offer, but the 7 may get worn out asking the one to lighten up and to take a break. In the end, this can be a mutually beneficial relationship or working partnership on so many levels if both lean into their strengths and gently express their frustrations. When the Enneagram 2 and the Enneagram 7 are a team, they will make people feel loved and cared for all the while having a really great time. They both like to keep their calendars full, the two with all the relationship and coffee meetings in the 7 with all their activities that will help them avoid boredom. The assertiveness and the constant ideation of the 7 can at times be draining for the two, who does want to help all their plans come to fruition. But by the time the two has put a plan in place, the seven may have moved on to the next dream. The seven needs a lot more freedom in their work accountability than a two, so in this partnership, the seven needs to take time to communicate their plans, availability, and strategy. Both the three and the seven provide intense energy and enthusiasm to work, life, and relationships. You really do get along well as both of you have zeal and passion for work. Especially if the seven does love what they do. Now, if you are a seven, be intentional to not interrupt the three's workflow and work hours and communicate your expectations up front. The seven, on the other hand, needs fewer work limitations and more breaks or fun diversion than a three does. But the three may just feel like this is a symptom of a seven's inability to focus. Both types do bounce back from disappointment quickly, but they also need to remind each other to make space and time for those negative emotions. When the three is willing to share their path of success and make time to take a break to do something fun, this will be a fabulous combo. The Enneagram 4 and the Enneagram 7 are probably more alike than you think, but they do have opposite emotional preferences. Enneagram 4s see the glass half empty and Enneagram 7s see it half full. Both may relate to the worry that they are too much for others. Fours can show the 7 how to experience the darker side of emotions and still survive. The four also knows good things can come from allowing yourself to sit in pain and grieve a little longer. The 7 will help the four shake off their melancholy and embrace the joy of spontaneous moments. Honor your differences and celebrate about what you can learn from each other. The Enneagram V and the Enneagram 7 share a unique connection in growth and stress. In growth, the 7 adopts the 5's methodical and thoughtful approach. Both types appreciate adventure and are easily bored with repetition. As a team or in a close relationship, both types can learn to balance each other out, and this will create strategic momentum. The 7 will learn the value of pulling back and observing like a healthy five. A 7 will offer fives a lightheartedness that can keep them from taking themselves too seriously. The Enneagram 7 and the Enneagram 6 form long-standing true blue kind of relationships. Both instinctively understand how each other struggles with anxiety. Yet the 7 helps the 6 form mental connections to work their way out of the fears that hold them back or the dilemmas they are currently facing. The 6 will struggle with a Type 7 ability to imagine the future better than it will be, but this can balance out the 6's negative fears and concerns about the future. The 7 will struggle with the fact that the 6 tends to anticipate the future being worse than it will likely be. But in the end, the 7 can benefit from a more balanced perspective to their over-optimistic approach. An Enneagram 7 and an Enneagram 7, well, it can be summed up in this. Watch out, world, here they come. Put a few 7s in a room together or on a podcast, and the energy will be palatable, plus a lot of laughter. Some of my listeners have mentioned that it's joyful to listen to episodes that I host that also has an Enneagram 7. Now, one of my most recent interviews with another 7, Heather Creekmore, about comparison has actually been a community favorite. Unfortunately, there are a few downsides to a combo of Enneagram 7 because they will both enter into the relationship or project with fears of commitment, routine, and predictability. They will have to invite others to hold them accountable to finish what they start. Because they both love to have fun. When this combo puts a plan in place to celebrate milestone markers that they accomplish, they will be able to accomplish more together than apart. The Enneagram 7 and the Enneagram 8 are both powerful forces to be reckoned with when they put their mind to accomplish something or making change happen. Both types think and respond quickly, but an eight will respond, then think, whereas the 7 will think and then respond. Use this teammate's strength to help balance in action due to indecision and overthinking. And because both are future focused and don't care to process emotions, the seven will want to avoid the painful emotions and the eights will struggle with processing their other emotions outside of frustration or passion. These types do make for an excellent pairing when they're willing to support each other's vision and share common interests. Plus, they will have a lot of fun together putting their plans into action. The Enneagram 7 and the Enneagram 9 both are a positive combo, but the 7 may overwhelm the more laid-back approach of a 9. The 7 appreciates lots of opinions or choices, but a 9 wants to choose from just a couple or few. Both Enneagram types are open-minded and generally positive about life. They also err on the side of reframing and wanting to avoid hard conversations or uncomfortable situations for their own unique reasons. The 9's stability and realistic approach to life does level out the 7's impulsive enthusiasm. And also, I have mentioned this once or twice that I am an Enneagram 7 and my husband's an Enneagram 9. So I'm very familiar with the benefits and cautions of this combo. I share several of my personal experiences with my friend Krista Harden on her podcast, Enneagram and Marriage. You can find a link in the show notes for the episode titled A Romance Recharge with Amy Wicks, Enneagram types 7 and 9. This happens to be episode 7 of season 4 again of Enneagram and Marriage. So if you want to hear more about that dynamic and more insights about this combo, you can take a listen. So, my friend, are you an Enneagram 7? Or do you know an Enneagram 7? Well, regardless, I hope that you learned something new today and you had fun while you were listening. Maybe you grew in compassion as you better understood the experience of a 7. And I hope you also heard that ultimately that transformation and freedom are possible no matter your type. I would be so honored if you would share this episode with your people so they can learn more about the Enneagram 7 and this whole series. It's really simple to use the apps feature to pass this along with a little note of what you learn. You can share it in Spotify, you can share it through Apple Podcasts, and of course social media. Just tag me at wholehearted Enneagram so I can say thank you and also give you a shout out. Now before you go, I want to share a few more valuable details about the Enneagram 7. A seven can learn to be grounded in the present moment and is able to savor goodness with a grateful heart. They are able to go deep and talk about hard things, especially when it helps the other person. Now, for me personally, as a seven, I have found that becoming an Enneagram coach to be one of the most rewarding things that I've done, even though many of my sessions focus on tough topics. I find so much joy in learning my heavenly father's heart in the process of helping others and sitting a little longer in the grief. Also, sevens do tend to be extroverts, but a lot of them do like being alone sometimes. A seven may find that when they're alone, they're able to run their thoughts without any constraints, i.e., freedom. You may even find an Enneagram seven to be 100% content, to stay put, and to be someone who relishes privacy. And just like I mentioned at the beginning, not all sevens might be the party animal that you envision. Remember, the Enneagram amplifies the light, and life in Christ provides the key to freedom. Next week I'm going to be back with an episode all about the Enneagram 8 as we wrap up this Enneagram series. And to give you a little teaser, I have a special summer series in the works to take with you as you travel, sit by the pool, or mow the grass. So much goodness ahead. Until next time, friend, continue to pursue God's perspective, purpose, and plans for your wholehearted life.