Beth McCord - The Enneagram Type 8: The Protective Challenger

Steamroller, bulldozer, intense and intimidating are just a few of the words that have been used to describe me throughout my life. But the funny thing is, I never understood why. What I know now is that I am an Enneagram 8.

From an emotional wound I received when I was eight years old, I learned very quickly that I couldnt trust anyone. I learned to cope in my world by controlling my environment and avoiding helplessness at all costs. My motto in high school and college was: carry cash, always drive, and dont trust anyone.

The truth is, I was hard. Very hard.

And as you can imagine, this life strategy came with a wide range of problems. Thats why Im so glad I heard about the Enneagram a few years ago. As Ive learned about my personality style, Ive been able to know where to grow. I can understand why I do what I do, and I can understand others at a deeper level as well. Yes, I am a classic, textbook Enneagram 8 with a 7 wing, and although 8s tend to have a reputation for being terrifying, Im actually really proud to be an 8. Im proud to be someone who stands up for others, speaks up, and gets things done.

But as with any personality style, I also have some major flawsflaws that not only harm my relationships, but also keep me from the one true calling I have on this earth: to become more like Jesus.

For example, just a couple of years ago, God took me through a wilderness season where I was being wronged at every turn. Week after week and month after month, I was being taken advantage of, falsely accused, and humiliated. Everything in me was screaming at the injustice of it all.

Finally, one day I cried out to God and said, God, what are you doing? Do you even see whats happening?

Immediately, I felt the most gentle whisper in my spirit respond and say, Christy, I know that you can stand up and speak up, but can you sit down and take it? I know that you can fight, but can you turn the other cheek?

The truth is, I couldnt. There were some virtues of being a Christ-follower that came very naturally to me, but there were many that didntand still dont, to be honest. Things like patience, gentleness, forgiveness, and trust to name just a few. As you can imagine, God has done some work in me. He began really softening my heart in college and through different seasons and life stages, and He has continued to peel away layers of pride and anger that I didnt even realize I had.

Thats why Im so thankful for Beth McCords writing. While the Enneagram has helped me understand where to grow, Beth McCord has helped me understand how to grow. And much more than that, shes taken the tool of the Enneagram and applied it through the lens of Scripture. Everything youll read in this book will not only help you understand yourself so that you can become who you were created to be, it will also help you grow a deeper relationship with your Creator.

This work wont necessarily be easy, but growth and transformation rarely are. But I promise you this: if youre willing to do the work, it will have an impact on your life, your relationships, and believe it or not, a ripple effect to our entire world in ways you dont even realize right now.

Im so proud of you for taking this brave step, and I cant wait to see what God is going to do in youand through youbecause of it.

Let your light shine...

MATTHEW 5:16

Christy Wright, #1 National Bestselling Author, Inspiring Speaker, and Certied BusinessCoach