Nine Ways of Relating in Life – Type Five

Are you drawn into understanding why the world works as it does, curious to figure out why things are as they are – whether it be the cosmos, the animal, plant or mineral kingdom or the inner world of your imagination? Are you always searching, asking questions and delving into things in depth? If these questions resonate with you, then follow along to learn more about the drive of the Enneagram Type Five and how that can play out in our lives.

Remember that we all have a bit of every type in us so it is valuable to explore how each type fits into our own way of being.

Type Five can be called the Investigator, The Thinker, The Innovator, The Observer, The Specialist or The Expert.  Knowledge, understanding and insight are highly valued by Fives and they are constantly on a journey of learning.  “A day without learning is like a day without sunshine.”  They prefer to learn through reading and observing rather than participating right away. A type Five’s attention is drawn to the unusual, the overlooked, secretive, the occult, the bizarre or otherwise unknown territory where they can carve out a niche of expertise! To have a degree of expertise will allow them to feel capable and connected with the world which they otherwise feel deep insecurities about their ability to function successfully in. They dislike things that distract their focus and enjoy private time regularly to just be with their thoughts and ideas. Our Fives are minimalists and don’t have a lot of stuff – but what they do have is valued highly so “Don’t touch my stuff!” All this talk about thinking – where’s the feeling? Well, Five’s definitely have feelings as we all do, they just keep them compartmentalized because feelings can’t be trusted…only the mind can! One of my type five friends once shared her favourite children’s rhyme at a workshop and I am sure you’ll get the connection.

A wise old owl sat in an oak,
The more he heard, the less he spoke,
The less he spoke, the more he heard,
Why aren’t we all like that wise ole bird?

Fives at their best in a relationship are kind, perceptive, open-minded, self-sufficient and trustworthy.  Fives at their worst in a relationship are contentious, suspicious, withdrawn and negative.  They are on their guard against being engulfed.

Practical suggestions for Type Five:

• Get in touch with your body by taking up a sport or creative activity.
• Go for a walk with your family or friends instead of going alone.
• Buy a watch that beeps the hours and so bring your mind into the present each time it does so. Value being in the present.
• Notice when you are trying to impress people with your knowledge.
• When the urge to withdraw occurs when someone is emoting, stand your ground and drop your breathing to your belly.
• Go for counseling or body work to learn to express your feelings.
• Let others know when they are important to you.
• When you feel the tendency to give to others, go ahead and do it.
• Ask for what you want, including the setting of limits.

Tim Burton, Charles Darwin, David Lynch, Sinead O’Connor, Bill Gates, Stephen King, Glenn Gould, Vincent Van Gogh, Amelia Earhart, Howard Hughes, The Buddha, Alfred Hitchcock, Warren Buffet, Vladimir Lenin, Mark Zuckerburg

Do you relate to a Type 5? I love getting feedback! Here on my blog, you’ll get commentluv. This is a plug-in that allows you to leave a link back to your own blog when you leave feedback. But, you don’t have to be a blogger to leave a comment. I’d love to hear from everyone.

Until next time,

Karen