2’s Core Motivation – I am striving to:

• Feel connected, loved and needed

I focus my attention on:

• People and my relationships
• Meeting the needs of others, helping others
• Being generous, kind and thoughtful

I avoid:

• Disappointing or upsetting people

Typical characteristics and strengths:

• Loving, nurturing, caring
• Helpful, generous
• Empathetic, sensitive
• Supportive, understanding
• Insightful
• Considerate, kind, friendly
• Rapport builders
• Positive, optimistic
• Joyful
• Value relationships and human connections

Typical challenges or blindspots:

• Overly helpful, doting, giving
• Easily overextended by doing for others
• Have trouble saying no
• Suppress or unaware of own needs
• Flattering, disingenuous, people-pleasing
• Indirect, misleading, deceitful
• Manipulative, give-to-get behavior
• Make myself indispensable (make others dependent on me)
• Different selves to different people
• Prideful

Typical patterns and behaviors:

• I enjoy connecting with people. Relationships are of the utmost importance. I focus a lot of time and attention on people, my connections and my relationships.
• I am often the life of the party. I plan events and celebrations. I love entertaining, feeding and nurturing others. I endeavor to make sure others are happy and thriving.
• I have good instincts. I often am aware of how others are feeling and know what they need before they do.
• Sometimes I overdo my caretaking and exhaust myself. Because I prioritize others, I tend to neglect myself.
• I can become overly involved and intrude in other people’s lives.
• I get angry and resentful when I feel underappreciated, under-valued or taken for granted.
• I get sad and depressed when those closest to me are unkind, cold or insensitive.

Considering your wings and arrows may help clarify nuances of your type.

• 2’s Wings: 1 and 3. Most of us “lean” more toward one of our two wings, sharing some behaviors with that type.
• Growth Arrow: 4. 2’s “move” toward 4 adopting 4ish behaviors and patterns for growth and development.
• Stress Arrow: 8. Where 2’s may go when they are experiencing acute stress or difficulty. Here we see the 2 demonstrate “low-side” or unhealthy type 8 behaviors.

Not sure what Enneagram type you are? Please contact me to learn more about Enneagram typing.