Enneagram Type 2 - The Helper

Generally speaking, people who are Enneagram type 2 have a need to be loved and appreciated. Two's value relationships and therefore kindness, generosity and self-sacrifice are important to them. They strive to make the world a more loving place, mainly by offering support and attention to those they love.

Something to think about for the 2:

"People rely on me to help them. I have to earn the love and appreciation of others by being there for them. I am only valuable if I am loved and needed. I deserve love because I am loving."

The characteristics of the Enneagram type 2

In a few words :

• Warm: Connecting with Enemy Types 2 is fairly easy, thanks to their warm and generous nature. They anticipate the needs of others and are generally very friendly.
• People-centred: The importance they place on building relationships will have a positive impact on their ability to hold positions where dealing with customers and people is important.
• Self-sacrificing: In order to support and be there for others, Two's will put their own needs and feelings on the back burner. Although they are generally friendly and warm, they can be surprisingly angry when they feel that people are taking advantage of them or underestimating them.
• Empathy: Enneatype Twos have well-developed empathy and are easily able to sense the feelings and needs of others.
• Pride: Enneatype Twos enjoy being valuable and important to people or groups and feeling indispensable connects them to a sense of pride and self-esteem. This pride can be expressed in an exaggerated sense of importance, which can have an impact on interpersonal dynamics.
• Typical action patterns: Emotional centre in the enneagram (the heart). Enneatypes Two focus on the past moment and the main feeling that accompanies it is sadness, which in their case, is seen as that permanent need to be loved by others (or fear of being alone).

Blind spots :

1. Enneatypes Two may not be aware of the subconscious or hidden intention behind their generous, caring and supportive activities.
2. Being helpful may mask deeper motivations.
3. Two's can pay attention to people and then disengage quite quickly as soon as they lose interest in them.
4. The attention that Two's pay to others can prevent them from being constantly attentive to their own needs and desires.