Between the pandemic and the protests for racial equality, there’s a lot going on that can trigger different aspects of our personalities. This is a time when you might note the different Enneagram types within you – remember, we all have all nine types within us – and you may be experiencing multiple forms of reactivity. (See below for representative examples for each type.)

Channeling Anger

Most people tend to think of anger as a “negative” feeling. At Voyance, we think of it differently - as a powerful energy that can be channeled productively in three directions: truth, boundaries, and / or action.

Truth

Ask yourself – what is a truth I’m not speaking, and to whom do I need to speak it? Then find a time and a way to express it. Start with, “What’s true for me is…” Be careful not to express this as “THE truth is…” There’s a big difference between “my truth” and “THE truth.”

Other useful phrases include: “My experience of this is…” or “My opinion about this is…” Even better: “Here’s what’s going on for me about this…” This approach only works if you use it with the sincere intention to both understand the other and to be understood – not just if you’re insisting that the other person understand you.

Boundaries 

Ask yourself – what is a boundary I need to hold? This could be something like, “I’m not willing to have the grandparents see my children if they aren’t following the same care protocols we’re following to protect our health.” Or it could be, “I am no longer willing to be a member of an organization that tolerates discrimination.” 

To express and hold a boundary requires the ability to see where boundaries have been weak or have been transgressed, either because you haven’t stated what is acceptable to you, or because others haven’t respected boundaries you’ve set. The anger you feel about this can be directed into holding the boundary – not in a rageful way, but in a direct and firm way.

Action 

Ask yourself – what can I DO right now? What concrete action step can I take? How can I make a difference? Harnessing the energy behind your anger and channeling it into action will relieve feelings of frustration or powerlessness and empower you to do something about it.

The key to processing anger is first to recognize it (this is easier for some types than it is for others), express it, and then do something with it (truth/boundaries/action). If you think you aren’t holding any anger beneath the surface, dig a little deeper and practice radical self-honesty. As with many emotions, we’re socialized to repress this “unpleasant” emotion, which leads to compartmentalizing, acting out, or letting it out in a context unrelated to the original trigger. Anger is a powerful emotion that provides the energy for important conversations, realizations, and action. So this week, we encourage you to face your anger and become friends with it. What can you accomplish when you channel the energy behind it into something constructive?