The Enneagram for TeensSample

Type Seven: The Adventurer

Type Sevens are known as the Enthusiast, the Adventurer, or the Optimist. Think of a human exclamation point. Yep, that’s your Seven friend. They are known as the life of the party who always sees the silver lining in every situation. Enthusiasm runs through their veins, and extrovert could be their middle name. They are in awe of the world around them, seeing endless opportunities, which is such a gift to have!

They are often risk-takers who don’t feel plans are entirely necessary. “Who needs to plan in advance? Where’s the excitement in that?” they may ask. Sometimes I have trouble wrapping my mind around this, but even with all the risks a Seven takes, somehow it usually works out for them.

Many people wish they were a type Seven, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, contrary to what they may display. Sevens are so focused on joy and happiness because they have a true fear of missing out and are uncomfortable facing or discussing serious situations or feelings. They often avoid painful feelings by putting them away in a cabinet and focusing on the good, which can cause the situation to get even worse. They can fear commitment, whether it’s to a person or to a plan, which can create a shaky trust with those around them or depending on them. There is a constant fear in the back of their mind that something better could come up and they would miss out.

The Seven’s core fear is being in pain emotionally or being deprived. The desire to cover up pain by doing fun, distracting things and their fear they’ll miss out on something better if they do fully commit to a plan is a tricky tension to navigate, so they may over or under commit, trying to figure out the most exciting way to spend their time.

The Seven’s wounding childhood message is “Don’t pay attention to any negative emotions” or “It’s not okay to depend on anyone emotionally.” This message was likely directly from a situation where their emotions seemed neglected by someone they trusted, which caused them to neglect their own emotions. As a result, Sevens are always bouncing around from activity to activity, always on the search for the emotional fulfillment that nothing on earth can offer.

Their core desire is to be content and satisfied. Being present and grounded really helps fulfill this desire in type Sevens, but it takes practice to recognize the satisfaction it brings. Being where their feet are isn’t easy for them, but when they master it, it’s incredibly enriching. They crave stimulating experiences, so they don’t limit themselves in life.

When it comes to faith for a Seven, they may fall into a pattern of relying on experiences for satisfaction instead of the Lord. That’s because their insatiable desire for fun and adventure can lead them to emptiness as they search for the satisfaction only Christ can fulfill. The emotions that are required to face our human nature can also cause an Enneagram Seven to struggle, since they want to avoid addressing heavy feelings. However, when we can face our negative emotions and bring them to the Lord, we can move forward with a peace that only confidence in him can bring. Resting in God’s presence brings true contentment and joy, exactly what a Seven is searching for. The sadness and despair Sevens avoid can be easier to navigate when they tap into their faith and trust God to help them work through it. The Lord wants the Enneagram Seven to know that a relationship with him is full of adventure.

Are you a type Seven? Before we move on to the next type, there’s one thing I want you to know. The God of the universe has your life in his hands and is taking care of all of your needs. You can rest in his arms for contentment, knowing he is providing for you in the mundane and in the adventure. Walk in confidence, dear Seven, that you can find contentment in the Lord.