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©2024 The Enneagram in BusinessThe Enneagram in Business Mini-Bookby Ginger Lapid-Bogda PhDFixationsHabits of Mind Melancholypartfour

In the Enneagram system, Fixations, or habits of mind, areconsidered the key mental patterns or compulsions thatcharacterize each of the nine personality types. These fixationsare essentially thought patterns that can lead to imbalances orchallenges in how individuals perceive themselves, others, andthe world. Understanding and addressing these fixations is acentral part of using the Enneagram for personal growth. Why is it important to recognize that all of us engage in thehabits of mind normally associated with specific Enneagramstyles? By studying all the Fixations, not just the one associatedwith our type, we can become aware of how that fixation maydistort our behavior and worldview, leading to many powerfulpaths for self-development. In part four of this nine book series, you’ll read how each of thenine Enneagram types engage in the Fixation of Melancholy.Melancholy: Thinking aboutwhat is missing, with theaccompanying thoughts ofbeing disconnected orseparated from others

Type fourWe typically associate Melancholy with Four,because it is the fixation or repeating mentalpattern for Enneagram Four.Here are just some ways in which Foursengage in thinking that leads to melancholy:Melancholy when envious: Thinking only about what theydon’t have, not what they do haveMelancholy when feeling inferior: Perceiving themselvesas fundamentally inferior to or less than other people – inother words, not good enoughMelancholy when experiencing negative thoughts:Recycling negative thoughts about themselves, otherpeople, and situationsHabits of Mind

Type fiveFives also engage in melancholy in multipleways, including:Melancholy when feeling depleted: Thinking that theyare depleted, drained of sufficient resources and life forceMelancholy when feeling an absence of deeprelationships: Believing that they don’t have truly deeprelationships like others seem to doMelancholy when feeling adrift: Perceiving themselves asislands adrift from the major continent of peoplemelancholy

Type sixSixes also engage in melancholy in multipleways, including:Melancholy over other’s lack of reliability: Believing thatno one can truly be counted on, so they are aloneMelancholy over thoughts of being abandoned: Thinkingthat others will leave them at some pointMelancholy about things going badly which could leadto isolation: Blaming themselves when things don’t go well,but also blaming others in ways that hurt these relationshipsand cause them to worry about being isolatedHabits of Mind

Type sevenSevens also engage in melancholy in multipleways, including:Melancholy about joy not leading to completeness:Wondering why, with all their joy, they don’t feel full insideMelancholy about feelings of emptiness: Thinking thatthere is a hole or an empty space inside them that theydon’t know what to do aboutMelancholy over pain: Thinking that even their mildfeelings of pain and suffering are catastrophic (primarilybecause they are so unused to them)melancholy

Type eightEights also engage in melancholy in multipleways, including:Melancholy over lack of support: Thinking that there isn’treally anyone who can or will support themMelancholy over failure to handle something: Believingthat they can handle everything, big and small, and whenthey can’t, thinking highly morose thoughtsMelancholy over suffering and abuse in the world:Thinking about the tremendous suffering and abuse in theworld, which they believe they should be able to stop fromhappeningHabits of Mind

Type nineNines also engage in melancholy in multipleways, including:Melancholy over mattering: Believing that they don’treally matterMelancholy over inability to stand up for themselves:Perceiving themselves as individuals who don’t seem ableto stand up for themselves like others can doMelancholy over potential impacts of anger: Thinkingthat they are going to lose everything and everyone if theyexpress their angermelancholy

Ones also engage in melancholy in multipleways, including:Melancholy about their mistakes: Thinking they are reallybad or without value because they have made a mistake ordone something they are not proud ofMelancholy about others’ mistakes: Believing thatanother person is really bad or without value because theyhave made a mistakeMelancholy about what is missing: Wondering aboutwhat is missing in their lives because something isimperfect, or didn’t live up to their expectationsHabits of Mind Type one

Twos also engage in melancholy in multipleways, including:Melancholy about lack of happiness: Wondering whythey are not happy when they do so many good things forothersMelancholy about lack of appreciation or beingvalued: Believing that no one really appreciates them orthat a specific person doesn’t value them, because theother person did something hurtfulMelancholy about quality of relationships: Wonderingwhy their relationships are troubled when they put so muchenergy and effort into theseType twomelancholy

Type threeThrees also engage in melancholy in multipleways, including:Melancholy about hidden inner doubts: Perceivingthemselves as fraudulent, that they are pretending to besomething that they are not (or not fully) and will get foundout Melancholy about failures: Believing they are totallywithout value when something they have attempted to dofails Melancholy when without goals and plans: Thinkingthat they are completely adrift and are nobodies when theyhave no goals and no plansHabits of Mind

ABOUT THE ENNEAGRAM IN BUSINESSEstablished in 2004 by Ginger Lapid-Bogda PhD, The Enneagram inBusiness offers excellent quality, state-of the-art products and services.Our vision is to help elevate consciousness globally using theEnneagram integrated with other innovative approaches; our mission isto provide an abundance of Enneagram-based resources for use aroundthe world. These include the following:» Nine Enneagram books, including several best sellers» Full-color Enneagram training tools, both in hard copy and virtual formats» Global Enneagram certification programs for consultants, trainers, andcoaches» Premier leadership development and team development offerings» Training, coaching and consulting services, both virtual and in-person» A comprehensive, interactive online Enneagram Learning Portal (ELP)» A global network of over 70 top-quality Enneagram professionals(EIBN)ENNEAGRAM BOOKS by Ginger-Lapid-BogdaBringing Out the Best in Yourself at WorkWhat Type of Leader Are You?Bringing Out the Best in Everyone You CoachThe Enneagram Development GuideConsulting with the EnneagramThe Enneagram Coloring BookThe Art of TypingThe Art of the Enneagram (co-authored with Russell Tres Bogda)Transform Your Team with the EnneagramTheEnneagramInBusiness.com | EnneagramLearningPortal.com |info@TheEnneagramInBusiness.com | 510.570.2971