Often our best development has us doing something that would not ordinarily occur to us to do. Here are 3 counter-intuitive development ideas for each Enneagram type.

Ones
Laugh at yourself.
Make a purposeful mistake.
Tell your inner-critic that you appreciate the way it watches out for you.

Twos
Do something nice for yourself that costs no money.
Buy yourself a card of appreciation, write yourself a message, and sign it.
Behave as if you have no audience watching you.

Threes
Give yourself one hour where you do nothing but reflect on your feelings.
Ask 3 people what being means, as opposed to doing?
Break a few social rules and enjoy the freedom.

Fours
Examine the deeper feelings underneath your feelings; you’ll be surprised!
When you feel a lot of emotions stirring, let them move around inside you, then go for a walk and let them go.
For 1 hour, don’t use the words I, me, or mine.

Fives
Read a completely non-serious book.
Tell someone one of your secrets.
Show your feelings on your face instead of keeping them inside. Practice in front of the mirror.

Sixes
Sing yourself a happy song inside your head.
Give yourself permission to feel your anger, then explore what is creating this in you. Permission is the gift you can give yourself.
Remind yourself that just because someone asks you a question, you are not required to answer it. You can always say, I prefer not to talk about it at this time.

Sevens
Do you think you actually work for someone else?
Can you talk without using your hands? Hmmmm. What happens?
Think of the biggest excuse you’ve ever given that you knew wasn’t exactly true.

Eights
Get at least 8 hours sleep every night.
Don’t feel like you have to be the one who pays for everything.
Don’t feel you always have to have an answer. Sometimes there are none.

Nines
Instead of asking others what they think, tell them first exactly what you think.
Admit to yourself that you want to be noticed.
Tell yourself: It’s OK, even good, to be ambitious.

Ginger Lapid-Bogda PhD, the author of six best-selling Enneagram-business books, is a speaker, consultant, trainer, and coach. She provides certification programs for professionals around the world who want to bring the Enneagram into organizations with high-impact business applications, and is past-president of the International Enneagram Association. Visit her website: TheEnneagramInBusiness.com. ginger@theenneagraminbusiness.com