Reader,
I have been feeling battered by the sheer volume of "January being January." You too?
What you will find in this email:
- Why this Enneagram Three is saying "no" to a yearly goal.
- The List: Which "god" is stealing your time (based on your type)?
- Three Questions: To help you set your intention for 2026.
- An Invitation: A free 30-minute session to unpack your answers.
The hype and hope of a New Year were quickly shattered by the news. I don't need to tell you our world is broken.
And the cultural script continues to say we aren’t doing enough. Or we are doing too much. Or saying too much. Or not saying enough. We're not enough. Or we're too much. Too weak, too strong. Too people-pleasing, too not-empathetic. You get it.
It’s exhausting.
What pains me is how quickly those thoughts internalize—and there is actually a reason for that. I recently learned that negative thoughts are internalized within 3 seconds, while positive thoughts require 60-90 seconds of intentional focus to sink in. That’s shocking.
No wonder it’s so easy to find myself looking at my own life—my business, my habits, my home—with an "I'm not doing enough!" eye. I start making lists not out of hope, but, if I’m being honest, as an Enneagram Three, out of fear. The fear of what people think of me, and the fear that I am not doing enough.
So when I tried and sit down this month and write out what I once thrived on... yearly goals?
Everything in me says, "I have nothing in me to give to this."
Putting down my "striving, hustling, getting stuff done" self... laying it down to say no to it? When I take a deep breath and read that back, it says to me: "It’s not unhealthy. It’s surrendered to God."
So, I am asking myself a new question: “What is worthy of my time this year?”
For me, what is worthy is family, friends, time in the coaching room exploring your stories, and the work I do with Illuminate. There is no goal sheet for that. It now feels like trusting God will guide me and my journey.
We all have a specific "god" that creates a false sense of urgency. These idols scream for our attention, making it impossible to hear the question: What is actually worthy of my time?
I wrote these out to remind myself (and you) what we need to surrender so we can evaluate where our attention goes.
Type 1: The god of correctness
The Demand: You must fix what is broken.
The Surrender: I surrender my need to be the judge. Only God is truly perfect, and He is redeeming the world in His time.
Type 2: The god of indispensability
The Demand: You must be needed to be loved.
The Surrender: I surrender my need to be essential. He is the Provider, not me.
Type 3: The god of 'getting stuff done'
The Demand: You must be capable to exist.
The Surrender: I surrender my need to do it all. I have nothing to prove because I am already fully approved by Him.
Type 4: The god of significance
The Demand: You must never be ordinary.
The Surrender: I surrender my need to be special. Being His child is the only significance I need.
Type 5: The god of competence
The Demand: You must know enough to be safe.
The Surrender: I surrender my need to understand everything. I am safe because I am held by the One who knows it all.
Type 6: The god of certainty
The Demand: You must predict every outcome to be safe.
The Surrender: I surrender my need to control the future. He is my security, and He holds tomorrow in His hands.
Type 7: The god of "what's next?"
The Demand: You must always have a trap door to a better option.
The Surrender: I surrender my need to run to the next thing. He is enough for me, right here in the quiet.
Type 8: The god of strength
The Demand: You must never be vulnerable.
The Surrender: I surrender my need to be invincible. He is my Defender and my Strong Tower.
Type 9: The god of comfort
The Demand: You must never rock the boat.The Surrender: I surrender my need to hide. My presence matters because He placed me here.
If reading your Enneagram type above stung a little, you are in the right spot. Here are a few additional questions you may want to sit with this week.
- Which "god" has been demanding the most of your attention this January?
- What would it feel like to surrender that specific demand to the One who is actually in control?
- What is truly worthy of your time this year?
If you spend time with these questions, I would love to come alongside you and unpack them further. A free 30-minute space for us to review what came up for you in your reflection and clear the noise so you can focus on what is truly important.
This is also the purpose of the new Enneagram Deepening Year. (use code PAOSIDNF for 25% off) It’s a monthly, in-depth exploration of the Enneagram layers, using specific coaching tools. The year begins with a Life Inventory to help you clarify who you want to show up as—no matter what the circumstances are this year.
(If you have specific questions about the Enneagram Deepening Year, here is a link to read more, use code PAOSIDNF for 25% off.) or feel free to send a reply to this email or grab a time on my calendar above.)
Lord, help us quiet the noise of the idols we have built. May we set our hearts toward You—the only One truly worthy of our time, our attention, and our worship.
|
|
Linda Hannigan
Your Guide to the Enneagram
Coaching for clarity. Space for change. Support for lasting growth.
Certified Enneagram Coach | Credentialed Life & Leadership Coach | BTH, CPLC, PCC
|
