Enneagram 7 & Wings (A Complete Guide)

This article will look at both of the wings of the type 7 enneagram and introduce them and highlight their fears and desires. The article will also talk about the type 7 enneagram in detail.

The Enneagram 7 & Wings: The Opportunist & The Pathfinder

Enneagram 7 wings include the type 7w6 enneagram and the type 7w8 enneagram which are known as the ‘Pathfinder’ and the ‘Opportunist’ respectively. We will look at the following aspects of both enneagram wings:

• Fears & Desires
• Basic Traits
• Workplace Practices

Before we look at the wings of the type 7 enneagram in detail, we will introduce the type 7 enneagram to the readers in detail.

Enneagram Type 7: The Enthusiast

These individuals are versatile and spontaneous! They have a lot of energy in them and they like to be in high spirits! However, by continuously working themselves out, they can get tired and become exhausted and hence lose focus. They will become distracted and lose track of the goal they had in mind. It is obvious then that they have problems with impulsiveness and impatience.

Overall, these individuals are joyful and cheerful and that is what they emanate when they are around others. At their best, they want to focus on worthy goals that use their talents and strengths.

These enneagrams have been called enthusiasts because of the energy with which they approach the things in life that catch their eyes! They are like children who have a lot of energy, optimism and curiosity about the things that seem interesting to them. Furthermore, they are intelligent not in the sense of academics but in a way that they can process a lot of information and hence brainstorm in an effective manner. 

However, their ability to read and process much information and hence learn new skills can sometimes confuse them about what they are actually meant to do in life!

Basic Fear

The basic fear of this enneagram type is to be in pain. They absolutely hate pain and they do not want to be deprived in any manner. They will avoid situations where they might get hurt emotionally or physically because they do not want to deal with the experience or feeling of pain. However, because of this fear, they often miss out on worthwhile experiences.

If you’re facing this, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional. You can find a therapist at BetterHelp who can help you learn how to cope and address it.

However their fear of missing out does encourage them to take up routines that are not too structured and allow for last minute plans. They may even be unable to focus much on the task at hand because they are looking for a more interesting experience – one that will make them let go of what they are doing and scramble outside for some fun!

Basic Desire

To be satisfied and fulfilled or content is the desire of this enneagram type 7. They want to feel complete and whole so that they do not have to rely on anyone else for their needs. It is also linked to their fear of being in pain and deprived. Hence, they strive to fulfill their needs in an independent manner and wish to be in a state that renders them safe.

At the same time, they do not want to miss out on joyful, stimulating and awesome experiences from life! They want to be part of the fun and seek excitement and joy from what they are doing. They want to feel happy and this leads them to oftentime justify or rationalize their negative feelings in a way that they are responsible for how they feel – even if it isn’t their own fault!

The Pathfinder – The 7w6 Enneagram

Extremely enthusiastic individuals with a lot of energy, the type 7w6 enneagram is made up of traits mostly from the type 7 enneagram but also shares some with the type 6 enneagram. These individuals love looking forward to interesting and exciting experiences with a lot of excitement and of course enthusiasm – they never want to miss out on the fun! 

Having such a personality also necessitates that they be adventurous. These individuals love to venture into new experiences or opportunities and explore. They will try out new things just for the sake of it and possibly take a lot of risk too if required. The type 7w6 enneagram thus has an explorative trait that allows them to look for and grasp opportunities that they can experience or try out because one of the things that motivates these individuals the most is being a part of experiences.

Regardless of all the fun and exploring, the type 7w6 enneagram is very responsible and they like getting things done on time. They prefer to follow their own schedules but meet deadlines, complete tasks or fulfill commitments as agreed beforehand with another party – in their own way. This is one trait that allows them to successfully pursue relations with others. Being someone who fulfills their word puts them at a great edge in relationships – especially work or intimate ones.

This enneagram type is full of happiness and optimism – they like to see the bright side in things. Because of this reason, the Pathfinder is able to come across a lot of opportunities and benefit from them unlike those individuals who might see the bad side in things and hence not expect or look for the golden opportunities that are usually hidden in the dark. This is something that keeps this enneagram type lively and happy as well as a source or beacon of hope for others. They uplift people with their positive attitude and this helps them become someone who has a good rather than bad effect on others.

The Prominent Traits – Pathfinders

In this section we will take a look at how these enneagram types behave or think in various areas of life.

The Fear of the Pathfinder

One of the fears this enneagram type has is that they will miss out on great opportunities. They want to have the most in life and believe that one should grasp all the opportunities that come to them. However, one problem they don’t realize is that a lot of opportunities may come to them and they take too much on themselves!

The Desire of the 7w6 Enneagram

The most strong desire this enneagram has is that to feel happy and content. They want to experience what life has to offer and this is why they are so quick when it comes to grabbing the opportunities that pass by in front of them! This is most apparent when they express a lot of happiness even in the small things of life that they want to give recognition too – the things that people often overlook or disregard!

Relationships

This enneagram performs well in relationships, especially ones that are intimate. They are sensitive to the feelings of others and also cooperate with others in tough or distressing situations. The pathfinder is open to difficult discussions and doesn’t avoid them. They are thoughtful and consider the effects of their actions and words on others.

Workplace Practices

What describes these individuals at the workplace is their preference for much interaction and fun experiences or events even at the workplace! They like to talk and socialize with their coworkers – meeting new people is always a bonus even if it’s for the purpose of business. The enneagram is happy when they have a number of options and can learn new things.

The 7w8 Enneagram: The Opportunist

The 7w8 enneagram that is also known as the ‘Opportunist’ is one that is mostly made up of traits from the type 7 enneagram but shares some traits with the type 8 enneagram too. Compared to most type 7 enneagrams, these individuals are more committed and hard working in their work going the extra mile. They like to put work first and ensure they have completed their tasks or assignments. This is powered by the innate determination they have to get done with whatever they have promised to get done. The 7w8 enneagram is also more tough in their behavior and a bit protective – they like to remain composed.

At the same time they are very enthusiastic individuals. They like to be energetic in whatever they do rather than take a sluggish or half hearted approach in what they do. They are keen to get things done and take an interest in whatever is on their schedule that needs attention.

Like other enneagrams, these ones also like to seek new opportunities and make the best out of them. They are gratification seekers and don’t want to miss out on any experiences that they come across. At the same time, they have a very optimistic attitude about life and like to be happy! 

They have an extroverted trait to them as well. The type 7w8 enneagram is fond of being around other people and loves to interact, socialize and have fun. They like to attend public events or gatherings where they can meet new people, relax and just enjoy the moment and live in it. Hence, these people are great to call to parties or gatherings because they keep things alive and going and don’t let anyone feel left out or bored – they are the life of the party!

The Prominent Traits – Opportunities

In this section we will take a look at how these enneagram types behave or think in various areas of life.

The Fear of Opportunists

Although they want to be committed and come out as reliable people others can depend on because they ensure they meet tasks, this enneagram is scared of missing out on new experiences. They do not want to be deprived of what life has to offer them and this puts them in a difficult spot. Why? They have a number of commitments and work tasks to meet so it is not always possible to let go of things and do what they want when they want to.

The Basic Desire – Type 7w8 Enneagrams

These guys just want to be happy and content. They want to be assured that they have not missed out on anything that they wanted to try. Being happy is an integral part of their peace and they do usually attain this by surrounding themselves with people that they get along with, like or are new and can thus get to learn more about them. They like to travel around the world and be part of new cultural or social experiences and see how things are different in other parts of the world.

Relationships

This enneagram also does fairly well in relationships. They like to remain positive and do speak up with regards to their feelings especially when it comes to intimate relationships. They also remain calm in tense situations however they have the habit of justifying negative behaviours from others and this increases their chances of falling into an abusive relationship. 

Workplace Practices

Yes, this enneagram likes being at the centre of attention. This allows them to make sure they don’t miss out on anything going on at work and also they get to interact with everyone at the office! They love achieving the goals they have set for themselves or even management set them! Hence, it is important that management exercises the concept of SMART goals which are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound. 

Type 7w8 enneagrams do not like strict schedules, especially ones that are set by others. They want to create their own routines that are flexible enough to allow them to navigate through their work in a comfortable manner and also put things at a pause in case needed.

Conclusion

This article covered the two wings of the type 7 enneagram which include the 7w6 and 7w8 enneagrams. It not only introduced the type 7 enneagram but also introduced the prominent traits and behaviours of its wings.

References

https://www.crystalknows.com/enneagram/type-7/wing-8

https://personalitypath.com/enneagram/wings/enneagram-7w6-7w8/