ENNEAGRAM 2: The Helper
CELEBRITY MATCH: Jennifer Garner, Maya Angelou
SELF TALK: “How can I help? Other people’s needs are more important than mine.”
TRAVEL SUPERPOWER: Making everyone feel welcome, inspiring connections, prioritizing presence over productivity.
FAVORITE READ: The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Enneagram Type 2, known as The Helper or The Giver, is warm, generous, and deeply attuned to the needs of others. Super connectors and loyal friends, twos are motivated by a desire to feel loved and valued, often expressing this through acts of service, support, and emotional connection. They take pride in being needed and are quick to offer care and encouragement, often putting others' needs before their own. At their best, 2s are unselfish, nurturing, and truly altruistic; at their worst, they can become people-pleasing, overly dependent on others’ approval, and resentful if their efforts go unrecognized. Their core fear is being unwanted or unloved, and their core desire is to feel loved and appreciated for who they are.
TYPE 2 IN A RELATIONSHIP
Optimistic, warm and loving. They will go out of their way to make their partners feel loved and are generous with praise and affection. They value communication and want to ensure their partner is thinking about them even if they are not around. Type 2s will often exert a lot of energy keeping a relationship afloat, the work for the 2 is to ensure they are setting boundaries, saying no and speaking from an authentic place.
DREAM VACATION
A girls trip to a fun and stylish location. Prep the cocktails, throw on an upbeat playlist and have space for meaningful conversation and the 2 is on cloud nine!
SHADOW SIDE
GROWTH
AT YOUR DESK
Your desk is a place for love and beauty. Framed photographs, mementos and a monogrammed journal to jot down your innermost thoughts.
You are so focused on others you can forget about your own needs, pushing your desires to the side in order to make everyone happy. Getting clear about your motivation is the key to preventing burnout or falling into the “give to get” trap. Some might say that over focusing on others is a defense mechanism, rooted in the avoidance of self, you are helping others you do not need to examine your own behavior, purpose or path forward. Resist always being the “yes” person and find joy in the art of delegation!
The work for the Enneagram Type 2 is to examine their own desires and learn to ask for what they need without blame or judgment. Make setting boundaries a daily to-do and resist the urge to volunteer to throw your fifth baby shower of the year or drive home your co-worker for the 10th day in a row. Be open to moving from your heart center to a more logical or action oriented approach when it comes to decision making or solving problems. Move away from co-dependency and practice the art of not being liked. It’s a tough one, type 2, but at the end of day we can’t be everyone’s cup of tea, do not judge your worth on external factors, unwavering confidence and self love must come from within.
Type 2 at Work…
There is not one type of career best suited for a Type 2 but they do excel in team environments, leadership and being with community. If you are an Enneagram 2 and entrepreneur, ensure that you can do meetups at a co-working space or have plenty of after work social activities to keep you fulfilled. A Type 2 does not like to work in a silo, they love supporting the team and ensuring that every new employee is welcome with open arms. Enneagram 2s ensure stakeholders are kept happy, that the team isn thriving and the vibe is upbeat. The watch out for the 2 at work is to ensure they block time to get their own work done (instead of helping others), if not, they are at risk for burnout and resentment.
Leadership Style
Connected, appreciative, warm, thoughtful and strategic