Are your wings helping you or hurting you? - Type Two

In this episode, Kelsey Taylor interviews Enneagram Twos, Jon, and Sarah Storey on their wings. In the context of the Enneagram, your wings are the two numbers directly adjacent to your primary Type. For example, Enneagram Twos have a One wing and a Three wing.

You always have two wings. Think of your wings like the wings of a bird. Your primary type is the body, and your wings are on either side. You may have two enormous wings, two tiny wings, or even one big wing and one small wing.

The 2w1 is known as the Servant, and this merger is often in conflict with each other. 

The Two likes to maintain a positive approach to life, especially friendships while the One is passionate about correcting errors which comes across as constant negativity to others. 

When healthy they focus on improving the lives of others by meeting their needs, caring for them, and helping them see what is right and good. They have a strong sense of responsibility and they serve behind the senses.  

When they are not healthy, they struggle with immense guilt and shame for not having the capacity to meet everyone’s needs. They’re hyper-aware of the “unfairness” in how much they help others and how little others help them in return. 

Twos need their One wing to establish boundaries and prioritize. The One influences the Two to come to believe and trust that it is not good to burn out meeting the needs of others and that Twos can be most effective when they set boundaries around who they can help and when they can help.

The 2w3  is known as the Host/Hostess and these two blend really well together. Both Types belong to the Heart Triad - which we will learn about more in the next Module- that essentially means they both take in information using their emotions,  the both desire significance and they both want to be liked by others. 

When healthy, these Twos are affirming, self-assured and willing to use their many talents for the benefit of others. They maintain strong connections with their relationships and they are able to accomplish many things.

When they are not healthy they become very competitive with their relationships, wanting to be the best and favored boss/employee, friend, or family member. Their “giving” becomes a way to manipulate others into liking them or owing them a favor. 

Two need their Three wing to establish a healthy self-assurance and confidence.  The Three wing helps Twos go after their own goals and desires, instead of putting them on the back burner to help other people reach their goals and desires.