Growing as an Enneagram Six: The GuardianSample

You’re Courageous

Dear Six, would you call yourself courageous?

Courage is considered the virtue of Sixes, both something they need and something that is a huge strength when they step up to the task at hand. It’s kind of like a secret talent. 

What is courage? It’s the ability to do something that frightens you, or strength in the face of pain or grief.

Courage isn’t often talked about when people mention Sixes, and I think this is a huge disservice to your type. Because, dear Six, there are probably many ways that you are walking in courage daily that you may fail to recognize because you’re being beaten over the head with everyone only talking about your anxiety. But your anxiety is not who you are. You are a child of God—forgiven, redeemed, and endlessly loved. And, my dear friend, you are courageous.

Sixes embody courage when they:

· Defend those they love

· Show up when they’d rather stay away

· Remain loyal even when things are rocky

· Choose to not give in to anxious thoughts

· Encourage even when they feel anything but encouraging

· Run toward the very thing that scares them

· Move forward when everything inside of them yells, “Stop!”

· Say the right words even when they know the conversation may end in conflict

· Do the hard work of grieving rather than trying to fix what they are feeling

· Are honest about the fear they feel

More than anything else, courage looks like trusting that God is in all these battles with you.

Sixes embody courage because every day, they have to choose to walk in truth instead of fear…and they do it without asking for applause or an award. They are dutiful even when it comes to conquering their own demons. They just do it.

Courage is not something you need to just pull up your bootstraps and do. In Philippians 4:13, we see that we can do all things, but only through the power and might of our Savior. God wants to help you stand up to fear, anxiety, bullies, injustice, and persecution. Overall, He wants you to live in obedience, trust, and faith instead of being paralyzed by fear.

God’s presence with us is the very reason God gives for us to be strong and courageous. He will never leave us alone on the battlefield.