7 Struggles of the Enneagram Seven Type

Fun-loving and charming, Sevens are the types you might look at and think, “They don’t have a care in the world!” But as we all know, there’s a lot more to someone than immediately meets the eye. The curious, imaginative nature of the Seven can often hide inner turmoil and anxiety that would shock the people who know them. Today we’re going to take a look at the Seven’s struggles, plus gives some strategies for dealing with those struggles!

Not sure what your enneatype is? Take our new questionnaire here!

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Enneagram Seven Struggles

#1 – You Have So Many Ideas and So Little Time

As a Seven, your mind is buzzing with ideas on a near-constant basis. When you start doing one activity you might suddenly remember a dozen other activities you COULD be doing. Regardless of how much focus or determination you have, there’s always a sense that you’re missing out on the multitude of ideas your mind is constantly generating.

#2 – Being a Jack-of-all-Trades (and Master of None)

This struggle will apply specifically to average and unhealthy Sevens for the most part. Most Sevens like to dabble in a variety of activities, professions, and interests, rather than sticking with one thing. Ceaselessly curious, they haven’t settled long in one pasture before they see a greener one in another field! This can be a good thing, because the sheer variety of their knowledge can make them useful in dozens of situations. However, they can also miss out on the rewards of having one specialization.

#3 – Feeling Trapped Easily

Freedom is one of the core desires of your enneatype. The world is a boundless treasure trove of activities and experiences, so commitments can make you feel like a bird trapped in a cage. While you crave loyal relationships, things like marriage, family commitments, or work contracts can all give you a sense of anxiety and restlessness.

#4 – Living Impulsively and Paying the Price Later

Average Sevens consider themselves fun-loving and free-spirited. They are usually impulsive and often make split-second decisions as a way of getting immediate satisfaction. Unfortunately, these impulsive decisions often result in heartache later. As an example, a Seven might decide to leave work early and hop on a plane to Vegas, only to suffer financial and career-related consequences later.

# 5 – Burnout

As a Seven, you have an active, restless mind. You like to stay in motion, trying new things, and experiencing new possibilities all the time. Unfortunately, staying in motion can mean that you suppress guilt and anxiety by seeking out distracting activities. Especially during stress-filled moments, you may inadvertently hurt the people who mean the most to you. You worry that by sitting still and quieting your mind that you’ll experience the full weight of your anxiety and anguish. If you’re at a healthy, mature level, you may see this as something you’ve overcome and more of a childhood issue. However, Sevens who are continually escaping their anxiety often feel mentally burned out and exhausted from chasing distractions.

Related: The Enneagram 7 Child

#6 – Always Being Expected to be the “Entertainer”

As a Seven, people are often drawn to your charisma, humor, and sense of adventure. You know how to re-frame negative situations into something positive. You know how to see exciting opportunities. You love fun and possibility. People love all these traits, and so it’s usually easy for you to find friends. But sometimes the level of friendship seems very shallow. When you’re having a bad day and acting out frustration, you might find that your “friends” are only there for the good times. Unfortunately, this may drive you to further distance yourself from your own frustration and pain.

#7 – Feeling Unfocused

Sometimes as a Seven you can feel so invaded by ideas that you’re unable to focus on the task at hand. You might leave dozens of partially-completed projects in your wake, and struggle to keep up with goals you desperately want to achieve. Sometimes in the frenetic pursuit of ideas and activities you can feel mentally foggy and out of control.

5 Ways for Sevens to Get Help with Their Struggles:

• Study your own boredom. How soon after you get bored do you look for distractions? What anxiety or grief lies under your boredom? What does it feel like in your body? What memories does it bring up? Sit with the pain and write down any revelations or thoughts that come to your mind. Doing this, even though it’s hard, can help you to re-prioritize your life and become aware of areas that need work.
• Take a moment to live fully in the present. What beautiful gift could life be handing you right now? What joy could you be missing in your anticipation for new things? Take a moment to breathe deeply and take in everything around you.
• When you’re feeling something negative, take time to process it completely. Don’t simply say, “I feel angry” or “I feel disappointed.” Take it further. Why are you feeling the things you are? How precise can you get with the emotion? Are you feeling cheated? Disappointed? Hopeless?
• Reach out to people you trust and walk through your emotions with them. Ideally, pick someone who shows patience and emotional intelligence. Having friends who let you deal with negative emotions and don’t expect you to be sunny all the time is crucial for your well-being.
• Meditation can be a really useful thing for you. Quieting down your mind, breathing deeply, and taking care of yourself spiritually – these are all effective ways to help you re-focus, avoid burnout, and make wiser decisions.

Want to Know More About Your Type? 

Check out this video for more fun facts about your type.

What Are Your Thoughts?

Do you have any suggestions or ideas for other Sevens? Let us know in the comments! You can also read more in the Enneagram Seven Type Profile.

Find out more about your personality type in our eBooks, Discovering You: Unlocking the Power of Personality Type,  The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!