Human Design, Enneagram & MBTI: How Three Maps Changed the Way I See Myself
I still remember the first time I stumbled across a personality test. It was the MBTI. I was a fresh-faced university student, feeling both excited and overwhelmed, and someone handed me a quiz that promised to tell me who I was. I filled in the bubbles, scored my results, and proudly announced to anyone who would listen: “I’m an ENFP!”
Back then, it felt like someone had finally handed me a mirror. Words I didn’t know how to string together suddenly gave language to the way I experienced life. My curiosity, my enthusiasm, even my tendency to jump from one idea to the next—it all made sense. MBTI showed me I wasn’t broken; I was wired differently.
But over time, I started to notice its limits. “ENFP” was a good starting point, but what about my patterns under stress? Or why certain habits seemed to run deeper than personality quirks? That’s when I met the Enneagram.
The Enneagram: Layers Beneath the Personality
I was at a leadership weekend retreat when someone introduced the Enneagram, describing it not as a personality type, but as a map of our core motivations and fears. Suddenly, it felt like someone had peeled back another layer of my inner world.
I discovered I was a Type 7—the Enthusiast. And it clicked. My love of adventure, my drive to explore new ideas, and my fear of being trapped or missing out weren’t just personality quirks; they were a blueprint for how I navigate life. The Enneagram showed me the shadows as well as the gifts: my tendency to avoid discomfort, my habit of scattering energy, and my incredible ability to bring joy and possibility to everything I do.
The Enneagram was less about who I was on the surface and more about why I did what I did. It wasn’t always comfortable, but it was deeply transformative.
Still, something in me craved an even more practical framework for everyday decision-making. That’s when Human Design entered the picture, although this was much later in life.
Human Design: A User Manual for My Energy
The first time someone explained Human Design to me, I’ll admit, I thought it sounded a little wild. Birth data? Energy types? Strategy and Authority? It felt like astrology had been mixed with personality typing and a dash of science fiction.
But then I had my chart read. And wow.
I learned I was a Manifesting Generator with Sacral Authority. Suddenly, my constant need to pivot, my dislike of rigid structures, my bursts of energy followed by crashes…it all made sense. Human Design didn’t just describe my tendencies; it gave me a roadmap for how to live in alignment.
It told me:
I don’t need to force decisions. My sacral “yes” or “no” will tell me what’s right.
I’m not here to do everything the “linear” way—I thrive when I allow myself to move fast, experiment, and follow what lights me up.
And most importantly, life flows when I trust my body’s signals instead of trying to “figure it all out” in my head.
Unlike MBTI or the Enneagram, Human Design felt less like a mirror and more like a user manual. It gave me tools for daily choices: what to say yes to, how to conserve energy, even how to approach work and relationships.
So, What’s the Difference?
Here’s how I like to describe them when people ask:
MBTI is like looking at the style of your car. Are you sporty, practical, adventurous, elegant? It’s about how your personality shows up in the world.
Enneagram is like looking under the hood. It reveals the engine driving you forward—your core motivations, fears, and desires.
Human Design is like the owner’s manual. It tells you how to drive the car in the way it was built to run—your energy flow, your decision-making process, and your natural strengths.
Each system has been a milestone in my journey. MBTI gave me language. The Enneagram gave me depth. Human Design gave me permission to live aligned.
Why I Use All Three
Today, I don’t see them as competing systems. Instead, I see them as different doorways into self-awareness.
If you want to understand your preferences and how you interact with the world, MBTI is a wonderful start.
If you want to dive into patterns and core fears that shape your growth, the Enneagram is powerful medicine.
If you’re craving a practical guide for daily alignment and energy management, Human Design offers something refreshingly actionable.
And the beauty is that you don’t have to choose. Like different friends, each system brings out something unique in you. Together, they create a fuller, richer picture of who you are and how you’re designed to thrive.
