June 2020 Good Reads: The Road Back to You

Grab your beverage of choice and settle in. It’s time for this month’s Good Reads spotlight: The Road Back to You! 

I have a confession to make…

I am a personality quiz junky. It’s true. My nerdy little heart finds immense joy in Myers-Briggs, Clifton Strengths, DISC, etc. Oh, and I’m not at all snobby about it. I’ll click on any ol’ Buzzfeed quiz that comes along, suddenly feeling a desperate need to know what fruit represents my personality (I’m a raspberry, by the way).

So imagine my pure delight when my therapist told me about another method of self-discovery. It’s called the Enneagram and I have been obsessed ever since. That brings us to this month’s Good Reads book: The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Susan Stabile. You can buy it from Amazon or any bookstore (affiliate link at the bottom of the page).

You have to read this book. It is full of wisdom and a fresh perspective. Now, the Enneagram is not new, it’s ancient, but Cron and Stabile repackage it in modern language that helps you peer deep into your own soul. 

Ennea…wha? 

In a nutshell, the Enneagram divides everyone into 9 types, each with strengths but also a fatal flaw. For example, I am a type 2 – The Helper. You are lucky to have me around because I will take care of you exceptionally well. If I know you’re visiting, I’ll have your favorite soda in the fridge and snack ready to serve. And yet I have to fight against the tendency to keep score, and feel neglected when others don’t do the same for me.

Don’t worry, they say it much better than I can since they’ve, like, studied it for decades. Let me just frame it this way: I have never felt so seen. First I got offended, then I made peace with it, and then I was able to incorporate it into my growth. It even helped me know how to speak more kindly to myself, which is an ongoing part of my practice.

Threat Level Midnight

Here’s the warning label – the Enneagram won’t stand there and let you hide behind it like a shy toddler. You can’t just shrug and say, “Well, this is just the way I am.” Instead, knowing your type specifically gives you an understanding of what an unhealthy versus healthy mental states looks like. You will be able to identify what behaviors reveal your inner struggles. The beauty inherent in this is that you will also identify what moves you, and how to channel that towards building a life of meaning. Powerful stuff. 

But wait, there’s more to this Good Read! 

If you prefer listening to reading, (hello past-time while folding laundry!) there is also a companion podcast of the same name. You can find it on your podcast app or for free online, just make sure to start with episode one. Cron and Stabile illustrate the 9 types through interviews with different guests. I 100% recommend that you dive right in. I had no idea what a gift I was unwrapping as I hit play on my way home from therapy that day. I’m jumping up and down excited for you to start this journey too!

What are you waiting for?

I’m jumping-up-and-down excited for you to read this month’s Good Reads selection and start this journey to better self knowledge. Be sure to come back and comment with your type once you figure it out. I can’t wait!

I am not a licensed therapist or mental health professional. If you are suffering and need treatment please seek the help of a professional. This post may contain affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.