The wing can be viewed as a person’s hidden side, and it must be considered when trying to get to know someone. As a person with Enneagram Type 2, you’ll have either a 1 or 3 wing, and it’s through looking at the unique combination of these two types that you can learn about your personality as a whole.
In this article, we’ll focus on Enneagram 2 Wing 3, their unique personality traits, motivations, and more. We’ll also make a quick comparison between 2w3 and 2w1. Let’s begin.
Key Characteristics
Below are the notable characteristics of Type 2w3.
Personality Traits
- Driven by their need to be successful.
- Put other people’s emotions ahead of their own, although still competitive.
- Want to be surrounded by powerful and successful individuals.
- Focus on the good side of things.
- Get the job done on time.
- Like to look attractive—they make sure to dress well and look good.
Motivations
Core Enneagram motivations are broken into two main groups – fears and desires. By understanding those two main groups, people can not only identify their type but also try to overcome harmful and self-destructing behaviors.
Fears
Fear is the main reason why we often act and do in a certain way. In Enneagram, fear is what drives us to seek certain things like attention, acknowledgement, love, solitude, and more.
- Enneagram 2w3s, fear loneliness. They want to be wanted and if they feel worthless, they might engage in harmful behaviors. The way they can control that fear is by building friendships and connections, as well as trying hard to please their community.
Desires
Desires and absolutely linked to fears. This shouldn’t come as a surprise because what we fear is actually the opposite of what we desire.
- Enneagram 2w3s want to be loved and accepted by their community. What they do to achieve that desire is they try to be attentive and often not share their true emotions and feelings. This is actually bad because suppressing negative emotions can lead to high levels of stress.
Strengths
- Genuinely care about others and want to motivate them to reach their full potential.
- Great team players.
- Adapt easily to different situations.
- Good sense of humor.
- Take pleasure in leading and inspiring others.
Weaknesses
- Tendency to be workaholics.
- Fixation on other people perceiving them as indispensable and having a good image.
- Selective with how they will help others.
- Inability to communicate their emotions in a healthy manner.
- Meet the needs of others to compensate for not attending to theirs.
Directions of Growth and Stress
When we talk about Enneagram growth and stress lines, we need to remember that moving a line away from your core type towards the arrow is a movement toward stress. Moving against the arrow, further away from your core time is movement towards self-growth and peace.
Growth Arrow to Four and Six
2w3s, similar to their core type, go to Type Four during Growth. Due to the influence of the 3 wing, there will be subtle distinctions in how this manifests, as Threes integrate to Enneagram 6.
The effect of Fours (Two Integration) on 2w3 Enneagram types in phases of personal development, means they might:
- Be attuned to their emotions and honest with them, even if they may be unpleasant at times.
- Strive for a balance between meeting their needs and those of others.
- Be drawn to and inspired by aesthetic beauty within themselves and their environment.
- Show a creative streak in problem solving.
- Through their abundant empathy, help others through emotional traumas.
Sixes (Three Integration), as a strong wing, may mean they:
- Enjoy getting people together in their homes or at parties.
- Give their all, as doing so makes them feel good.
- Will be loyal and friendly, and will probably champion causes that help those less fortunate than themselves.
- Could show exceptional trouble-shooting skills.
- Would probably remain calm and structured when called upon to assist in crises.
- Might be able to have contingency plans for potential issues.
Stress Arrow to Eight and Nine
Since 2w3s are still Type 2 at their core, their stress goes in an Enneagram 8 direction. However, with the 3 wing present, there will be small changes to how they react in certain situations. Twos with a powerful Three wing may present with some of the temperament difficulties that Nines may experience.
In stress, Eights (Two Disintegration) would result in 2w3 Enneagram types tending to:
- Be clouded by their feelings and others’ feelings due to overwhelming.
- Need to work harder on their relationships by being excessively unselfish and giving to overcome autopilot.
- Show an inclination toward explosive anger when faced with challenges, either from people or situations.
- Be impatient and averse to waiting for others.
- Blame and confront, as they may disrespect weakness.
Nines (Three Disintegration) might show to:
- Be overly concerned with how others perceive them because they have already given so much to those around them.
- Go out of their way to help others for the sake of fishing for compliments.
- Sit on the fence when it comes to taking sides or decision making.
- Procrastinate when starting something new.
- Disengage from others when placed under stress.
- Become passive-aggressive instead of raising concerns.
Healthy vs. Unhealthy Enneagram 2w3s
Nobody behaves in the same way all the time—we all have the capability of being in a healthy, average, or unhealthy range. We’ll look at the signs of each of these ranges in a 2w3, here.
Signs of a Healthy 2w3
- Attract positive attention because of their confidence and positive demeanor.
- Naturally friendly and have a knack for conveying warmth to others.
- Competitive, but can still empathize with others and make adjustments accordingly.
- Focus on the good side of situations, but also know the importance of acknowledging their negative emotions.
Signs of an Average 2w3
- Want to look respectable and likable to others by trying to impress them.
- Concerned about their physical appearance.
- Have an intense need to be recognized by others, so they are always available to help.
- Think of themselves as indispensable due to their accomplishments.
Signs of an Unhealthy 2w3
- Emotionally manipulative and opportunistic to get whatever they want from others.
- Their charming demeanor masks a cruel heart, so they can be consumed by a burning hatred for another person.
- Have hidden motives and destroy things violently when they want to—including relationships.
- When they don’t achieve their objectives, they feel like failures, and their self-image is destroyed
Growth Recommendations
- Listen to yourself. Your type isn’t self-reflective and is more focused on positive experiences. While being optimistic is a good trait, we must do things in moderation. Pay attention to your gut feelings. What is it precisely that you need now?
- Process your emotions, negative or positive. You tend to repel negative emotions because they make you feel uncomfortable. However, you can only show your most authentic self to others by being honest with your feelings.
- Relationships require more than just generosity. In connection with the first two recommendations, you must voice your needs in order for your relationships to prosper. It takes giving and receiving to make a relationship work. While others may appreciate your giving nature, you must also acknowledge your own needs.
- Your self-worth is not dependent on how helpful you have been. You have a big heart and want to help everyone, yet this can be a flaw because you end up giving more than you can manage.
Famous Enneagram Type 2w3s
The following famous people are Type 2w3:
- Olivia Rodrigo—American actress, singer-songwriter
- Charles Dickens—English writer
- Ariana Grande—American singer
- Luciano Pavarotti—Italian music performer
- Sarah Palin—American politician
Enneagram 2w3 vs 2w1
Below, we’ll compare Types 2w3 and 2w1s.
Key Similarities
- Both 2w3s and 2w1s have a core desire to help others.
- It’s very important for both to feel accepted, loved, and celebrated for their help.
- Both embrace and do their best to be seen as givers.
Key Differences
- 2w1s are focused on helping individuals while 2w3s want to help communities and bring people together for a common purpose.
- 2w1s are more introverted and don’t enjoy big gatherings. 2w3s, on the other hand, are more social, love talking to other people, and creating friendships.
- 2w1s are more dicsiplinited and love order.
- 2w3s are more chatty, love hosting parties, and are even a bit messy.
- 2w3s are also natural-both leaders. They host parties, take care of communities, and are likely to be the heart and soul of their workplace or school
Conclusion
2w3s are relationship-oriented and open-hearted people who often find themselves as the center of attention. They are lighthearted, cooperative, and goal-oriented. They have a strong identity that is based on their connections and the people they can help.
However, because of their 3-wing, they may struggle and grow uneasy with their constant need to be regarded as compassionate, helpful, competent, and achievement-striving. The constant need for approval and affirmation from others can make them excessively demanding and even manipulative.
2w3s need to tune in to their needs and wants and act accordingly. They would do well to reflect on whether or not the cultural ideal of success is consistent with their own.