Enneagram Type 3 Diet Strengths:
Ambitious Types – visualize, and prioritize their goals
Power Skills (1st Step) for Type 3: Finding Your Purpose & Strength, S.M.A.R.T. Goals
Finding Purpose – “Find Your WHY”: With so many competing short-term demands in life it can be hard to put your long-term health first. You must turn this view around and see that being healthy helps to run your life more efficiently and have better quality-of-life today. Help keep long-term goals in the forefront of your mind with a strong Purpose – one that is bigger than yourself. Remember you are looking for “epic meaning” — an awe inspiring WHY.
Now it is time to think about your deeper motivations: a higher-calling, a greater cause or a spiritual drive.
Dan Pink, in his lecture on inner motivations said that, “purpose is the yearning to do what we do in the service of something larger than ourselves.” (REF:http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/dan_pink_on_motivation.html) He suggests that when you base your efforts on service to something greater than yourself you become empowered with additional energy and drive. Now quickly jot down the personal reasons you want to lose weight and be physically fit, then use the words “for others” at the end of your chosen reasons. For Example: “Be Healthy….For Others,”or “Win the Bike Race….For Others”
“I exercise and eat well to inspire my family and friends to live long healthy and productive lives.”
“I train hard and eat well to raise money for cancer research.”
Once you have a Mission Statement, then claim it! Write it down. Post it places where you will see it. Keep it next to your calendar or visual aid so that you can track your progress.
The second aspect of “Finding Your WHY” is to name your Source of Strength (S.O.S). Think about the people (heroes) or ideas (values) that you looked to during times of hardship?
Take the time to remember an instance when you persevered despite being tired, scared, hungry or lonely; a time when you had the courage and strength to take a “leap of faith.” Now ask yourself who were the people who inspired you during that time? Was it your family, your spouse, a friend or a role model? A higher power or religious affiliation? When you succeeded, what were these people telling you in the back of your mind? Did they say: “You are strong!” “You can do it!” “You are special!” “I believe in you!” “I am there with you!” Write down your Sources of Strength (S.O.S) and then display reminders of them prominently in your life through photos, jewelry, religious symbols, or mementos.
Goals must be S.M.A.R.T. — Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and have a Timeline.
Specific (What, Why, How): Where do you want to go? Make this trip easy by defining where you want to end up. Your goal should consist of three parts: 1. what exactly do you want, 2. why do you want it, and 3. how will you attain it. Instead of being vague by saying “I want to run faster” or “I want to lose weight” follow the specific examples below:
WHAT
I want to be the weight I was at age 21.
I want to fit into my wedding dress again.
I want to be able to run 2 miles without stopping.
I want to enjoy a night of dancing without pain.
WHY (Revisit Finding Your “Why” — make it specific and personal)
To reduce my total cholesterol by 20 points…
To increase my energy during the day…
To compete in a charity event for breast cancer…
HOW
…through aerobic exercise 5 days a week
…by joining a sports team and going to all practices
…by attending a spinning class
Put it together: I want to be the weight I was at age 21, to increase my energy during the day by attending a spinning class.
Measurable: Since you have made your goal specific, then you can easily test yourself at specific milestones. Figure out how you will monitor your progress and know when to change your routine. For instance, if you are trying to lose weight, then weekly weigh-ins are appropriate. If you are trying to run faster then time yourself every two weeks. Periodically perform the physical event that you are trying to achieve and review the results.
Attainable: The best goals strike a balance between not being too overwhelming and not being so uninspiring that you lose interest. The point is to challenge yourself and make it something that you have to commit to. The goals that cause you to stretch and bring out the best in yourself are the most satisfying.
Relevant (Why): Ask yourself…
Does this goal align with or compete with my values and life long goals? Too many goals leave you floundering and wasting your time. In life you can have almost anything, but you can’t have everything — choose wisely.
Is it something that I want, versus what other people want me to do? Remember your goals are more motivating if they come from within.
Can I see immediate benefit from this long-term goal? Name the short-term benefits to any long term goal to allow for positive reinforcement. “I have more energy and a clearer mind when I work out in the morning.”
Timely (When): Make a timetable for completing your goals. A deadline gets you motivated and keeps you on track. If your goal feels too overwhelming you may need to break your goal down into smaller steps or adjust your time expectation, but it is essential that you keep moving forward.
Strategies also used by Type Three but not explained in detail here include Framing, and Visualization.
Tips for Enneagram Type 3
Find Your Why — Naming Purpose: Achieving my personal goal will also help others. “Meeting my goal weight will encourage my family to be healthy”
Find Your Why — Naming Purpose: I write my goals down like a Mission Statement. I ensure it includes a higher calling of service to others.
Find Your Why — Naming Strength: I have a Source Of Strength (SOS) that helps me through tough times. Ex: role model, values, saint or spiritual faith.
Find Your Why — Naming Strength: I keep myself reminded of my Source Of Strength (SOS) through photos, jewelry, religious symbols, or mementos.
S.M.A.R.T. Goals: I keep goals written down where I can see them to motivate myself.
S.M.A.R.T. Goals: I take a photo of myself each week so I can see my physical transformation.
S.M.A.R.T. Goals: The goals I set for myself are measurable and I have an easy way that I can monitor my progress.
S.M.A.R.T. Goals: Even though I “reach for the stars,” I plot out small attainable steps. This way I “Storyboard My Success.” (SMS)
S.M.A.R.T. Goals: When I find that I am reaching a plateau, I can switch to a goal where I can still see progress. (switching from weight to belt size or run time)
S.M.A.R.T. Goals: When I make a goal I always make a deadline for completion. This helps me realize if I have made a goal too large and helps me keep moving forward.
S.M.A.R.T. Goals: I name the short-term benefits to any long term goal to allow for positive reinforcement. “I have more energy and a clearer mind when I work out in the morning.”
S.M.A.R.T. Goals: I limit myself to only a few meaningful goals.
S.M.A.R.T. Goals: Only I decide my goals and they reflect what I am deeply passionate about.
S.M.A.R.T. Goals: My goals do not compete with each other and they are in harmony with my long-term values.
Action Skills (2nd Step): See Type Nine’s DIET Strengths and Skills
Maintenance Skills (3rd Step): See Type Six’s DIET Strengths and Skills
Thank you for reading Enneagram Type 3 Diet Strengths! Learn more about Power, Action and Maintenance Skills…here
Scott Harrington D.O.
