Enneagram Type 2: Step 7

Enneagram Type 2: Working Step 7 in Overeaters Anonymous

Step 7: “Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.”

For Enneagram Type 2s, working Step 7 in Overeaters Anonymous requires addressing their core challenges of pride, the need for approval, and an often unconscious desire to be needed. Type 2s’ longing to be indispensable to others can lead to neglecting their own needs, particularly in terms of their relationship with food and self-care. Step 7 encourages Type 2s to humbly ask a Higher Power to remove their shortcomings, which include their tendencies toward people-pleasing, over-giving, and repressing their own needs.

Here’s a detailed guide for a Type 2 to work Step 7:

1. Recognize and Acknowledge Shortcomings

Questions to ask:

  • What are the specific character defects or shortcomings I identified in Step 6? How do they manifest in my life and my relationship with food?
  • In what ways do I seek validation through giving to others while neglecting my own needs, particularly with food and self-care?
  • How does my desire to be needed by others affect my recovery process? Am I using food as a way to manage feelings of rejection or unworthiness?

Example:
You may recognize that your habit of constantly giving to others leads you to neglect your own health and well-being. This could manifest as overeating when feeling unappreciated or using food as a substitute for emotional support.

2. Cultivate Humility and Self-Acceptance

Steps to take:

  • Reflect on Humility: Explore what humility means in the context of your recovery. It doesn’t mean thinking less of yourself, but rather acknowledging your limitations and need for help from a Higher Power.
  • Embrace Your Needs: Begin to accept that you have legitimate needs and that it’s okay to prioritize your own well-being. Humility for a Type 2 often means recognizing that you are not indispensable and that others do not always need your help to thrive.

Questions to ask:

  • What does humility mean to me as a Type 2? How can I embrace it without feeling that I am less valuable or important?
  • How can I accept that I need help and guidance from my Higher Power, just as I offer help to others?

Example:
Humility might look like admitting that you can’t control everything, including how others perceive you or how much they rely on you. It also means allowing yourself to receive the same love and care you give to others, both from people and your Higher Power.

3. Ask Your Higher Power for Guidance and Transformation

Steps to take:

  • Prayer and Meditation: Use prayer or meditation to ask your Higher Power to remove your shortcomings. Focus specifically on asking for help in addressing your tendencies toward people-pleasing, pride, and neglect of your own needs.
  • Let Go of Control: A key part of Step 7 for a Type 2 is releasing the need to control how others see you or whether they appreciate you. This can free you to focus on your own recovery.

Questions to ask:

  • How can I ask my Higher Power to help me release my need for validation from others?
  • What specific shortcomings am I ready to let go of, and how can I open myself to my Higher Power’s guidance in this process?

Example:
You might pray for the ability to let go of the need to always be seen as helpful and indispensable. You could ask for guidance in learning to care for yourself and trust that your Higher Power will help you balance your desire to give with your own need for nourishment.

4. Practice Surrender and Trust

Steps to take:

  • Let Go of Outcomes: Surrender control over how your defects of character will be removed. Trust that your Higher Power will guide you in this process and that it will happen in ways you might not expect.
  • Release People-Pleasing: Begin to practice saying “no” or setting boundaries in your relationships, knowing that your worth is not tied to how much you give to others.

Questions to ask:

  • How can I trust that my Higher Power will help me let go of the shortcomings that no longer serve me?
  • In what ways can I start surrendering the need for approval and focus on my own growth and recovery?

Example:
You might start practicing trust by setting small boundaries in your relationships and focusing on self-care. This could look like politely declining requests that drain your energy and using that time to focus on your recovery or healthy meal planning.

5. Embrace New Habits and Attitudes

Steps to take:

  • Cultivate Self-Care: As your shortcomings are removed, actively practice self-care by making choices that honor your own well-being, especially in your relationship with food.
  • Balance Giving and Receiving: Learn to give without expecting anything in return, but also allow yourself to receive from others. Create a healthy balance between offering support and taking care of your own needs.

Questions to ask:

  • How can I create new habits that support my self-care and recovery, particularly around food?
  • In what ways can I offer help to others without neglecting my own needs or using food to manage feelings of unworthiness?

Example:
You might develop a habit of planning your meals and setting aside time for yourself, while also continuing to help others in a way that doesn’t lead to burnout or resentment.

Summary for Type 2

For a Type 2 working Step 7 in Overeaters Anonymous, the key is recognizing that your value doesn’t depend on how much you give to others. Humility in this step involves acknowledging your own needs and asking your Higher Power to remove the shortcomings that drive your people-pleasing behavior. By cultivating self-acceptance, practicing surrender, and creating healthier habits around giving and receiving, you can transform your relationship with food and develop a more balanced approach to recovery.