As an Enneagram Type 2:  you’re a supporter. A giver. You’re emotionally intelligent, and very caring and nurturing. Relationships are everything to you. You love to serve the people around you, and you love to help them move forward and do better. You’re empowering and can easily inspire the people around you. You can walk into a room, see a need, and meet it quickly and efficiently. 

Challenges you might face as a Type 2:  it can be hard for you to say “no” to people, especially those you really care about. You can be overly accommodating to others, forgetting to prioritize yourself at times. Then when you don’t get thanks or appreciation for your efforts, it can be extremely upsetting, and you can become counterproductive. You might take on too many tasks, and then find it difficult to get to the end of a task as a result.

What all this means in your fitness journey:  sometimes your own needs might get pushed to the back burner. You may forget to prioritize your health and wellness because you’re focused on everybody else. However, self-care will work wonders for you, so once you see the incredible benefits of focusing on your health and wellness goals, you can continue moving forward.

You’ll need to be diligent in asking yourself why you’re doing this. Are you doing it because culture and society tell you to? Are you doing it because your friend wants you to? Are you doing it to appease what you think others expect of you? 

Dig deep and ask yourself what you need. It may be hard to figure out the answer to that question, but it will push you forward and keep you on point so you can reach your goals.

Just as the name suggests, the helper is a people-pleaser that enjoys being there for someone even if that just means for a workout. This suggests that a helper chooses an exercise that requires them to have accountability to their partner.

Remember your habit of attention goes to:  the needs of other people so taking care of yourself is hard for you. Give yourself the edge by working out with a friend. 

Enlist someone who is also seeking some self-care. Sign up together for an exercise class. Having someone else to be accountable to will make you more consistent, and you’ll like connecting with a friend. 

The important thing is to find a workout where you feel wanted and appreciated, which are your core desires as a two. 

P.S. Yoga is a great choice. It will help re-energize you since it is likely you are typically supporting a lot of other people.

Fitness Mantra:  It’s okay to say no sometimes. I am still a good person.

Try:  Non-competitive fitness class. Fun doubles tennis, partners in pickle ball, gym with a friend, partner yoga (yes, that’s a thing). Coaching others in a sport you love is a win-win.