The ARC Method + the Enneagram = A Powerful Roadmap for Transformation
The ARC Method + the Enneagram
A Powerful Roadmap for Transformation
Inspirational quotes are everywhere: “What’s your story?” “Change the narrative.” “Your story is not over.” One of my favorites? “The best is yet unwritten.” (Shoutout to Natasha Bedingfield’s early 2000s hit Unwritten — hello, The Hills fans!)
These quotes got me thinking about how stories unfold — whether through books, movies, or storytelling. Every story introduces us to a main character. At some point, that character faces a challenge, undergoes a transformation (also known as a character arc), and by the end, they emerge changed — often for the better.
But what actually happens inside that transformation?
I’ve always loved self-development books. Think Again, Atomic Habits, Difficult Conversations, Good Inside — take my money and teach me your ways! But too often, I found the advice falling short. What worked for the author didn’t always work for me. How could it? We were completely different people. Other times, I found these books leaned too much into spirituality, while I tend to be more logical. I need facts, details, and supporting evidence — I need to see it to believe it.
That’s where the Enneagram changed everything for me.
After studying the Enneagram for years, I’ve come to understand how our personality types are shaped by both nature and nurture. As children, we develop behaviors and coping mechanisms that we believe are essential to our survival. Our worldview shapes our personality. Makes sense, right? Knowing how we became who we are makes it easier to map out how we might change.
But transformation isn’t as simple as deciding to be different.
So I started asking: What does real character transformation look like?
After countless TED Talks, self-development books, and leadership training courses, one theme kept surfacing: awareness. We’re only 5–10% consciously aware of our own behaviors. What we do is visible on the surface, but why we do it lies much deeper.
Studies on stress explain how our brains and bodies react to threats — often out of pure survival instinct. This instinct is wired into our DNA, and while it has kept our species alive, it also means we tend to react automatically, rather than respond intentionally. The solution? Mindful awareness — or in other words, response.
Then comes the final step: habit formation. Transformation doesn’t happen through a single decision — it’s built through repetition, practice, and commitment.
And then it hit me: Awareness. Response. Commitment. A.R.C.
Character arcs.
The missing piece in most self-development frameworks was deep self-awareness — the kind the Enneagram provides. But while the Enneagram helps us understand who we are, it doesn’t always tell us what to do next. That’s where the ARC Method comes in.
The Enneagram gives us the self-awareness we need. The ARC Method provides the framework for change.
Without awareness, we’re left blindly trying tools and tactics that don’t work for us. Without a structured process, we can see our patterns but struggle to take action.
Together, they create a powerful roadmap for transformation — one that’s not just theoretical, but truly yours.
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Want to confirm or discover your Enneagram type? Check out all of our free resource guides here.
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