Enneagram Christmas: Stillness in the Season

As the year draws to an end, the festive season often arrives with a swirl of emotion - anticipation, pressure, hope, nostalgia, joy, and sometimes exhaustion. Christmas tends to amplify whatever is already alive in us. Whether we plunge right in or try to avoid it, Christmas is not a neutral event for our type structure.

We each hold an internal picture of what Christmas “should” feel like – the connection we hope for, the atmosphere we imagine, the harmony or excitement or peace we long for. The core patterns of our personality become particularly sensitive during seasonal gatherings, often without us noticing.

To explore the deeper roots of these patterns, you may find our introduction to the Enneagram helpful.

Christmas rarely unfolds exactly as we imagine. Plans change. Moods shift. Conversations don’t always land where we want them to. In these moments, our patterns latch on to certain aspects of what they see and project things onto the external world and other people when their idea of perfection and comfort doesn’t seem to be showing up. We all know our patterns do this in order to protect us, but it takes a lot of energy – especially at a time of year when we’re supposed to be relaxing.

One of the gifts of living in the Northern Hemisphere is that Christmas falls in the deep stillness of winter. Nature slows. Light softens. Trees rest. So what might it be like to slow down, to simply notice our responses to the preparations for the festive season – to be curious about ourselves as our reactions show up in our three centres: body, heart, and mind?

To explore the three centres further, you may enjoy reading more on head, heart, and gut intelligence.

How might we bring the inner observer into the way we experience Christmas?

Instead of moving toward Christmas with our type’s expectations leading the way, we might experiment with letting the moment come toward us. Noticing before reacting. Experiencing before fixing. Receiving before organising.

What might it be like to take a pause and simply observe… to let the sparkle of the Christmas baubles in the candlelight be just what it is in this moment… and even see the pile of washing-up as a still-life painting?

Here is a quiet seasonal practice you might like to carry with you:

• Pause for a moment and sense which part of you is speaking most loudly:

  Is it your thoughts? Your emotions? A felt sense in your body?

• Take a breath and let your shoulders drop.

• Notice the quiet pressure to make the day match an ideal.

• Shift your attention to be with what is actually here.

• Rest in the moment, just as it is.

  
  

Nothing to do; nothing to correct – just being in the mystery of what is here now, not knowing what will come next.

As Kierkegaard (almost) said:

“I am not a problem to be solved; I am a mystery to be experienced.”

Wishing you goodwill, compassion, and gentleness towards yourself… And a very happy festive season, with good wishes for 2026 from the Enneagram Training team.

If you’d like to explore this aspect of growth further, our blog on developing awareness may resonate.

If this reflection has stirred something in you – curiosity about your patterns, a desire for deeper presence, or simply a sense that there is more to discover – we would love to welcome you into our learning community. At Enneagram Training UK & Ireland, we teach through the Narrative Tradition, using story, presence, and lived experience to help you see your patterns with clarity and compassion.

Wherever you find yourself as this year ends - tired, hopeful, reflective, overwhelmed, grateful, or simply human - may you meet your experience with kindness.

Our Foundation and Professional pathways offer space to explore who you are, how you relate, and what supports your growth. As we move into a new year, there are many opportunities to continue your Enneagram journey. You can explore what’s coming up – and find the right next step for you – on our events page.