integration for type 6

wing 5 integration

type sixes desire certainty as they fear uncertainty. their minds continually create worst-case scenarios, and they literally scare themselves. this externalized focus is balanced by integrating their type five wing. maturing into the qualities of the type five allows them to become more internally focused. this, in turn, makes the type six more self-contained, tempering their reactivity. instead of only fearing what could go wrong, the type six can now develop a passion for knowledge and the joy derived from it. they become more trusting of their own experience and intuition and are able to step out of their fear. the type five wing also gives them access to multiple perspectives.

wing 7 integration

because of the incessant fear in the immature type six it is hard for them to open up to joy and spontaneity. through integrating the type seven wing, they gain access to their own playfulness, optimism, and energy. they now focus on what is going right, making them more extraverted and lighthearted. their capacity to trust others increases and their fears become more realistic. they stop scaring themselves and can instead laugh at the antics of the mind.

release point

integrating mature type 9 qualities

Mark Twain wrote, “courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear — not absence of fear.” the type six’s virtue is courage, which manifests when the type six recognizes the danger of a situation, but acts boldly anyway. courage grows over time and teaches type six individuals a valuable lesson — that perhaps the world is not as dangerous as they once thought, and that perhaps the fear is in the process of thinking. maturing into their type nine release point allows the type six greater relaxation, presence, and the ability to play with different viewpoints. the type six may now relax into some of the laid-back qualities of the type nine, and begin to observe the world with the awe and tranquillity of the mature type nine.

stress point

overcoming immature type 3 qualities

the passion of the type six is fear, and when type sixes succumb to fear, everything and everyone can look like a competitor or threat in the game of survival. the stress can push them into the most immature qualities of type three. they become competitive, arrogant, and willing to cut corners. now out of contact with themselves and their inner security, they become inauthentic, suspicious, and anxious. type sixes have to journey deeply into their later forms of maturity to discover that the world is not as risky as they’ve projected it to be. their risk aversion has more to do with the way their mind functions than actual reality. in their mature form, the type six displays the mature capacities of the type three. they’ve connected with their own being and authenticity. they are deeply caring, and in contact with their own and others’ emotions.

non-resourceful state

when type sixes are under stress, they trust themselves less and become more anxious and indecisive. they might become more dogmatic and orthodox to try to resolve their doubts, or they might become more suspicious of others and rebel against any form of authority. they take on more projects, get busy, and run around instead of dealing with their inner fears. they may assume a role within a group to feel more secure, becoming devoted followers or loyal middle managers — not trusting their own capacity, but blindly following.

resourceful state

when type sixes are in a resourceful or relaxed state, they get in touch with their inner authority. they trust their instincts and have faith in themselves. they accept responsibility for their own choices and act on them courageously. type sixes now believe they can take care of themselves in an emergency. they believe the world is on their side rather than against them. they remain calm and say to themselves: “i am settled” rather than “i am upset.” they make molehills out of what previously felt like mountains, realizing that they tend to imagine the worst, blow things out of proportion, and see danger and evil intentions where there are only inconveniences and personalities. the mature type six finds truth in all sides of an issue rather than polarizing issues and creating an “us-against-them” orientation. “i am, therefore i am courageous” replaces “i am loyal (I belong), therefore i’m okay.”

recommendations for type 6

• remember that there is nothing unusual about being anxious. everyone gets anxious, and much more often than you might think. most people learn to recognize the anxiety rather than believe the thoughts it stems from. learn to be more present to your anxiety, to explore it, and to come to terms with it. work creatively with your tensions without turning to excessive amounts of alcohol (or other drugs) to allay them. in fact, if you are present and breathing fully, anxiety can be energizing, a kind of boost that can help make you more productive and aware of what you are doing.
• you tend to get edgy and testy when you are upset or angry, even turning on others and blaming them for things you have done or brought onto yourself. be aware of your pessimism. it causes dark moods and negative thought patterns that you project onto reality and others. when you succumb to this self-doubt you can become your own worst enemy and may harm yourself more than anyone else does. identify your self-defeating patterns and work with your own mind.
• type sixes tend to overreact when they are under stress and feeling anxious. learn to identify what makes you overreact. also realize that almost none of the things you have feared so much have actually come true. even if things are as bad as you think, your rumination weakens your ability to change things for the better. you cannot always manage external events, but you can manage your own thoughts.
• work on becoming more trusting. there are doubtlessly several people in your life you can turn to who care about you and are trustworthy. if not, go out of your way to find someone trustworthy, and allow yourself to get closer to that person. this will mean risking rejection and stirring up some of your deepest fears, but the risk is worth taking. you have a gift for getting people to like you, but you are unsure of yourself and may be afraid of making a commitment to them. let people know how you feel about them, and about yourself. you may find that they don’t see you the way you think they do. few (if any) people are really out to get you. they have their own complicated lives. in fact, your fears tell you more about your attitudes toward others than they indicate others’ attitudes toward you.

summarized from Riso & Hudson, Lapid-Bogda