journey

Curious about why you do what you do? 

| jamiefeinberg

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been immensely curious about why I am who I am, and why I do what I do, for as long as I can remember. Certainly for the majority of my adulthood anyway. 

  • Why do I naturally excel at some things rather than others? 
  • Why are some tasks that seem so easy for me seem so difficult for many other people? 
  • Why do I struggle to complete things, when some people around me seem to complete everything they start, no questions asked? 
  • Why does my sense of what’s right and wrong seem so different from other people’s sometimes?
  • Why do I repeat the same patterns so often, even when I recognize that they aren’t serving me? 

And this curiosity extends to other people as well as to my own self. 

  • Why do THEY make ______ look easy? 
  • Why do people do things that seem cruel or unkind from my perspective? 
  • Why do THEY do _____ when I would never do that? 
  • Why do people’s expectations of me sometimes seem impossible? Are we living in different worlds? 
  • Why is so and so always so direct? Why are some people so passive-aggressive? 

These are the types of questions that I may ponder from day to day or week to week. And they are the kinds of questions that the Enneagram has given me a vehicle for. 

When I learn to recognize my own personality type, I also learn to recognize that there are other people like me in the world – but that’s only a minority of them. Most people in the world are actually a different personality type than me. And it’s not that they’re bad people. They just have a different lens and a different way of seeing the world. 

I’m so excited this week because after much planning and coordination, my next Enneagram group is getting started in April! We’ll be meeting weekly on Tuesday or Thursday evenings (Atlantic time – seems like this will be a PEI group though we are over Zoom), and we’ll study Suzanne Stabile’s amazing Enneagram Journey curriculum together. 

[Since we’re about to begin a journey, here’s a photo from a recent journey by car with a striking sunset. I took it through the windshield.]

In this program, you’ll not only learn your Enneagram number, with certainty, understanding, and compassion for what that means. You’ll also study the growth path specific to your number, offering you ways that you can begin to unwind and change the habits in your life that are no longer serving you. 

So far, our group is full of some lovely women, from working folks in our 40’s to retired. And if you’re seeking your own community for self-improvement and personal growth, this is the last week to join us. Head here and reach out to me if you want to join the fun. It’s a three month program, and we’d love to hear from you.

an intro to the enneagram

| jamiefeinberg

Hello! If we don’t know each other well yet, I am Jamie Feinberg, and I help women who feel like life is happening to them, or passing them by, to figure out what they truly want – whether that’s time to pursue an old dream, a new career or hobby, or to travel – and then make it a reality.

I believe that if you never do the work to discover and cultivate a life you love, then you will never find the freedom and fulfillment that comes from pursuing a life free of regret. 

So, in essence, that’s why I’ve gotten so darn obsessed with the Enneagram over the last couple of years. I’d been pursuing my own personal development for a few years prior when I discovered it. The Enneagram, if you aren’t already aware, is not a typical “personality test”, for two reasons, as I see. One reason is that unlike Myers-Briggs, astrology, Human Design, or any of the other typing systems I’ve seen or explored, you get to type yourself! 

(If you have already heard about this program and are ready to sign up and get started and join us, please email rossandjamieadventure @ gmail.com so we can work out the details!)

Despite what you’ve perhaps read online, the ancient wisdom of the Enneagram is an oral tradition, and the way that you are meant to discern your type is in conversation with mentors, friends, family, but mainly doing your own contemplation. 

The other major difference about the Enneagram from other “personality quizzes” and the like? Once you know your type, the Enneagram also gives you a road map to follow for a more healthy, integrated, fulfilled life. So it’s not “here’s your type, here’s what’s challenging for you, have a nice life”. It’s more like “here’s your type, here are your strengths and weaknesses, and if you do these practices and keep growing in your awareness, you can keep stepping into an even better version of yourself. Oh, and by the way, here are the ways you’ll want to interact with other types and even help them become their best selves!” 

Since discovering the Enneagram, I’ve become a better wife, a better friend, a better daughter, and a better sibling. My husband has frequently thanked me for the work I’ve been doing on my own personal development, because it’s made me a better wife AND helped him to learn to be a better husband too!

We can’t control the people around us, but we can lead by example, and seeing how the work of the Enneagram has had ripple effects in my life has inspired me to share it with others.

If this interests you, head here to learn more and connect with me.

Have a wonderful week. It’s been a tough one for many of us. Stand up for what you believe in. The world needs it. And take care of yourself.

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Supporting Our Blog

We are so thankful for your support of our blog and our careers! You can help further by doing any or all of the following:

  • Purchase one of Ross’ albums! 
  • Take Ross’ online ukulele course!
  • Become a patron of our work!
  • Make purchases via our Amazon website links. There is no additional cost to you, and a portion of the proceeds can support our travels. Begin your Amazon search here.
  • Make other purchases using our affiliate links. Signing up with Dosh is a great way for everyone with a smartphone to support us, and we also have options for aspiring virtual assistants as well as occasional and full-time RVers to save money.
  • Subscribe to our blog, as well as perhaps InSearchOfAScoop.com, and recommend our work to your friends and family.
  • Take music or theater lessons (group or private) from us, either in person or via Skype at TinyVillageMusic.com. 

Present Over Perfect

| jamiefeinberg

Present over perfect. I’ve started reading this book, and I almost could have written it myself.

When we decided to take this journey, my physical and mental health were near a breaking point. I was ready to find a new way, though I imagined it was going to be a temporary break.

Over time, I’ve come to realize just how exhausted I was, and just how much I’d overdone things. It doesn’t matter that I usually get eight hours of sleep – it wasn’t enough.

And now that we’ve created this amazing, almost sustainable life for ourselves, I’m working harder than I have in many years, and I have to keep checking in with myself, making sure I’m not overdoing it. But things feel so different. I’m grounded. Even on a busy day that could be stressful, I take the time for breathing, for walking, for myself and even when the obstacles get thrown at me, I remain continually, pleasantly surprised and thankful that I feel comfortable and capable.

Present over perfect. I just started this book, but I couldn’t resist a reflection. And a recommendation. Celebration, FL | Ross and Jamie Adventure

______________________________

Supporting Our Blog

We are so thankful for your support of our blog and our careers! You can help by doing any or all of the following:

  • Purchase one of Ross’ albums!
  • Become a patron of our work!
  • Make purchases via our Amazon website links. There is no additional cost to you, and a portion of the proceeds can support our travels. Begin your Amazon search here.
  • Make other purchases using our affiliate links. Capital One 360 is one everyone can take advantage of to save money! Signing up with Dosh is a great way for everyone with a smartphone to support us, and we also have options for aspiring virtual assistants as well as occasional and full-time RVers to save money.
  • Listen to, subscribe and review our theater comedy podcast, Finishing The Season!
  • Subscribe to our blog, as well as perhaps InSearchOfAScoop.com, and recommend our work to your friends and family.
  • Take music or theater lessons (group or private) from us, either in person or via Skype at TinyVillageMusic.com.