How do people respond to crises? What brings out the best and the worst in people? Who stays calm? Who barks commands? Who screams and panics?
Recently, a friend of mine told me a story about a workshop where attendees were grouped by Enneagram and given this scenario:
Everyone is going to dinner at a restaurant tonight. What do you need to do to get ready?
Perfectionist Ones worried about what to wear and if there would be parking. Helper Twos called two or three colleagues, knowing that they would need assurance. Success-oriented Motivator Threes called the restaurant to make sure that they were serving only the best! The Individualist “Drama Queen” Four said that no restaurant would be good enough, and she would hold the party at her house. Perceptive Investigator Five looked up from his philosophy book, got ready and went. Trooper Sixes loyally backed leadership’s decision to have the party at the restaurant. Playful Epicurean Sevens enthusiastically said, “Let’s Party!” Leader/Boss Eights rolled their eyeballs and said, “We don’t know what your problem is. Just go to the party.” And, of course, that prompted the Peacemaking Mediator Nines to get ready for conflict and arguments.
It doesn’t take an earthquake or other natural disasters to create stress, but awareness and preparedness bring out the best in me. As a One with a Two-wing, here’s the hurricane list that I sent to my children this morning:
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Water: run a tub so you have water to clean yourself and self-flush the toilet with a bucket. Believe me, if water supply gets cut off with flooding, and you can’t flush, it gets REALLY nasty REALLY fast! ALSO, fresh water in containers for drinking – about 1 gallon per person per day.
Nonperishable foods and a non-electric can opener
Flashlight & batteries
Extra cash (ATM’s and banks could be out for a while)
Charge your cell phones
Toiletries & medications
Pet care supplies
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You are always the practical one! I stopped to buy bottled water on the way home and there were only liters – no gallon jugs! Marylanders are preparing. Thanks for the good advice.
And thanks for the story and Enneagram references. While preparing for the storm, I finished reading a couple of Janet Levine’s Enneagram books about parenting and teaching (http://janetlevine.com/) and am now reading Rescuing Regina by Josephe Marie Flynn, SSND. Taking care of body, mind and soul, practicing what we preach.