Enneagram 101 + Small Business Gift Guide: Type 2

Everyone is talking about the Enneagram personality system these days.

If someone asks for your type now, they’re probably referring to the Enneagram types instead of asking who you’re typically romantically interested in.

In this blog series, we’ll talk a little bit about each Enneagram type and which gifts are best for each type. Hopefully, you’ll walk away with a better understanding of your own personality and the personalities of your friends and family. Plus tons of cool gift ideas for each Enneagram type! All of the gifts featured will be from small businesses, and they’re all under $60.

What is the Enneagram?

According to Very Well Mind, “The Enneagram is a typology system that describes human personality as a number of interconnected personality types.”

It’s essentially a way of identifying your personality type, understanding why you are the way you are, and learning how you interact with other personality types. There are nine personality types in the Enneagram system, and each type has its own specific behaviors, motivations, and fears.

Here are the types:

The Reformer
The Helper
The Achiever
The Individualist
The Investigator
The Loyalist
The Enthusiast
The Challenger
The Peacemaker

There are also “wings”, or adjacent personality types, but we’re just going to focus on the main nine types for now.

Want to know your type? I took Truity’s online test. If you’d rather take the test with paper and a pen, check out this Enneagram paper test from The Therapy Things.

Okay, so let’s talk about Type 2: The Helper.

According to The Enneagram Institute, Type 2s are caring, generous, and maybe a little people-pleasing at times. Type 2s also tend to be very expressive, and they can overextend themselves sometimes because of their helpful nature.

Here are a few words that describe Type 2s:

Friendly
Self-sacrificing
Possessive
Sentimental
Altruistic

Okay, cool. What the heck do you buy if you need a gift for a Type 2?

Here’s your guide to buying the perfect gift for the Type 2s in your life. All of these items are from small businesses, and they’re all under $60.

I’m sure you already know this, but your Type 2 friend probably needs to relax and spend a little time taking care of themselves and worrying about everyone else. That’s why gifts related to self-care are perfect for most Type 2s. Aqualime Skincare (one of my favorite small businesses!) sells an amazing signature collection bundle with their popular bath salt soak, sugar body scrub, and bath and body oil. It’s everything your Type 2 needs for a past-due self-care session.

Succulent Kreations also sells a wonderful mental health self-care package with candles, bath bombs, and more.

I don’t know about you, but I definitely think making a nice hot cup of tea and enjoying it on a cozy afternoon is definitely a form of self-care. The act of making and drinking a cup of tea will force your Type 2 friend to really slow down and do something special for themselves. This tea gift box from Speedy Gift comes with a container of loose leaf tea, honey, a candle, and fancy matches. All your Type 2 friend needs to do is add boiling water and they’ll be all set with a cup full of self-care.

Another great option is a monthly gift box subscription. Bedrock Coffee + Tea offers a monthly tea box for just $10 a month that contains four herbal tea blends, one herbal coffee blend, and four honey sticks.

I’m in love with these mental health affirmation cards from Unbroken Mama, and I know most Type 2s will love them as well. Everyone needs a daily reminder to boost their confidence. That includes Type 2s, who are normally so worried about everyone else that they forget to look after their own mental health.

If all else fails, you can always revert to a gifting favorite: coffee mugs. I love these Type 2 mugs from House on the Rock.

Still stuck? Here are a few more ideas:

Sentimental gifts (e.g. framed photos)
Spa or massage gift card
Tickets to do something fun together