Personality Type Seven

Sevens are also known as the

Adventurer, Cheerer, Connoissesur, Dilettante, Dreamer, Energizer, Enjoyer, Enthusiast, Epicure, Fun Lover, Generalist, Imagineer, Joyful Person, Materialist, Multi-Tasker, Networker, Optimist, Planner, Visionary, Wunderkind

Overview

Values

happiness, experience, accomplishment, sensual pleasure, material possessions, having a wide variety of experiences, being amused and excited

Main Motivation

To feel happy and fulfilled

Sevens like to see themselves as fun-loving and enthusiastic people and they actively seek satisfaction and fulfillment. Sevens don't feel that they have been nurtured. Consequently, Sevens try to nurture themselves and make themselves happy. Because they don't know where they will find fulfillment, they try everything.

Sevens have difficulty acknowledging their own pain or problems. These issues raise unpleasant feelings and anxiety which remind them of their lack of nurturing. Sevens flee these emotions by occupying their minds with positive ideas and plans that will bring the happiness they seek. These plans lead to a great deal of experience and adventure, often making Sevens multitalented, well-travelled, and accomplished. However, Sevens are always aware of what they don't have, of what experience they're missing. They don't believe that they will be happy with what they have; they feel that happiness must lie somewhere else.

Sevens are, therefore, very responsive to novelty. Their minds are quick to find fun and exciting opportunities. When they get a new idea, they want to realize it immediately. Sevens seek stimulation and excitement through tangible things, objects, and people (the more variety, the better). Although they can enjoy intangibles, the experience is somewhat diminished. Sevens don't internalize or introspect on their stimulation. It's not hard to see that as Sevens become less healthy, they need to increase their excitement and stimulation to keep their inner anxiety in check.

Average Levels

Level 4: Experienced Sophisticate

Plays the role of the Energizer

Level 5: Hyperactive Extrovert

Manipulates others by distracting them and by insisting that others meet their needs

Level 6: Excessive Materialist

Undermines others by denying and depriving others of experiences, material things or other sources of happiness

Average Sevens see themselves as the energizer. They want to have fun and try to make their environment exciting and interesting. They want to lift others' moods and create an atmosphere of happiness. Sevens are attracted to parties and celebrations, often finding themselves as "the life of the party." Sevens don't seek out attention (like Threes), but they feel that they can bring joy and entertainment to their surroundings.

Sevens find their social calendars filled with a wide variety of outings such as playing sports, eating out, attending the symphony, going to the museum (sometimes in the same day!). They are experts on the best entertainment their city has to offer. Sevens, however, want to make sure they keep their options open; they don't want to miss out on something better that may come along. As a result, Sevens sometimes have difficulty keeping their commitments.

Average Sevens find that that the novelty of their latest project of plan wears off rather quickly. Or perhaps it is been replaced with a better project or plan. By sticking with something for too long, Sevens get the feeling that they're missing out on something; they believe that happiness lies elsewhere. And if they deprive themselves of that happiness, Sevens fear that they will get bored and anxious. Average Sevens tend to focus more on the anticipation and process of acquisition more so that the possession or experience itself.

To avoid their feelings of anxiety, Sevens keep their minds busy. Others often have difficulty keeping up with Sevens as they jump quickly from one idea to the next (e.g., the comedy of Jim Carey and Robin Williams). Their minds (and sometimes their bodies) are in perpetual motion, yet distracted and unfocussed. They may be absent from the classroom, office, or other social gatherings because something "more interesting" came up.

Average Sevens don't want to deny themselves of new possessions or experiences. They don't want any limits on their opportunities and get frustrated when others are in the way. Average Sevens believe that they would be much happier if others would leave them alone. Although Sevens enjoy the company of others, others sometimes can't keep up. Unfortunately, the happiness of Sevens is becoming superficial. It is based more on the anticipation of future enjoyment rather than on the appreciation of the present.

Average Sevens want to have as many possessions and experiences as possible. They maintain a busy (and sometimes expensive) lifestyle. But that lifestyle soon loses its novelty and Sevens feel they must raise the bar to keep interested. If some is good, more is better. They become addicted to indulgence.

Average Sevens are impulsive; when they see something they want, they take it. They have a sense of scarcity. They can't say no: if they don't take it now, it will be lost forever. They seize the moment; they leap before they look. They become very impatient when their gratification is not instant. They become materialistic, excessively so, because only the best will satisfy. They become so preoccupied with their next adventure that they can't appreciate their current one.

They become somewhat self-centred, not caring about the consequences of their actions. They openly vent their frustration when unable to satiate their wants. They become intolerant of the limits imposed by others. They don't consider the wants or needs of others. At the same time, they don't want to be alone, because they don't want to be left alone with their anxiety.

Unhealthy Levels

Level 7: Impulsive Escapist

Level 8: Manic Compulsive

Level 9: Panic-Stricken "Hysteric"

Unhealthy Sevens become more and more acquisitive, demanding that others satisfy their cravings. They become self-centred, using others to get whatever they want. They act out their impulses, often injuring themselves.

What leads Sevens down the wrong path is their belief that they will find happiness by anticipating the future rather than appreciating the present.

Healthy Levels

Level 1: Ecstatic Appreciator

Level 2: Free-Spirited Optimist

Become attached to values of optimism, happiness, and being amused

Level 3: Accomplished Generalist

Feel good about themselves when they do what makes them happy

Healthy Sevens let go of their forced joy; they are naturally optimistic. They have a great curiosity that leads to accomplishment in many fields. They are versatile and practical.

Healthy Sevens are free-spirited. They are very enthusiastic about their present experiences. They are adventurous and spontaneous. They are amazed and exhilarated in every moment.

At their best, Sevens let go of the belief that their happiness is dependent on acquiring specific things or experiencing specific events. They fully appreciate their experiences, deeply internalizing their depth and meaning. They are extremely grateful and appreciative of their current experience -- the present.

Similarities to other Types

Common Traits with other Types
Sevens seek Security (like Fives and Sixes)
Sevens handle problems with a Positive Outlook approach (like Twos and Nines)
Sevens are Assertive in going after what they want (like Threes and Eights)
Sevens are sometimes Frustrated by reality not living up to their ideals (like Ones and Fours)

Conflict Scenarios
Positive Outlook vs. Positive Outlook Sevens in conflict with Twos, Sevens, Nines
Positive Outlook vs. Reactive Sevens in conflict with Fours, Sixes, Eights
Positive Outlook vs. Competency Sevens in conflict with Ones, Threes, Fives

Multimedia

Watch a Seven talk about her type
Dr. David Daniels describes Sevens
Don Riso on Sevens

Theme Songs

These "Theme Songs" express some of the most important issues of Type Sevens.

gratitude
anticipation
flightiness

I got the Sun in the Morning

Lyrics
I got no diamond though I'm shy
Still I think I'm a lucky guy
I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night

Got no mansion got no yacht
Still I'm happy with what I've got
I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night

Sunshine gives me a lovely day
Moonlight gives me the milky way
Got no checkbook got no bank
Still I'd like to express my thanks
I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night

And with the sun in the morning and the moon in the evening
I'm all right

I got no diamonds? though I'm shy
Still I think I'm a lucky guy
I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night

Got no mansion go no yacht
Still I'm happy with what I've got
I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night

Sunshine gives me a lovely day
Moonlight gives me the milky way
Got no checkbook got no bank
Still I'd like to express my thanks
I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night

And with the sun in the morning and the moon in the evening
I'm all right

Something's Coming

from West Side Story

Lyrics

Could be!
Who knows?
There's something due any day;
I will know right away,
Soon as it shows.
It may come cannonballing down through the sky,
Gleam in its eye,
Bright as a rose!

Who knows?
It's only just out of reach,
Down the block, on a beach,
Under a tree.
I got a feeling there's a miracle due,
Gonna come true,
Coming to me!

Could it be? Yes, it could.
Something's coming, something good,
If I can wait!
Something's coming, I don't know what it is,
But it is
Gonna be great!

With a click, with a shock,
Phone'll jingle, door'll knock,
Open the latch!
Something's coming, don't know when, but it's soon;
Catch the moon,
One-handed catch!

Around the corner,
Or whistling down the river,
Come on, deliver
To me!
Will it be? Yes, it will.
Maybe just by holding still,
It'll be there!

Come on, something, come on in, don't be shy,
Meet a guy,
Pull up a chair!
The air is humming,
And something great is coming!
Who knows?
It's only just out of reach,
Down the block, on a beach,
Maybe tonight . . .

Flight of the Bumblebee

by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
This song reminds me of the energetic distractability of some Sevens I know.