Sevens
The Enthusiasts. The Jesters. The Eternal Optimists. Sevens are always cheerful, in constant motion and as agile as monkeys. Ideas come to them at lightning speed and illuminate their world in a breathtaking variety of colours. Curious about all the exciting things life has to offer and addicted to experiences, they are always on the move and looking for the next kick. "Nothing is impossible" is the Seven's motto, just like "I can rest when I'm dead". Boredom is the biggest thorn in the Seven's side and so they are in a perpetual state of planning to make the future exciting with enough alternative options should the original plan fall through or lose its appeal. Spontaneity is the air they breathe. Yet, deciding upon one thing brings with it the dilemma of having to say "no" to other possibilities and thus missing out on a great experience. Here lies buried the fear of the Sevens, who as children often had to bear too much responsibility or were deprived of a carefree childhood in some way, so that as adults they are careful to always grant themselves enough rewards between tedious duties.
Sevens love their freedom and need adventure. For this reason, they are often called Peter Pans, as they never really want to be part of the adult world, which seems far too serious and joyless. The world is a candy shop and every sweet has to be tasted. If life gives them lemons, Sevens make lemonade. Sevens think positively, because then life will be positive, that’s their conviction. Grief is not only a waste of time, it also risks dragging them into a negative spiral. So the gloomy experience is illuminated from a different perspective, it is reframed, worries are swept under the carpet and the next fun activity is planned, because life has so much to offer! Their bottomless curiosity and their fear of missing out drives them forward and they easily overlook the beauty of the moment. They splash around in shallow water where the sunrays sparkle so beautifully and they avoid the seemingly fatal depths that threaten to swallow them up and never spit them out again. For Sevens, buried treasures like truth and self-awareness are tangled amidst seaweed and only rumour, so not worth diving into emotional depths to uncover.
Sevens love their lives and are constantly floating on "cloud nine". Born with the conviction that the world is their oyster, they often idealize themselves and feel superior to others. This slight self-infatuation is the reason for their anti-authoritarian attitude. They gain freedom in their professional life by befriending and charming their superiors so they know how to gain advantages over their colleagues. However, no one remains angry with a Seven for too long and so, on the outside, it seems as if they have free rein, a life in which everything falls into place. Paramount in their choice of profession is having fun with their colleagues and a salary that finances their leisure activities. With their brightly sparkling eyes, Sevens magnetically draw people into their lives as they seem to know the secret of happiness. But appearances are deceptive. Just as much as Sevens turn away from their own problems and pain, they distract their counterparts with funny stories to avoid any interpersonal conflicts. This usually works well with superficial people, but with closer relationships, this childlike ignorance and unwillingness to address serious issues to allow for personal and mutual growth often leads to endless frustration. Additionally, the naivety of believing that all is well can cause them to overlook real danger, as they often trust the wrong people. Another tragedy of Sevens is that they spread themselves too thin. They believe they can juggle twenty balls in the air and thus they lose sight of what is essential. Whilst chasing abundance, they overlook their own riches until they lose the most precious thing in their lives. These are usually the most important people for the Sevens: their partners, family members and friends, who eventually get tired of feeling like Plan B, C or D.
Defining their values and living by them are the challenges for Sevens; as well as realizing that less is more and that relationships need to be nurtured to thrive and grow and thus to endure and reward them abundantly. If Sevens refuse to distance themselves from excessive consumption, life will confront them over and over again with their repressed issues in full force. However, if Sevens learn to recognize the value of painful experiences as life's signposts and dare to look into their 'lost' childhood, they can accept their inner child and heal their buried trauma, as they pluck up the courage to go through all phases of grief in the process. They will not only realize that they are surviving, but that by passing through the pain and accepting the dark sides of life, they will experience the ensuing bright sides in a more fulfilling way and then will be able to feel gratitude for the small miracles in life. They will be able to cope with their lives with a serenity and confidence and give their bodies and souls the rest they so desperately need.
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