The Epicure, The Enthusiast, The Adventurer, The Visionary, The Dreamer, The Joyful Person and The Futurist are all labels used by authors to describe Enneatype 7. The common thread seems to point to someone with a positive anticipation of the future that seeks out new and exciting possibilities. Does this approach to life lead to happiness or an endless pursuit of happiness?

The passion or sin for Enneatype 7 is given as gluttony. Although the common definition of gluttony has to do with excessive eating and drinking, gluttony as applied to Enneatype 7 is more about compulsively sampling life. A quote from the movie Auntie Mame helps explain this interpretation of the word gluttony.

Yes! Live! Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death! - Auntie Mame

Though the Enneatype 7 can appear to be in constant pursuit of happiness, it may cover up a strategy that is more about avoiding difficulties. The Puer Aeternus or Peter Pan Syndrome is one way of seeing this. While this syndrome is mostly about the avoidance of taking responsibility or growing up, there's one scene in the Peter Pan story where he teaches Wendy to fly by telling her to simply think happy thoughts. This provides an interesting metaphor for the Enneatype 7 way of using thinking to avoid or escape limitations.

Although the Enneatype 7 may not be consciously aware of the strategy, positive thinking or anticipation can be seen in terms of avoidance in Enneatype 7. By spinning events in a positive light, negatives can be avoided and actions rationalized. By planning for and thinking about future possibilities, present limitations can be avoided.

The are two difficulties with this strategy.

1. A constant vigilance must be kept to block out the negatives by seeking or reframing only the positive. This can be quite exhausting mentally as well as physically.
2. When negative thoughts or emotions are avoided, there is little to no learning on how to deal with them directly. If circumstances force the Enneatype 7 to face these negatives, it may become overwhelming due to the lack of direct coping experience.

Happiness like any other emotion is simply a state. Emotional states are impermanent. The Enneatype 7 strategy may at times treat happiness as a mental state that can be maintained. So even though Enneatype 7 may appear upbeat and happy on the surface, there eventually comes a need for downtime. What's needed then is a space to simply not be up and a safe environment to explore thoughts and emotions that have been mostly avoided.