Episode Description

One of the most overlooked dimensions of the Enneagram is how we handle conflict. In this episode, Michael, Hari Prasada, and Rasanath explore the three Harmonics: Competency, Emotional Realness, and Positive Outlook. Each represents a distinct strategy for restoring harmony, yet each can just as easily create more disconnection when singularly used or distorted. They unpack how each Enneagram Type leans on one of these approaches, how that strategy breaks down at lower levels of awareness, and why relying on just one Harmonic leaves conflict unresolved.

Podcast Hosts: Michael, Hari Prasada Das, and Rasanath Das

Listen to this episode on Apple, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform

Highlights

• [01:00] The Harmonics

• [02:30] The connection of the word “harmonic” to musical resonance and frequency

• [05:20] Overview of the three triads

• [08:00] Competency: Types 1, 3, 5

• [12:50] Emotional Realness: Types 4, 6, 8

• [16:30] Positive Outlook: Types 2, 7, 9

• [19:40] How each Harmonic becomes distorted at lower Levels of Consciousness

• [20:40] The role of faith and positivity in conflict resolution

• [27:10] Using Competency to build accountability and structural methods

• [30:50] Sequencing Harmonics for a virtuous conflict resolution cycle

• [34:50] Understanding the two phases of conflict escalation and de-escalation

• [38:20] Moving from the ego to the self

Quotes

• "For the resolution of any conflict you need…the energy of all the three triads. If you don't have one of the three, the conflict is left unresolved on some level." -Rasanath

• “All three of these are inherently good and needed for resolving conflict, but when we approach with our tinted lens, we just butcher what the actual Harmonic is about, and we make it about me. Not the real me, but my ego, selfishly.” -Hari Prasada

• “De-escalation is so important in order to really make good headway in a relationship and navigate conflict. So we have to see how the conflict is escalating, and we have to try to de-escalate or mitigate that and create harmony in that way.” -Rasanath

• "While we're seeking harmony through our Harmonics, we should never underestimate how the ego creates disharmony even within the Harmonic." -Hari Prasada

• "The foundation of spiritual life is being able to recognize that every person, even the person that I have the deepest conflict with, is actually spirit." -Rasanath