From Survival Mode to True Transformation — A Journey Through the Enneagram with Alex Senegal

PMI Staff
Dec 9
3 min read

Updated: Dec 11

In this video, we meet Alex Senegal, an Enneagram Nine who shares how the Enneagram supported his journey from survival to transformation—and how he now uses it to guide and uplift others. Alex Senegal is a program manager at the Destiny Reentry Center in San Jose, California, and a dedicated leader in reentry, recovery, and personal transformation.

In “Survival to Transformation with the Enneagram,” Alex Senegal guides us on a profound journey through the Enneagram — not simply as a personality typing tool, but as a pathway from survival-driven behavior to radical self-discovery and personal growth. What begins as a coping mechanism rooted in instinct gradually evolves into a roadmap toward authenticity, wholeness, and a deeper understanding of oneself. Watch the video above or listen to the podcast here:

Why the Enneagram is More Than Just a Personality Test

For many, the Enneagram begins as a curiosity—' Which type am I?'—but Alex Senegal highlights that its true value lies far deeper. The Enneagram reveals how our psyche has learned to survive, showing how early programming and coping strategies shape our reactions, habits, and personal narrative.

In that sense, the Enneagram becomes less about labels and more about uncovering our personal “operating system.” When we see our underlying patterns, we gain the possibility of shifting them.

This transition from 'who I appear to be' to 'who I truly am' is the essence of transformation. It is not a superficial adjustment but deep inner work. Alex Senegal presents the Enneagram as a tool for healing and awakening, rather than categorization.

The Trap of Survival — and How We Break Free

A central point in the interview is that many people live in survival mode, not only on a physical level but also psychologically. We wear masks or adopt coping strategies to protect ourselves and avoid discomfort. Over time, these strategies harden; what once helped us survive can eventually hold us back.

The Enneagram allows us to recognize these patterns as survival strategies, not identity. Once acknowledged, their influence diminishes, creating space for conscious choice rather than automatic response.

The Path Forward: Healing, Integration, Authenticity

According to Alex, true transformation through the Enneagram involves more than self-diagnosis.

It requires:

Awareness — Observing your patterns, automatic responses, and defense mechanisms.
Acceptance — Recognizing that former strategies may have been helpful but no longer serve you.
Integration — Reconnecting with deeper needs, values, and a more authentic self beyond fear and survival.

Many Enneagram schools describe this process as transforming former weaknesses—survival-based coping styles—into sources of self-knowledge, compassion, and freedom.

Alex Senegal frames the Enneagram as a map not toward perfection, but toward wholeness—an invitation to become grounded in being, rather than directed by fear.

Why This Message Matters Right Now

In a culture that prioritizes productivity and external achievement, it is easy to lose sight of what it means to be human. Many move through life on autopilot—reacting, surviving, numbing—rarely pausing to consider who they are beneath the surface.

This conversation emphasizes that transformation is not about advancement but about returning to oneself and reclaiming agency over patterns, emotions, and inner life. The Enneagram becomes a tool for compassion—both for self and others—rather than judgment.

Enneagram: Shifting Weaknesses To Strengths

From conditioned survival to authentic presence, the Enneagram offers more than self-understanding—it provides hope, healing, and empowerment. True transformation is not a quick fix, but a journey of returning to oneself, integrating past coping strategies into sources of wisdom and compassion. As Alex Senegal reminds us, embracing this path can shift our weaknesses into strengths, grounding us in authenticity and wholeness. In choosing self-awareness and growth over fear and autopilot, we reclaim agency over our lives and open the door to genuine connection—with ourselves and others. This is the promise and the power of transformation through the Enneagram.