Soundtrack to Your Type: Enneagram 2

If you're unfamiliar with the enneagram, I will be quickly breaking down each type before going into the playlist and why each song was chosen. If you are unsure of which type are, I would recommend visiting the Enneagram Institute to read up on each type to hear what motivates them, what their core fear/desires are, how they behave under stress, and more. When you read through each type, it will become clear which type you most likely are. 

The enneagram is made up of nine types with three subtypes based on the instincts of each person for each type. They are social, self-preserving, and one-to-one. This, along with the wing, is why so many people who share the same enneagram type might seem entirely different from each other.

Over the last several months, I have been working to find a playlist for each type. Before we jump into this project though, I want to acknowledge that I do not speak for all people or any specific group/type. I am just a passionate fan of the enneagram, understanding human nature, and finding music to fit a situation. 

Please listen along here as I break down the Enneagram 2 playlist. If you are a 2, I hope these songs resonate with you. If you’re not a 2, I hope you gain a better understanding of the 2s! 

This week we will be looking at Type 2: the Helper. It might seem odd to

you, but we are going to be starting with type 2 because they are the first part of the heart center, and are often in conflict with their emotions. They wing in Type 1 (the reformer) and Type 3 (the achiever.) 2s are amazing hosts and give a lot of themselves to the people in their lives. 

2 THE HELPER

The Caring, Interpersonal Type: Demonstrative, Generous, People-Pleasing, and Possessive

“Two” by Sleeping at Last 

This project by Sleeping at Last is sort of what inspired this project for me. I love how introspective and reflective of humanity his music is. It made me start to assign enneagram types to other songs I love which became something my friends and I like to do when listening to music in the car, which ultimately led to this! 

Listen to this song and understand a bit about the 2s. 

“No, I don't want to talk about myself

Tell me where it hurts

I just want to build you up, build you up

'Til you're good as new

And maybe one day I will get around to fixing myself too”

“Stupid Deep (Acoustic)” by Jon Bellion

This song was recommended by another friend of mine who is a type 2. He said, “the human in me wants to be known and loved. Kinda like God created me  intentionally knowing that His love and grace was free to me so my striving wouldn’t be necessary.” 

This song speaks to the desire to people-please and fill a need for being loved with serving people. 2s feel a sense of pride in their ability to love and serve others, and sometimes can lose sight of the love that they don’t need to earn, the love that is freely given. 

“What if all the things I’ve done were just attempts at earning love?”

“Talk to Me” by Cavetown 

In my mind, I see a 2 speaking to each other enneagram type in this song.  It’s another example of a 2 using their ability to see others’ needs and put aside their own to help. 

“We can talk here on the floor

On the phone, if you prefer

I'll be here until you're okay

Let your words release your pain

You and I will share the weight

Growing stronger day by day”

“If the World Was Ending” by JP Saxe featuring Julia Michaels

This song encompasses the way that 2s have a difficult time letting go of people. The chorus really speaks to what is most important to a 2, which is to love and be loved. It’s beautiful and sad and just a tad insecure. 

“If the world was ending

You'd come over, right?”

“Count on Me” by NEEDTOBREATHE

“When you're needing rest from the road

I will bring you in from the cold

When your wildest dreams wash away

I will rescue you from the waves”

This song, again, hits home for the desire to be a rescue to those who need help. 2s need to feel needed, and a healthy 2 is able to be a support to others without losing parts of themselves (or feeling guilty for thinking of their own needs.)

“Orpheus” by Sara Bareilles 

This is a song that I can’t really explain why, but in my heart, it just feels like a 2. It’s beautiful and encouraging and feels like a shoulder to lean on, much like the 2s in my life. 

“I hope my love was someone else's solid ground”

“Save Myself” by Ed Sheeran 

When a 2 gets hurt or burned by a relationship, romantic or not, they tend to hold onto that pain in the form of bitterness. I have seen the most loving, caring 2s turn resentful when their love or friendship feels one-sided and their advice is ignored or unimportant to another person. This song is a beautiful look at stepping out of the unhealthy habits and accepting that they need to grow and learn to love themselves. 

“Offered off my shoulder just for you to cry upon

Gave you constant shelter and a bed to keep you warm

They gave me the heartache and in return I gave a song

It goes on and on”

As the song points out, this cycle of needing to “rescue a stranger” is dangerous and almost second nature to a 2. 

“Tolerate It” by Taylor Swift

“If it's all in my head, tell me now

Tell me I've got it wrong somehow

I know my love should be celebrated

But you tolerate it”

It’s not uncommon for a 2 to be found in an unhealthy relationship with a significant other, parent, or a friend who doesn’t appreciate them. Being driven by the need for love, and the conviction to help “fix” someone, they tend to get caught in a place where they are under appreciated and manipulated.

“It’s U” by Cavetown

2s fear of being unwanted is what fuels their desire for love. This song, to me, feels like a cry of desperation of trying to get another person to see the love that the 2 feels so deeply. 

“If you're awake then I am too

If you're lost then I'll find you

If you're hurt then I'll fix you

If you go blind I'll describe the view

If you can't feel then I'll hold you

If you fall know I've got you”

“Boreas” by The Oh Hellos 

“And I promise to give you

Everything that I am

...

In the end

All I hope for

Is to be a bit of warmth for you”

This song is all about wanted to be of use to another person, which is about as 2 as it gets. 

“Crowded Table” by The Highwoman 

This was one of the first songs I ever assigned to a type. When I heard it for the first time, I just knew that it was a song for 2s. To test my theory, I played it for my mom and my best friend who are both 2s (and they both cried.)

“The door is always open

Your picture's on my wall

Everyone's a little broken

And everyone belongs

Yeah, everyone belongs

I want a house with a crowded table

And a place by the fire for everyone

Let us take on the world while we're young and able

And bring us back together when the day is done”

The idea of having a space that is dedicated to the people you love gathering is so important to a 2, which this song is clearly about, but the line that brought tears was “everyone’s a little broken and everyone belongs.” 2s are constantly taking care of the people in their lives, and they desire the feeling of belonging in love and life with others. 

BONUS: “Heart” by Sleeping at Last 

“What if we could risk
Everything we have
And just let our walls cave in”

As I mentioned, 2s are the first type of the heart center. This bonus track is for the 2s, 3s, and 4s. May it warm your heart, and give you a glimpse of what is to come as this series continues. 

I could have continued to build this playlist as so many love songs feel like they were written by or for a 2. For my 2s, I hope you feel loved. Let me know if these songs resonated with you or surprised you. And send me more songs that make you proud to be a 2 (or songs that hurt because of your 2-ness.) For the rest of you, I hope you were able to hear why 2s are so special and worth loving. 
I can’t wait to show you the rest of this series. Much love. Peace. Lil.