Tasks, goals and recognition for accomplishments
To reclaim the truth that love comes to you because of who you are, not because of what you do
Threes are enthusiastic, direct, topic-focused, fast-paced and confident. Others may perceive Threes as impatient, overly efficient and restrictive, and overriding of others’ views.
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Threes channel their emotional energy into getting things done. They take the initiative and work hard to accomplish their goals. Focused on image and success, they are highly adaptable and excel at meeting the expectations of others. Threes like to stay active and on the go, so they find it hard to stop or slow down. A danger for Threes is concentrating on external praise or material rewards instead of their feelings, personal needs and health.
You gain love, recognition and acceptance through performance, doing and success.
Enthusiastic, action-oriented, problem-solving, successful, efficient, practical and competent
Image-driven, over-worked, impatient, competitive, out of touch with feelings
Identification – taking on a role so completely that we lose contact with who we are inside
Threes use identification to avoid failure and maintain a self-image of being successful. The pressure to keep up a winning image prevents access to personal feelings and needs, and blocks Threes from feeling appreciated and loved for who they are rather than what they do.
Observe your habit of mind or focus of attention with as little judgment as possible. Ask yourself the following questions, while noticing your feelings and how your body responds:
Type Three’s journey is to avoid making life into tasks. Performers need to remember that they are not just human doings, but human beings. So the simple prescription here is to slow down enough to allow their feelings to emerge, and to realize that they can receive love and acceptance simply by being who they are.
Mental: Vanity > Hope
Emotional: Deceit > Honesty
The aspect of awareness called the Inner Observer allows us to witness the internal patterns that drive outer behavior. The practice consists of focusing inwardly and becoming aware of the thoughts, sensations and other objects of attention that arise within us. As we become more present, our type patterns begin to relax and receptivity increases.
For Threes, take a moment to reflect on the following principles:
As feeling types, Threes hold a lot of energy or tension in the heart area, but rather than feel their own feelings, they prefer to channel everything into action, productivity and results. With their high charge, it’s hard for them to sit still. Emotional pressure builds up but the lid stays on – they are the original Type A’s. Threes have a strong life force, but often do not know how to access this without a moving-forward energy. They tend to hold energy or tension in the chest, and don’t usually slow down enough to experience the natural rhythms of their body.
Your task is to slow down and practice focusing your attention on what’s happening inside. This may seem like a waste of time, but it will open up space to know your own feelings and develop a relationship with your inner self. Follow the sensation of your breath, and focus on breathing deeply into your belly rather than your chest. It’s important to soften your assertive stance and spread the energy around your body. Relax as much as possible as you exhale, allowing yourself to let go.