Transformation Process And Therapeutic Recommendations

How can someone who tends toward corruption, but does not realize it because they believe they deserve pharisaical rights, someone who exercises atrocious individualism, who sees others as utilitarian means rather than ends in themselves, become a virtuous, altruistic, sincere, and humanized being? How can someone who believes they are superior, smarter than others, but at the same time feels so inadequate, almost in danger of extinction, take an accurate measure of themselves and others? How can someone who is not present because they are scanning the future, the horizon, concentrate once and for all on the here and now, enjoy the moment calmly and without bingeing on gluttony, but savoring pleasure in sobriety and tranquility? How can a visionary and lover of generalizations finally concentrate on the details? What do they need to let go of, and what do they need to take, someone who, in their neurosis, does not understand genuine implication and instead exchanges it for an interesting complicity?

The Self-Preservation 7 subtype that has not undergone a transformation process does not trust anything or anyone. They are usually skeptical and do not validate anything beyond what is concrete or palpable; they are materialistic and anti dealist. Their heart is closed, and they show themselves to be as emotionally stingy as an E5. Their process involves assuming a greater order in which, behind every change, there lies a meaning and a deep

reason, and the person could recognize this as Tao, completely. God, if they could make themselves small, if they could feel trust in their neighbor and recover an admiring gaze before the wonder of life.

Therapeutic Recommendations

In the relationship with oneself, a first therapeutic recommendation is to dare to live with the punctured balloon, without trying to patch it. From there, one can experience an existential enrichment of another kind. This time, in a more genuine place, without falsifying or being fraudulent, without inflating their curriculum, talents, or charms. By recognizing fraudulence, they will be able to live without it.

Let us bear in mind, however, that it is difficult for the Self-Preservation 7 to recognize fraudulence, masked as it is by the experience of having acted in the name of helping their family, or camouflaged by the victimhood of having had to take care of others. It is difficult for them to see clearly that having taken advantage of all this is, in itself, fraudulence and not a right.

It helps to cultivate intimacy and vulnerability, recognize oneself as a person, and give up the crazy idea that they can handle everything. It helps this character to see themselves as a child: a child who had to find their own way in life, without paternal guidance and without the tender love of their mother. It is a fundamental step for all Self-Preservation 7 types to recover the natural needs of the child since they have placed the emphasis on what they think they need in the concrete aspects of survival. Their egoic image is also fed by this value of having survived, and they may feel like a hero in this sense. However, it is difficult for them to see the enormous emotional void they suffer because acknowledging that lack leads them to relive the experience of abandonment and loneliness.

In the therapeutic process, it is necessary to build a trusting relationship before touching this fragile part, which is difficult in itself, since they tend to escape from therapy when pain is involved. The therapist must have the ability to fuel the curious mind of the E7; at first, accepting their escapes, stories, and fun, while patiently accompanying them to explore their inner world. The main objective is not to let them escape from the therapeutic relationship and to help them endure the commitment. The Self-Preservation 7 is, among the subtypes of this character, the one who least recognizes the emotional world. In therapy, it is easier for them to feel their emotions in the form of somatizations—physical pain, muscle pain, contractions, chest pains that scare them... It is important to take time for them to learn to recognize these signs and redefine them as emotions and feelings, accompanying them into a world they do not know and that scares them.

The therapist needs to have great sensitivity to see the child behind the big charade, not be seduced by the affability they display to befriend them. It is not uncommon for the Self-Preservation 7 patient to offer, for example, concrete help for the therapist's life, attempting to position themselves paternally as the helper.

Keeping one's word and not escaping from commitments are matters to cultivate. It would be ideal if, in the end, the Self-Preservation 7 came to be considered and to consider themselves as someone authentic and clear, someone in whom others can trust and share intimacy, fragility, and contact. Someone open to the world, to life, to love, and especially to their own interiority. Someone capable of deep commitments in their relationships, whatever their nature.

It also helps to be oriented toward a spiritual here and now. The Self-Preservation 7 does not present the problem of going astray along the paths of spiritual inflation; that is to say, they do not commune with the New Age or with positive psychology that sells cheap well-being. But being too practical misses the spiritual nuances of existence. It is important to pay attention to the nuance and sacredness of each moment. Help sacralize and ritualize. Cultivate the sacred in any of its forms. Develop faith in impulse and in organismic self-regulation.

"Contact with the subtle helps me overcome the sole interest in the material. To feel an inner god running through my veins, to be able to look up at the sky and feel small, to accept a wise authority without criticism, to understand that not all authority is inherently corrupt or overwhelming. And, above all, practice some form of altruism. Look carefully for a terrain in which to put it into practice and keep that area of my life protected by a sacred atmosphere of discretion." (DAVID)

Yes, it is important to engage in the practice of some form of altruism. This means an activity of service to others for which no type of compensation is obtained, and if possible, carried out discreetly, without giving it any type of publicity like "Look how good I am." Thus, contrary to what happens in other E7s, it helps the Self-Preservation subtype to develop a healthy idealism. This being a very earthly Enneatype, they surely will not forget that spiritual and social justice must go hand in hand. As the Buddhist doctrine of the bodhisattva announces, there is no individual salvation. The opposite would represent, for the Self-Preservation 7, a disconnected spirituality (and here their character disposition and their most genuine vision will go hand in hand).

"What has helped me a lot in recent years is the definition of an ideal and my concrete commitment to its realization. That has occupied my time in a satisfactory way and has removed from my mind so many fantasies, so many desires, so many hobbies, so much anxiety. Sometimes I have been frustrated by the lack of external recognition with the intensity that seems to me to be deserving. But I feel comforted with the certainty that my

work, my effort, helps some people and also myself. It is a simple job, which rewards me with a subtle pleasure, but much more satisfying than the other pleasures that wake me up when I am idle. It brings out a genuine joy, which comes from within!" (ALEXANDRE)

Authentic altruism can emerge when the Self-Preservation 7 begins to see their inner child and feel empathy and love for them. This will help them see others as people, human beings, and not as objects or easy adventure partners.

The development of admiring love is important: feeling small before someone or something bigger than oneself. Review the relationship with the father, with the intention of developing respect for their figure and toward healthy forms of authority. Understanding what the word "respect" means is essential.

In this sense, it is essential to remain for a long and consistent time in therapeutic relationships, or as a disciple/teacher, without giving in to the impulse to escape by telling oneself that there is no time, or that there is something or someone better and more interesting, or that this one doesn’t work... and the other one doesn’t either. It is useful to do impractical, creative things, from walking, reading without candles or going to the movies, to theater, performances, or bodily activities, all without looking for profit.

Body work helps cope with excessive mental activity, as well as manual work, dance, Tai Chi; all this, in an atmosphere of simplicity. In this field, it is a priority to work on sensitivity, to explore the sweetness of movement, to open the doors to emotions and to a love that is more erotic than phallic.

It also helps to define, know, and express one's own limits, clearly recognizing where one is not going, and doing it directly, without detours or justifications. The path of the E7 is to find the balance between these two phases: in euphoria, work on containment and sobriety; in depression, tranquility, feeling loneliness as an encounter with oneself, and experiencing humility in the face of the typical arrogance of the character.

It also serves to conform and become transparent: accept death and physical decrepitude, dare to show the lout, the disorganized, the chaotic, the bungler that is in them. Another way to put it: dare to seek and experience whatever innocence remains in them. Dare to hope (not to fantasize about the future), stop being a cynic. Hope is assuming responsibility. This phrase by Jacinto Benavente is a lesson to be learned: "Thinking badly in order to excuse ourselves from doing good is the pessimism of petty spirits. To think badly and to do well is the pessimism of a great lord."

Living in the Present

Living in the present is essential, even if it strips you bare and leaves you feeling empty. Do not seek light in the future. The smallest spark of light in the darkness of the present should be celebrated. But if no spark is found, then the very darkness of the present should be embraced as a form of anniversary.

“It helps me to trust—trust in life, not in what I plan will work out. Trust that life places me in the right place for my growth.” (MARÍA MARTA)

The Power of Simple Acts

It helps to be punctual, and to engage in simple, clear ways of respecting others, and respecting oneself. For example, listen carefully. Do not indulge your own plans, projects, or responsibilities. Fulfill them, and on time. Pay attention to the small details, as respect is shown in these moments. There's a reason for the saying "God is in the details"—it’s the way to communicate that you value others. Keep your promises. Be honest, set realistic goals, and always assess what you can achieve so that you don’t begin a thousand things at once but focus on a few attainable ones.

This approach is especially important in the therapeutic process. A therapist should help the Self-Preservation 7 patient create realistic projects and allocate time to review the steps taken. What might superficially appear to be behavioral therapy will, at a deeper level, become a way of rebuilding the father-child relationship. In childhood, the father may not have guided the child or helped them fulfill themselves. It's important to challenge the narcissistic image of the type—the one who seems to have everything together—by openly revealing your state of mind, your problems, weaknesses, and fears. This requires leaning on intimate confession.

Silence and Self-Awareness

Seek silence, retreat, and meditation to escape mental noise and excessive planning. For patients who react negatively to meditation (since it can sometimes trigger anxiety), active meditations may be more appropriate. Examples include walking, engaging in manual work, writing, etc., which can create a space for silence and a more refined attention.

In the manic and depressive phases, recognize how the manic state lays the foundation for depression, and how depression lays the foundation for mania. Do what needs to be done regardless of mood (avoid self-indulgence). This approach helps reduce anxiety. In the face of depression, silence and discipline are advised—tolerating a low level of stimulation. In the manic state, expressed through excessive pleasure-seeking or irritability, energy

management becomes crucial. Engage in sports, bioenergetic catharsis, crying, or even screaming in the forest. Avoid overworking, disconnected sex, or filling your schedule to the point of collapse, which could trigger the opposite—depression.

Being Present with Emotions

Doing must be slow, allowing yourself to feel what you are feeling—whether it's fear, shame, anger—without necessarily needing to verbalize it. This means accepting emotions such as fear, loneliness, disappointment, and the simple acknowledgment that it's okay to feel bad without labeling it as good or evil. Contacting your feelings, needs, tenderness, and sensitivity without judgment is essential. Differentiating between need and desire is a healthy approach to sobriety. Be thankful for what you have.

Distinguish between pain and suffering. Do not overly defend yourself from pain, and avoid calming the mind when suffering is significant. Don’t smooth over what is happening; instead, confront and deal with discomfort by living in conscious pain. Allow for improvisation, avoiding constant plans and letting life unfold.

“In moments of pleasure, when I realize it’s coming to an end and I get attached to it, I repeat two mantras to myself: ‘It is what it is’ and ‘What has to be, will be.’” (MÓNICA)

Relationships and Decisions

In relationships, it’s important to set aside utilitarian motives and to separate advantageous interests from a true sense of community. This helps guide decisions and leads to consistency in them. It’s important to avoid remaining in one’s own solitude, as well as from the indulgent court. Instead, it’s beneficial to take sides for just causes, be resolute, and clearly stand by them.

It’s also important to give space to others and open up to the unknown—not just those you love, but also those who are not part of your "circle" or "family." Love and suffer alongside others, understanding that it makes no sense to love some and not all. Treat strangers as if they were part of your world. Developing trust and surrender, even when trust is not fully earned, is vital. Experience pain—your own and others'—because it connects you with kindness and your neighbor.

Talking less and listening more will help significantly. Value both the other person and yourself, and feel the pain that you may cause to others. This can bring you closer to a more open heart. Likewise, allow yourself to feel anger when something is wrong, instead of withholding it and later applying cold revenge or falling into cynicism.

Managing guilt or the hole left in your self-image after expressing aggression is difficult, but facing it is better than pretending it doesn't exist. In relationships, it’s crucial to be honest and transparent, expressing what’s really happening behind closed doors, without falsifying or disguising your feelings. Establish honest and sincere relationships, being clear about your emotions and needs while considering the other person.

Love and Relationships

In love, it’s helpful to delay seduction and even forgo it, slowing down to truly appreciate the experience without acting on impulse. By doing so, you gain a better understanding of what you truly want, rather than simply being a passive participant in seduction. Later, in a relationship, it’s important to cultivate an atmosphere of intimacy, presence, and listening—both exposing yourself emotionally and allowing the other person to do the same. Create spaces for intimacy that are not governed by time.

“For me, rest comes when I am able to see and accept reality as it is. As I dare to question the ideal, the real world unfolds before my eyes, and my heart opens to the pain too. Giving myself to the person I love, truly seeing her, embracing her shadow, and letting myself be embraced in mine gives me immense rest. I feel more honest and worthy of being loved.” (ORI)

Honesty and Transparency

If you plan to have more than one partner, it’s crucial to abandon a double life, remove the secrecy, and be honest with everyone involved. Give them the option to choose, even if it risks loneliness. Additionally, it’s important to shed the protection of "you"—hiding behind others, such as your partner—and to learn that you are whole and can step into the world on your own.

“The key for me, at this moment, is to accept what’s happening without imposing how I think it should be. I experience what’s there... even if the energy doesn’t spark within me. And above all, I accept that even if I’m not feeling energized, it doesn’t mean I’m withering in the relationship.” (MÓNICA)

Family Dynamics

In the family, it helps to leave behind the role of "savior," "referent," or "godparent." Instead, reclaim the position of the father, who is the one who should occupy that previously usurped place. It also helps to redefine the relationship with the mother—daring to see her flaws and seductive tendencies. Free yourself from any manipulative maternal influences. By recognizing the hidden rage towards the mother, you can finally rest in accepting her as she is.

Self-Awareness and Empathy

It is essential to be aware of the environment. Others have their needs, too. Avoid taking yourself as the absolute center of reference. See the other person, and see yourself in them. Understand that another person may have different needs and that their not pleasing you doesn’t mean they don’t love you. The other exists independently of you. You are not the center of the universe; you are the center of your own life.

Confront yourself more than others. Don’t take, exaggerate, misrepresent, deceive, or fabricate. While you may be a great storyteller, don’t use this skill to escape your problems—use it to create literature instead.

How a Healthier Self-Preservation 7 Might Look:

• I would value others and connect with their emotions. • I would accept each moment as it is, without intellectualizing my feelings. • I would simply stay with the feeling, being transparent, without judgment or pretense. • I would stop speculating about tenderness, hugs, and love, and give myself freely, without fear. • I would accept that I don’t love as many people as I might believe. • I would acknowledge my flaws without judgment and rest in that acceptance. • I would stop lying to avoid conflict. • I would recognize my pain, wounds, and allow myself to be vulnerable. • If I feel pain, I can slow down and allow my heart to soften. • I would believe in people and trust life, flowing without control or anticipation. • I would trust that what I need will come in time. • I would cultivate altruism.

• I would feel that not everything is in what I see and touch—that I am part of the universe, and not everything depends on me.