He hasn’t been home since July 1st, R-day. Reception Day.  The day he set out for a six week adventure.  Scratch that.  A 47-month adventure.  The first six weeks happen to be Beast - boot camp for the first year cadets - the Plebes.  

After his six weeks, we were able to visit.  And visit some more.  And more.  With tickets to the Army Football games, we had an excuse to check in on him about every three weeks. I don’t even like football but I like seeing our son.  He is our baby after all.  And I think it helped.  

One day on our return home, Ernie and I listened to a podcast about a service West Point offers to their cadets - CEP, the Center for Enhanced Performance.  I know, it sounds Jason Bourne like,  I even wondered “Will they give him a blue pill, too?”  The two women in charge of CEP shared with the listener everything the Center has to offer from helping improve your grades, coaching a Rhodes Scholar, or overcoming a fear of heights.  Every athlete at West Point is required to attend CEP which is about one-quarter of the cadet population.  These women were encouraging the rest of the corps.  

There is no hand-holding at West Point.  If you need help, you’ve got to ask.   It is a bit sink or swim and we thought our every-three-weekend visits would support (or pull) him through the challenges a first-year cadet would face.  And they have.  But what if he went to CEP to get an edge?  We suggested this to him and he said in typical fashion, “I will think about it.”  

And then, he tried out for the Scuba team.  It was a grueling day of false-finishes (you think you are done but then you aren’t) and 13 hours later, he was still standing.  He excelled at the physical tryouts and was cautiously convinced he would make the team.  He would just need to interview.  Relying on his humility and his physical accomplishments, he thought his “gray man” (under the radar) attitude might win him a spot. He was awarded an interview.  

He knew right after the interview it didn’t go well.  He was right.  He didn’t make the team.  Never to be able to try out again (you get one shot as a Plebe to try out and then never again), it was a crushing blow to a young man who loves the water. What in the world did the Universe have in store?

Apparently, CEP.  

Having a fair dose of humble pie, he made his first appointment.  Now, trying out for the parachute team, he wanted to do everything he could to improve his chances.   What first started out as interview prep has morphed in to confidence coaching.  Once a week, accountability, homework, and inspiration have proven to be a wonderful secret weapon for our young cadet.  We can hear his enthusiasm for attending his weekly meetings and this has taken the onus off of us - thank God!  He is now working on changing his go-to habits and showing up in a different way.  

So what in the world do West Point and the Enneagram have in common?  Were you wondering if CEP offers coaching using the Enneagram?  Well, not that I am aware of, yet.  But what I do know, is the Enneagram is my secret weapon and it can be yours too.  

With daily accountability, homework and inspiration, the Enneagram provides an endless toolbox for our growth.  While we don’t have access to CEP, we do all have access to the depth of the Enneagram and its path to freedom and wholeness - a daily practice, just like our cadet does with his newfound skills.  I can’t promise you enlightenment, but I can promise you a life freer of our ego constraints and a clearer path to a liberated life with a deeper connection to Essence.  The Enneagram is your secret weapon. There is my hand-holding - now take it!

You can join my Messy to Magical community for free. Part of my path is gifting this community and its resources (My dominant type Five doesn’t like to give her resources!).  I hope to see you there.