In this episode, I welcome back Roxanne Harrison to explore how ancient wisdom can help modern leaders break free from the patterns that create burnout. As we enter the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese lunar calendar—a year of intense energy and transformation—Roxanne shares how each of the nine Enneagram types can navigate high-energy seasons without exhausting themselves. If you've ever felt like you're running the same patterns over and over, giving everything to everyone else, or staying so busy that you miss the richness of the present moment, this conversation offers a powerful lens for reflection and renewal.
The Year of the Fire Horse: Energy and Transformation
The Chinese zodiac works in 60-year cycles, combining 12 animals with five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water). We're moving from the Year of the Wood Snake—which invited us to shed limiting beliefs and loosen our grip on old stories—into the Year of the Fire Horse, which calls us to rediscover freedom, adventure, and full vitality. Roxanne explains how the fire element ignites passion and transformation, while the horse represents untamed energy and movement. This combination creates an invitation: What would it look like to let go of what's holding you back and step into new energy?
Creating Rhythm, Not Rituals
One of the most practical insights from this conversation is the shift from rigid rituals to natural rhythms. Instead of forcing yourself into habits that feel like "shoulds," Roxanne encourages aligning with the energy of nature—the lunar cycles, the seasons, even your own energetic patterns throughout the day. When you work with your natural rhythms instead of against them, you create sustainable practices that energize rather than deplete you.
Walking Through All Nine Enneagram Types
Roxanne and I walk through each Enneagram type, exploring what each needs to loosen their grip on and what new energy they're being invited into:
Type 8 (The Challenger): Let go of pushing the river and the belief that everything is a battle. Practice using just the right amount of energy instead of excessive force.
Type 9 (The Peacemaker): Find a safe place to express anger and push boundaries. Getting into action clarifies priorities and commitments—anger can be a powerful motivator.
Type 1 (The Perfectionist): Loosen the grip on needing to be right and appropriate. Try spontaneous dancing, get a massage, or color outside the lines of your self-imposed rules.
Type 2 (The Helper): Notice when you're helping without being asked. Shift focus inward and do something creative just for you—write yourself a love letter.
Type 3 (The Achiever): Catch yourself when everything becomes about goals and tasks. Try improv or something you're not guaranteed to be good at to loosen the fear of failure.
Type 4 (The Individualist): Notice when you focus on what's missing or what could be. Keep a gratitude journal to anchor yourself in the present and what's actually going well.
Type 5 (The Investigator): Recognize that relationships are resources, not energy drains. Reach out to someone once a week, and consider body practices like Qigong or yoga to get out of your head.
Type 6 (The Loyalist): Be on the lookout when you shift from problem-solver to problem-seeker. Write down the things you thought might happen that didn't happen to shift out of hyper-vigilance.
Type 7 (The Enthusiast): Slow down and be present. The richness of life includes the full wheel of emotions—sadness and struggle alongside joy—and rushing to the next thing means missing it all.
The Core Message: Notice Your Patterns
Throughout our conversation, Roxanne emphasizes that our patterns aren't wrong—they're brilliant adaptive strategies that helped us survive and succeed. The work isn't about fixing yourself; it's about noticing when you're running your pattern and asking: Is this still serving me, or is it now the very thing keeping me from what I want? As Roxanne says, "Until we can catch ourselves, we won't be able to change."
Resources Mentioned:
Roxanne Harrison's workshop: "Riding the Fire Horse: An Enneagram Approach to Avoid Burnout" – Sunday, March 1st at Pleasure Point Dance Studio in Santa Cruz. Registration at pleasurepointsanctuary.com
Learn more about Roxanne's work at roxanneharrison.com
Visit ClaireLaughlin.com and connect with me @Claire Laughlin Consulting on Instagram.
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