#174 Countertype Self-Preservation Enneagram 2 Interview with Leah Weihe

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Angie talks with Leah about her lifelong relationship with the Enneagram, how she discovered she was a Two as a teenager, and why the self-preservation subtype finally helped everything click. Leah shares how her background in social work, counseling, human resources, and floristry all connect through her deep sensitivity to people, boundaries, and emotional energy.This conversation is especially useful for anyone trying to understand the difference between a classic Two and a self-preservation Two. Leah explains the push-pull between wanting to care for others and not wanting to abandon herself, plus how boundaries, saying no, and preserving energy changed her life.

Leah shares that she first learned the Enneagram from her mom as a teenager and identified as a Two early on, long before subtype language was common.
In grad school for social work, a professor reintroduced the Enneagram, which helped Leah bring it into her clinical practice.
Leah explains that the subtype breakthrough came in the last six years, especially once she learned about self-preservation Two dynamics.
She describes how classic Two descriptions never fully fit because she needs solitude, organization, and safety to feel okay.
Leah talks about burnout in her early social work career, especially in a high-emotion adoption counseling role.
She explains why floristry fits her so well: it combines emotion, beauty, service, and enough distance to preserve her energy.
Angie and Leah unpack the difference between giving as an act of love and giving as a way to earn inclusion.
Leah reflects on how saying no used to feel terrifying, but now feels necessary and liberating.
They discuss how self-preservation Twos may use charm, warmth, or a “cute” presentation to gain inclusion, but can become resentful if it is not authentic.
Leah describes how Twos can read other people’s emotions easily but struggle to identify their own feelings until they become intense or physical.
They explore how boundaries, rest, and movement are not optional for self-preservation Twos, even if exercise or body awareness do not come naturally.
Leah shares how she became more selective about donations and generosity in her business so she could give more intentionally.
The episode closes with a discussion of rejection sensitivity, self-awareness, and what Leah genuinely loves about being a Two.

Key Quotes:

“I want to be a two, I want to care for people, I want to help people, but I don’t want to abandon myself in the process.”
“The idea of saying no to someone was like horrifying.”
“Helping is not always manipulative.”