We’re back from break and digging into Type 2 (The Helper) in our Lost in Translation series. What you mean as a simple boundary,“Thanks, I’m good”,can land as rejection to a Two. Damon and Kelly unpack common misinterpretations, offer exact phrases that keep connection and clarity, and share a few “gut triad” confessions about learning to ask for help.
What gets “Lost in Translation” for Type 2
When you say “I don’t need your help,” a Two may hear:
- “You’re not valuable.”
- “You’re making this about you.”
- “You’re too much / smothering.”
- “We’re fine without you.”
- “You crossed a boundary.”
Say It Better (Exact Scripts)
Use/adjust these word-for-word:
- Affirm + Boundary
- “Thank you, that was really thoughtful. For this one, I need to handle it myself.”
- “I can tell you care. I’m okay for now, but I appreciate you checking.”
- Affirm + Future Invite
- “You’re great at spotting needs. I’m covered at the moment; if that changes, I’ll reach out.”
- “Could we hold off for now while I get my arms around it? If I need a hand later, I’ll let you know.”
- Normalize Support
- “I’m learning to ask for help better. If that comes up here, you’ll be the first I ask.”
Why this works
Type 2s link worth to being helpful. Appreciation + clarity keeps connection intact while honoring boundaries.
Reframes & Reflection
- For Speakers (all types):
- “Am I rejecting the help or the person?”
- “Can I name their intention before I say no?”
- “Do I actually need help and pride is answering for me?”
- For Type 2s:
- “Is this a ‘no’ to the task or a ‘no’ to me?”
- Truth to practice: “I’m wanted for what I do, and loved for who I am.”
One-week Practice
- Pick one script above and use it once this week.
- If you’re a Two, allow yourself one clean no and receive one no without a story.
Follow us on Apple Podcasts and leave a review:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/enneagramu/id1691530997
Follow us on Spotify and leave a review:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2kbIVeByJn4WDoN3kFlUId?si=65a99542c46a49fa
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie is America's hardest working grassroots activist who has your inside scoop on the biggest news of the day and what's really going on behind the headlines. The founder of Turning Point USA and one of social media's most engaged personalities, Charlie is on the front lines of America’s culture war, mobilizing hundreds of thousands of students on over 3,500 college and high school campuses across the country, bringing you your daily dose of clarity in a sea of chaos all from his signature no-holds-barred, unapologetically conservative, freedom-loving point of view. You can also watch Charlie Kirk on Salem News Channel