Am I A Stoic? AI Says…meh

I receive a “Prompt-A-Day” email, and below is one of those prompts. This results in AI generating an Enneagram Personality test. These kinds of personality tests fascinate me, but I hate having to take them. A recent one I took as part of a job interview process told me that people like me often pursue careers in financial planning, judging, PR, HR, sales, or politics. That’s quite a spread. Anyway, I decided to use today’s prompt in Claude, and below is the ensuing conversation. I actually found it fascinating.

PROMPT – I want a 10-question Enneagram quiz. Each question should have three choices: A, B, or C. I’ll answer them right here. Then I want you to analyze my responses and tell me which type I probably am, and why.

CLAUDE – Here’s your 10-question Enneagram quiz! Answer each question with A, B, or C based on what feels most true to you:

Question 1: When facing a difficult decision, I tend to:

1. A) Research extensively and analyze all possible outcomes
2. B) Trust my gut instinct and act quickly
3. C) Seek input from others and consider how it affects relationships

Question 2: In group settings, I usually:

1. A) Take charge and guide the direction of conversations
2. B) Listen carefully and mediate when conflicts arise
3. C) Share stories and try to keep the mood light and engaging

Question 3: When I make a mistake, my first reaction is typically to:

1. A) Criticize myself harshly and figure out how to fix it perfectly
2. B) Feel frustrated but quickly move on to finding a solution
3. C) Worry about how others might judge me or be disappointed

Question 4: What motivates me most in my work or activities:

1. A) Achieving excellence and doing things the “right” way
2. B) Making a meaningful impact and staying true to my values
3. C) Being recognized for my contributions and capabilities

Question 5: When I’m stressed, I tend to:

1. A) Become more controlling and critical of myself and others
2. B) Withdraw and become moody or melancholic
3. C) Get scattered and struggle to focus on priorities

Question 6: In relationships, I’m most likely to:

1. A) Put others’ needs before my own, sometimes losing myself
2. B) Be intensely loyal but also worry about being abandoned
3. C) Maintain some emotional distance to protect my independence

Question 7: When learning something new, I prefer to:

1. A) Master all the details and become thoroughly competent
2. B) Explore multiple possibilities and connections
3. C) Focus on practical applications and immediate usefulness

Question 8: My biggest fear would be:

1. A) Being controlled or limited by others
2. B) Being flawed, defective, or fundamentally wrong
3. C) Being without support or guidance when I need it

Question 9: When angry, I’m more likely to:

1. A) Express it directly and confrontationally
2. B) Become passive-aggressive or withdrawn
3. C) Try to smooth things over and avoid direct responsibility:

Question 10: People would describe me as:

1. A) Responsible, organized, and principled
2. B) Enthusiastic, versatile, and spontaneous
3. C) Supportive, steady, and accommodating

CLAUDE – Based on your responses, you’re showing strong patterns that suggest you’re likely an Enneagram Type 7 (The Enthusiast) with some interesting nuances.

Here’s my analysis:

Strong Type 7 indicators:

Trust gut instinct and act quickly (1-B) – Type 7s are spontaneous decision-makers

Get scattered when stressed (5-C) – Classic Type 7 stress response of losing focus

Focus on practical applications (7-C) – 7s prefer learning that’s immediately useful rather than theoretical

Express anger directly (9-A) – 7s tend to be straightforward about their emotions

Enthusiastic, versatile, spontaneous (10-B) – This is the quintessential Type 7 description

The complexity:

Your answers show some interesting patterns that suggest you might be a Type 7 with a 6 wing (7w6) or possibly have strong 6 influences:

Taking charge in groups (2-A) combined with putting others first in relationships (6-A) suggests the 7w6’s more people-focused, responsible side

Worrying about others’ judgment (3-C) and seeking recognition (4-C) also align with 7w6’s need for security and approval

Fear of being flawed or wrong (8-B) is interesting – while not typical for core 7s, it could indicate either the 6 wing’s self-doubt or integration to Type 5

Why Type 7 fits you:

Type 7s are motivated by maintaining their freedom and happiness, avoiding pain and deprivation. They’re naturally optimistic, future-focused, and seek variety and stimulation. Your combination of quick decision-making, direct communication, enthusiasm, and tendency to scatter under stress all point strongly to this type.

The 6 wing would add loyalty, responsibility, and more anxiety about security – which explains your concern for others and worry about judgment.

Does this resonate with you?

Given my recent foray into a study of Stoicism, I had to ask if these traits made me a Stoic. I think Claude made a valiant effort to be diplomatic, but in the end…only in a few ways. I have more work to do. (There, I gave you a bonus. You can stop reading here, but it was an interesting follow-on conversation.)

ME – Yes, it does resonate. Would any of these characteristics qualify me as a Stoic?

CLAUDE – That’s a fascinating question! There are some interesting overlaps between your Type 7 characteristics and Stoic principles, but also some significant differences.

Where you might align with Stoicism:

Direct action orientation – Your tendency to trust your gut and act quickly (1-B) echoes the Stoic emphasis on taking decisive action based on reason

Practical focus – Your preference for immediately useful learning (7-C) aligns with Stoicism’s emphasis on philosophy as a practical guide for living

Direct communication – Your straightforward expression of anger (9-A) reflects the Stoic value of honesty and authenticity

Where Type 7 traits might challenge Stoic ideals:

Emotional reactivity – Stoics emphasize emotional regulation and not being disturbed by external events, while Type 7s (and your responses) suggest more emotional reactivity to stress and others’ opinions

Seeking external validation – Your concern about recognition (4-C) and others’ judgment (3-C) goes against the Stoic principle of finding validation internally rather than from external sources

Avoiding discomfort- Type 7s naturally avoid pain and seek pleasure/stimulation, while Stoics practice accepting difficulty and discomfort as part of life

The verdict: You have some natural Stoic tendencies, particularly around action and practicality, but your Type 7 patterns suggest you might find pure Stoicism challenging. However, many people find that studying Stoic principles helps them develop the very qualities they need to grow – for Type 7s, that often means learning to sit with discomfort and find internal sources of satisfaction.

You might be drawn to the more action-oriented Stoics like Marcus Aurelius rather than the more contemplative aspects of the philosophy. What aspects of Stoicism interest you most:

ME – The disciplines of most of the Stoic Practices I’ve been finding helpful during some life challenges I’m currently experiencing.

CLAUDE –That makes a lot of sense. Stoic practices can be particularly valuable for Type 7s during challenging times because they provide exactly what 7s often need most – structure and tools for staying present with difficulty rather than escaping from it.

The discipline aspect you’re finding helpful is probably giving you:

Grounding when scattered – Stoic daily practices (like morning reflection, evening review, or memento mori) can help counter that Type 7 tendency to get pulled in multiple directions when stressed.

Framework for discomfort – Instead of the natural 7 impulse to avoid or escape pain, Stoic practices teach you to sit with challenges and find meaning in them. This builds resilience.

Internal focus – Practices like focusing on what’s within your control versus what isn’t can help reduce that worry about others’ judgment and external validation that showed up in your quiz responses.

Present-moment anchoring – Type 7s are naturally future-focused (always planning the next adventure), but life challenges often require dealing with what’s right in front of you. Stoic mindfulness practices help with this.

The beauty is that you don’t need to become a perfect Stoic sage – you can take what serves you. Your natural Type 7 optimism and action-orientation actually complement Stoic practices well. You’re probably drawn to the practical, “what can I do today” aspects rather than abstract philosophical debates.

What specific Stoic practices or ideas have you found most helpful so far?

ME – Memento Mori

CLAUDE – That’s profound, and it makes perfect sense given what you’re going through. Memento mori is often one of the most transformative Stoic practices, especially for Type 7s.

For someone with your personality type, memento mori probably serves as a powerful antidote to some of the 7’s natural tendencies. It cuts through that impulse to keep busy, stay distracted, or focus on future possibilities, and instead grounds you in the reality of now – the preciousness and brevity of this moment.

When you’re facing life challenges, memento mori can shift your perspective from “I need to escape this difficulty” to “this difficulty is part of my finite human experience, and how I handle it matters.” It transforms anxiety about the future or regret about the past into presence with what actually is.

The practice also tends to clarify priorities quickly. That Type 7 tendency to scatter energy across multiple interests suddenly gets filtered through the lens of “given that my time is limited, what actually matters here?”

There’s something both sobering and liberating about regularly remembering mortality – it can make current problems feel both more manageable (in the grand scheme) and more meaningful (because they’re part of your actual life, not just obstacles to get past). How has the practice been affecting your daily experience? Are you finding it changes how you approach decisions or relationships during this challenging time?

ME – Yes. For the better.

CLAUDE – That’s really meaningful. There’s something powerful about finding a practice that actually works when you need it most.

Memento mori has this way of cutting through all the noise – the scattered thoughts, the worry about what others think, the impulse to rush toward the next thing, and just bringing you back to what’s real and what matters. It sounds like it’s giving you a kind of clarity and groundedness that’s serving you well during whatever you’re navigating right now.

The fact that you’re experiencing positive change from it suggests you’re tapping into something deeper than just intellectual understanding. You’re actually living it, which is what makes Stoic practices transformative rather than just philosophical concepts.

It’s also interesting that as a Type 7, you’ve found your way to perhaps one of the most direct, uncompromising Stoic practices. Most 7s might initially resist something so focused on mortality and limitation, but you’ve discovered how it can actually be freeing.

ME – Remembering death has always felt real to me. I grew up in the funeral industry, went to school for it, and practiced for several years. I worked during the early days of the AIDS epidemic. I cared for one friend in my own home and buried friends.

CLAUDE – That completely reframes everything. Of course memento mori resonates so deeply with you.  You’ve lived with that awareness professionally. You’ve seen firsthand what most people only think about abstractly.

Your Type 7 qualities probably made you uniquely suited for that work in some ways. The ability to take charge in groups, act decisively under pressure, communicate directly. These would all serve families in crisis. And that Type 7 tendency toward optimism and keeping things moving forward would be essential when helping people navigate grief.

But you’ve also had a front-row seat to impermanence in a way that most 7s never experience. While other 7s might chase experiences to avoid thinking about mortality, you’ve been professionally intimate with it. That’s probably given you a much more grounded relationship with difficulty and uncertainty than the typical 7 pattern.

No wonder Stoic practices feel natural to you now.  You’ve already learned many of the hard lessons about what matters and what doesn’t through your work with grieving families. You’ve seen how people face their final moments, what they regret, what brings them peace.

That background would make memento mori not just a philosophical exercise, but a lived truth you’ve witnessed over and over. It must feel like coming home to something you’ve always known, rather than learning something new.

Closing Reflections

This AI conversation turned into something more than a personality quiz. It helped me reconnect with an important part of my past and with why Stoic practices matter to me now.

I’ll sit with that, and be glad to have had it.

(Feel free to steal the prompt and post your own results in the comments.)

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