In this episode, we do a deep dive into communication styles—how they show up under pressure, how they differ from person to person, and why understanding them matters so much in real life.

We kick things off with a hilarious and humbling story from a mountain hike that went very wrong, very fast.

The Hike That Changed Everything

The four of us—Thomas, Carmen, Mary Grace, and myself—set out for what we thought would be an easy 8-mile hike. No big deal… or so we thought.

Instead, we somehow ended up hiking 18 miles, all the way up to the Appalachian Approach Trail.

• No cell service
• Not enough water
• Completely unprepared
• And by the time we reached the top with 9 miles still left to walk down, all we had left between us was one bag of nuts

What followed was a perfect real-life example of how different personalities and communication styles show up under stress. Every Enneagram number on that hike made itself very clear—and the reactions were wildly different (and honestly, pretty funny).

Enneagram in Real Life

As we retell the hike, we unpack how each person’s Enneagram number showed up:

• How some stayed calm
• How others took charge
• How some spiraled internally
• And how miscommunication made an already tough situation even harder

It’s a real-world look at how personality differences can either clash—or complement each other—when things don’t go as planned.

Introducing the PDP Framework

From there, the conversation transitions into the P, C, D, E communication framework (also referred to as the PDP tool), a tool I’ve personally used with all three of my kids to help them:

• Understand how they communicate
• Recognize how others communicate differently
• Reduce conflict
• And build healthier conversations

We walk through each letter—P, C, D, and E:

• What each one represents
• How it shows up in communication
• How it can be misunderstood
• And how understanding it can completely change the way you relate to your kids (and everyone else)

📎 A link to the PDP resource is included in the show notes so you can explore it more deeply on your own.

Why This Matters

This episode is a reminder that:

• Communication breaks down fastest when we’re tired, stressed, or unprepared
• Personality differences aren’t problems—they’re information
• And understanding how your kids are wired can turn frustration into empathy

Whether you’re a parent, spouse, leader, or friend, this episode will give you practical insight—and a good laugh along the way. Information on the Enneagram - https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/ Infomation on the PDP- https://wowconsultinginc.com/pdptools/ Connect with Our Perspective 💛 Instagram @ourperspective.podcast 💛 Follow Patricia @patricia_6710 💛 Follow MG @ _marygrace_d