E-Mode 6 · The Axis of Confidence

At a glance

The Existential Axis of Confidence

The Existential Axis of Confidence takes shape when, in the early years of life, a child develops a particular attention to the possibility of facing life on their own, of standing firmly in the world guided by an inner compass. This Axis is linked to developing a basic confidence in one's own ability to be present, decide and act in reality, even in the face of uncertainty or challenge.

In this way, Confidence becomes an organizing existential Axis: a way of organizing life experience around the ability to answer for oneself in life, to stay on one's feet amid uncertainty, and to develop the inner guidance needed to move through it with clarity, steadiness and decisiveness.

The fact that the Axis is called Confidence does not mean the person always lives from the Trust dynamic: like every Axis, it can be lived from the Fear dynamic or from the Trust dynamic.

Childhood context

Exploring the childhood context helps us understand more deeply how certain traits develop from an early age. Many of the behavior patterns we see in adults are rooted in childhood experiences and family dynamics. Understanding the context in which our early way of facing existence was established helps us understand how we face situations and challenges today.

Cautious, loyal children

From an early age, a child with E-Mode 6 tends to show a particular sensitivity to the safety and stability of their surroundings.

• Cautious and alert: they may be especially aware of possible threats or risky situations.
• Seeking validation: they try to meet the expectations of those around them in order to feel backed and safe.
• Rules and norms: they often care about following the rules to avoid mistakes or conflict.
• Dependent self-esteem: they feel more satisfied when they have the support of authority figures.
• Inner negativity: they may live with a deep insecurity and a latent fear.
• Projecting fear: that inner negativity is projected onto their surroundings and creates anxiety.
• Selective trust: socially, they prefer to be with reliable people and in predictable settings.

From Fear

What a person with E-Mode 6 thinks (Perspective), feels (Affective) and does (Effective) in the Fear dynamic.

Perspective · ThinkFrom Fear

What do they think?

From fear, often tied to insecurity and anxiety about stability and support, their thoughts may reflect constant doubts and worries. Some examples of their inner narrative:

• Trusting others: “Can I trust this person?” This is a central theme: they constantly look for signs of reliability in others.
• Anticipation: “What if…?” They often imagine future scenarios and worry about possible threats or complications.
• Preparation: “I need to be ready for the worst.” They tend to over-plan for situations that might pose a risk.
• Suspicion: “I don't want to be fooled.” Suspicion and wariness appear out of fear of being betrayed or caught off guard.
• Doubt: “Am I doing the right thing?” They doubt their own judgment and need outside validation.
• Loyalty: “I must be loyal and do right by my group.” They place great value on loyalty and commitment to their community or inner circle.
• Risk: “Does this put my safety, or my loved ones' safety, at risk?” They constantly analyze situations in terms of risk.
• Information: “I need more information before I decide.” They feel safer when they can gather and process data before making a decision.
• Allies: “Who's got my back?” They assess who their real allies are in times of difficulty or uncertainty.

Affective · FeelFrom Fear

What do they feel?

They tend to act from caution and preparation, driven by the fear of abandonment and of lacking support. When that fear takes hold, their behavior can be colored by different emotions:

• Anxiety: when they perceive a threat to their safety or stability, worrying constantly about what could go wrong.
• Distrust: they may become suspicious, question other people's intentions or doubt the reliability of the structures that support them.
• Insecurity: they doubt their ability to face challenges without an environment or a group that makes them feel safe.
• Vigilance: a constant state of alert, watchful for any sign of danger.
• Worry: about their own wellbeing and that of their loved ones, trying to anticipate problems.
• Caution: in the face of the unknown, they act with extreme care before committing or making decisions.
• Defensiveness: if they feel their safety is at risk, they may react defensively or combatively to protect themselves or their inner circle.

Effective · DoFrom Fear

What do they do?

From Fear, they are driven by the fear of lacking support and security. That fear can show up in their behavior and decisions in several ways:

• Seeking security: they may become extremely loyal to a cause, an ideology or a person, looking to it as an anchor of stability and predictability.
• Alertness: they are very aware of potential dangers in their surroundings; they anticipate and prepare for the worst-case scenarios.
• Doubt: their fear of getting it wrong can make them indecisive and skeptical, constantly questioning every step.
• Projecting distrust: they sometimes project their insecurity onto others and become suspicious of other people's intentions.
• Seeking confirmation: they need advice or approval from others before making important decisions, for fear of getting it wrong.
• Avoid or confront: when facing a threat, they may avoid the risk or the confrontation (the so-called phobic reaction) or, on the contrary, respond with firmness, defiance or aggression (the so-called counterphobic reaction). Both are responses to the same fear.
• Clinging to authority: they hold on to authority figures or stable systems to feel safe and oriented.
• Alliances: they build strong ties with groups, families or communities to reinforce their sense of mutual support.
• Loyalty: even from fear, their loyalty may intensify, holding tightly to those they consider reliable.
• Excessive control: they try to control their surroundings or the people around them to regain a sense of security.
• Rigidity: their thinking may become rigid and resist change, even when the change is positive or necessary.
• Critical attitude: they tend to focus on what is wrong and develop a critical or cynical attitude.
• Burnout from stress: at the disintegrated level, stress overwhelms them and makes it hard for them to act effectively.

From Trust

What a person with E-Mode 6 thinks, feels and does in the Trust dynamic.

Reference character: Harry Potter (Harry Potter)

Perspective · ThinkFrom Trust

What do they think?

When they live their Axis from the Trust dynamic, their thought patterns change significantly: they move away from worry and distrust toward a more positive and confident mindset.

• Self-assurance: “I'm sure of what I'm capable of.”
• Optimism: “We can trust that things can turn out well.”
• Trust in others: “I can trust other people.”
• Accepting uncertainty: “It's okay not to have all the answers.”
• Ability to cope: “I'm able to face whatever comes.”
• Enjoyment: “It's okay to relax and enjoy myself.”
• Self-worth: “My worth doesn't depend on always being on alert.”
• Loyalty to themselves: “Loyalty includes trusting myself and my decisions.”
• Autonomy: “It's valuable to be part of a team, but I can also be independent.”
• Growth: “Difficulties are opportunities to grow.”

This shift lets them develop a stronger sense of inner peace and confidence, reflected in thoughts that support wellbeing, emotional stability and a more balanced view of life.

Affective · FeelFrom Trust

What do they feel?

They experience emotions that reflect a more resilient and stable state:

• Confidence: in themselves and in their ability to handle life's uncertainties.
• Calm: inner peace and calm, even in situations that would once have made them anxious.
• Optimism: they look to the future with hope and positive anticipation, instead of worry and fear.
• Courage: they dare to act despite the risks and approach life bravely.
• Gratitude: a deep appreciation for their relationships and support networks, recognizing and valuing their own loyalty and that of others.
• Relaxation: no longer in a constant state of vigilance, they can relax, be more present and enjoy life as it is.
• Emotional stability: they keep it even in the face of uncertainty or change.
• Acceptance: they accept that they can't control everything and are more willing to go with the flow of life and its circumstances.

They largely free themselves from the anxiety that characterizes them in the Fear dynamic, and can take part in life more easily and with less resistance.

Effective · DoFrom Trust

What do they do?

Their actions reflect a high degree of self-confidence and emotional stability:

• Proactivity: they take the initiative from inner confidence, instead of reacting from fear.
• Collaboration: they work well in teams, with a healthy balance between leading and following, as needed.
• Trust in others: they build trusting relationships and let others take on important roles without constantly checking or doubting their intentions or abilities.
• Relaxation and play: they take time to relax and have fun, knowing they don't always have to be on guard.
• Resilience: they bounce back from setbacks, which they see as temporary and manageable rather than as catastrophes.
• Embracing change: they adapt more easily and see change as a natural part of life and an opportunity to grow.
• Positivity: a hopeful attitude, focused on the good and on the potential of each situation.
• Self-assertion: they express their opinions and needs confidently, without being aggressive or passive.
• Balance: between the need for security and the willingness to take calculated risks.
• Facing fear: instead of avoiding what they fear, they face it and work through it with courage.

These behaviors show the transformation from a more fearful, defensive state toward a more adaptive and emotionally healthy way of life.

From Fear to Trust

The integration process for E-Mode 6 begins when they stop acting, feeling and thinking from fear, actively working on their fears and exploring new possibilities, and start doing so from trust. In this way they enrich their way of facing existence and begin to show positive traits of E-Mode 9 (inner peace, the ability to mediate and reconcile, and letting go of constant worry), which they usually did not develop or did not stimulate enough. They move toward calm and a more relaxed way of facing life.

Integration is, therefore, the process through which a broader range of competencies, skills and resources is acquired to build a fuller, more authentic existence.

Perspective · Think

Perspective: from Fear to Trust

To develop thoughts more aligned with trust, these adjustments can help:

• From doubt to trust: instead of constantly questioning other people's intentions and situations, learning to trust their own judgment and those who have proven reliable.
• From pessimism to realism: replacing the tendency to imagine negative scenarios with a more balanced approach that considers both positive and negative outcomes.
• From over-preparation to flexibility: instead of trying to anticipate and prepare for every eventuality, developing the adaptability to respond to whatever comes up.
• From indecision to decision: daring to decide without waiting for absolute certainty, accepting that uncertainty is a natural part of life.
• From external security to inner confidence: building an inner sense of security and self-assertion, instead of constantly depending on outside validation.
• From avoidance to facing things: taking on challenges directly, trusting their own resources.
• From fatalism to hope: a more hopeful view of the future, trusting that they can handle whatever comes.
• From dependence to autonomy: strengthening independence in their judgments and decisions, recognizing their own competence.
• From reactivity to proactivity: moving from reacting to threats to acting in line with their values and personal goals.
• From a narrow view to a broader perspective: widening their outlook and considering several points of view before reacting or deciding.

These shifts in thinking bring calm, optimism and confidence to the fore. Integrating means embracing trust in oneself and in the world, reducing the anxiety and fear that so often hold them back.

Affective · Feel

Affective: from Fear to Trust

To work with their emotions in favor of integration, they can try:

• Serenity: practicing relaxation and meditation techniques that promote inner calm and counter their habitual anxiety.
• Positivity: consciously looking for the positive aspects of situations and people, to reduce the tendency toward pessimism and distrust.
• Empathy: understanding others more deeply, which makes emotional connection easier and lessens fears about other people's intentions.
• The present: training themselves to enjoy the moment without getting caught in anticipatory worries.
• Vulnerability: recognizing it as a natural part of the human experience, which allows a deeper connection with others.
• Acceptance: accepting reality as it is, instead of constantly focusing on possible mistakes or threats.
• Emotional expression: learning to identify and communicate emotions in a healthy way, avoiding repression or projection.
• Gratitude: keeping a gratitude journal or regularly reflecting on what they are grateful for, to cultivate a more positive view of life.
• Self-acceptance: accepting themselves with their strengths and weaknesses, which reduces the need for outside validation.
• Less self-criticism: turning down the volume of their inner critic and replacing it with a more compassionate and encouraging inner dialogue.
• Interpersonal trust: gradually increasing their trust in others, understanding that not everything has to be controlled or anticipated.

Effective · Do

Effective: from Fear to Trust

Behaviors that can help:

• Self-confidence: practicing self-assertion and recognizing their own abilities and achievements.
• Present-moment awareness: mindfulness techniques that help them live in the present and reduce worry about the future.
• Patience: working on it consciously, to reduce the need for control and the tendency to get defensive.
• Facing fears: identifying specific fears and facing them little by little, to demystify them and take away their power.
• Delegating: practicing trust in others by delegating tasks and responsibilities, recognizing that they don't need to handle everything alone.
• Accepting uncertainty: recognizing that it is part of life and that it isn't always possible, or necessary, to anticipate every outcome.
• Letting go of the need for certainty: training themselves to tolerate ambiguity, understanding that absolute certainty is unattainable and often unnecessary.
• Reflecting before acting: taking a moment before reacting helps avoid impulsive, fear-based responses.
• Positive support: surrounding themselves with people who foster security and trust and who offer a balanced outlook.
• Celebrating autonomy: recognizing and celebrating the moments when they act independently and successfully.
• Flexibility: practicing adaptability and opening up to new approaches and solutions, even when they challenge their own safety rules.

Levels of integration

Disintegrated

Fear and paranoia. Insecurity and desperation increase. They may become paranoid and aggressive, with obsessive fears, and end up attacking real or imagined enemies. They feel guilty and may come to hate themselves, which leads them to punish themselves and court misfortune, destroying what they have achieved.

• Effective: paranoid and aggressive, they attack real or imagined enemies.
• Affective: fear and paranoia; rising insecurity and desperation.
• Perspective: a destructive outlook, with paralyzing thoughts, projection of worst-case scenarios and paranoid mental accusations.

Semi-integrated

Loyalty and ambivalence. They begin to fear losing their independence and look for security in rules, authorities and philosophies. Although they give themselves over to the people and organizations they believe will give them support and guidance, that very surrender bothers them. They become more cautious, impulsive and indecisive out of worry over the conflicting demands of their commitments. They may become authoritarian and accusatory, bitter and skeptical, blaming others and getting into power struggles.

• Effective: loyalty and ambivalence; they look for security in rules and authorities, and become cautious and impulsive.
• Affective: inner and outer struggles, with more indecision due to conflicting commitments.
• Perspective: an authoritarian and accusatory stance, with bitterness and skepticism; they blame others and get into power struggles.

Integrated

Independence and courage. They move beyond the need to depend on something or someone outside themselves and find confidence in their inner guidance. They feel self-assured, serene and brave. They are friendly and reliable, and seek to build stable connections with those around them. They are responsible and cooperative in creating and sustaining systems that benefit everyone, disciplined, practical and able to foresee problems.

• Effective: independence and courage; they feel self-assured and are able to foresee problems.
• Affective: inner security; they are friendly and reliable, and seek stable, free connections.
• Perspective: a disciplined, practical outlook; they are responsible and cooperative in creating and sustaining beneficial systems.

C-Modes: C5 and C7

C-Modes (complementary modes) influence and nuance the characteristics of each person's E-Mode, creating greater variety and richness in behavior. They are the E-Modes on either side of one's own: if someone has E-Mode 9, their C-Modes are 8 and 1.

Understanding C-Modes helps explain the wide range of behaviors that people with the same E-Mode can show. An E-Mode can show positive and negative traits of one or both C-Modes, only the negative ones, only the positive ones, or a combination.

Perspective triad

The three triads group the E-Modes according to the dimension in which their way of facing existence is mainly anchored: the effective (action), the affective (emotion) and the perspective (thought).

E-Mode 6 belongs to the perspective triad: it covers the functions of perception and thinking we need to find our bearings and feel safe. It is associated with intelligence and information processing.

• Focus: understanding, analysis and conceptualization.
• Seeks: security.
• Underlying feeling: fear of threats from the outer world and the inner world.
• Difficulties: insecurity and anxiety.

Integration and disintegration strategy