E-Mode 7 · The Axis of Happiness

At a glance

The Existential Axis of Happiness

The Existential Axis of Happiness takes shape when, in the early years of life, a child develops a particular attention to the realm of wellbeing, enjoyment and fulfillment. This Axis is linked to the world of possibilities, curiosity, a variety of experiences and the intention to live life joyfully and satisfyingly.

From this perspective, existence begins to organize itself around a natural inclination to seek what excites, to explore the new, to find the bright side of situations and to respond to the world with optimism and energy. It is a way of being in the world in which joy, the freedom to explore and satisfaction appear as meaningful, guiding reference points.

Happiness thus becomes the center from which personal experience is organized. Existential attention focuses on how to experience wellbeing and fulfillment, how to keep possibilities open and how to go through life without getting trapped in pain or deprivation: a structuring Axis that gives meaning and direction to life.

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.

Enthusiastic, curious children

From an early age, a child with E-Mode 7 tends to stand out for their positive energy, their enthusiasm and their curiosity about the world around them.

• They are playful and outgoing, and constantly seek new experiences and adventures.
• Their self-esteem is often tied to their ability to live life in a positive, joyful way.
• They feel more satisfied when they are recognized for their creativity and their optimistic spirit.
• They are often seen as cheeky, funny, indulged children who always get what they want thanks to their wit and charm.
• They sometimes find it hard to sustain attention over time and can get bored easily if they are not stimulated.
• They may have a natural resistance to restrictions and strict rules.
• They seek freedom and independence, sometimes avoiding difficult or unpleasant situations through distraction and evasion.

In play and in social situations, they enjoy the company of friends and classmates, show a natural knack for finding fun in almost any situation and can be especially imaginative.

From Fear

What a person with E-Mode 7 thinks (Perspective), feels (Affective) and does (Effective) in the Fear dynamic.

Perspective · ThinkFrom Fear

What do they think?

Driven by the fear of getting trapped in pain and limitation, they may have recurring thoughts that reflect their need to avoid those emotions and to seek freedom and happiness. Some examples of their inner narrative:

• Avoiding pain: “I need to keep busy so I don't feel trapped or bored.”
• Seeking novelty: “There always has to be something exciting and new on the horizon.” “How can people get bored? There's always something new to discover or do!” “There's so much to discover and do that one lifetime isn't enough.”
• Impatience with routine: “Routine is suffocating and keeps me from enjoying life.” “How boring to always do the same thing; I can't be bothered.”
• Need for options: “I need to have several plans and alternatives to feel safe. If this plan doesn't work, what other exciting options do I have?”
• Fear of lack: “The idea of losing my freedom or not having the resources to live the way I want distresses me.”
• Rejecting commitment: “What if I commit here and then something better comes along? Is there something else that would excite me more?”
• Rationalizing indulgence: “I deserve it! Why suffer so much when life is meant to be enjoyed?”
• Anxiety about limits: “I can't say no.” “I don't like being told what to do.”
• Optimism as a shield: “Negative people wear me out; you can get something good out of everything.” “Whatever happened, I'm sure it's for the best.”
• Contempt for pain: “I'm going to keep negative emotions under control; they're useless.” “Why suffer when you can be happy?”

These thoughts can lead them to seek instant gratification and avoid deeper problems.

Affective · FeelFrom Fear

What do they feel?

Driven by the fear of getting trapped in emotional pain and limitation, they may experience intense emotions that they often try to avoid or soften:

• Anxiety: at the possibility that their freedom will be limited or that they will run out of future options, especially when there is a gap between their expectations or fantasies and reality.
• Impatience: frustration with situations or processes they perceive as limiting or boring.
• Restlessness: unease when they have to deal with routines or situations that limit their sense of freedom and adventure.
• Dissatisfaction: even with many positive experiences, they may feel dissatisfied because they believe there is always something better.
• Boredom: when life doesn't constantly offer them new and exciting stimulation.
• Avoiding pain: they actively avoid situations that could cause them pain or emotional discomfort.
• Forced optimism: they adopt an attitude of extreme optimism as a defense mechanism so as not to face emotional difficulties.
• Frustration: when they can't explore all their ideas or interests. Imagination is often more pleasant than reality, and frustration grows when concrete experience falls short of the ideal.
• Emotional ups and downs: they swing between euphoria and sadness; they get excited about what is new and fall into disenchantment when reality doesn't live up to their high expectations.
• Feeling trapped: an intense fear of being trapped or limited, especially in emotional situations or long-term commitments.

If these emotions are not managed, they can lead to impulsiveness and a constant search for stimulation, which makes them neglect the present because they are projected toward the future or toward more appealing ideas, moving away from a genuine encounter with themselves, with others and with the possibility of building a meaningful reality.

Effective · DoFrom Fear

What do they do?

From Fear, they are driven by the urge to pursue rewarding experiences and stay excited, always planning new adventures, and by the fear of getting trapped in suffering or of their needs going unmet. They may show these behaviors:

• Seeking stimulation: they constantly look for new experiences, ideas and adventures that promise excitement and satisfaction.
• Avoiding pain: they avoid facing pain, sadness or boredom, and use planning and fantasy to divert attention from uncomfortable feelings.
• Lack of consistency: they are impatient and discontent with their current situation and try to change it quickly.
• Constant activity: they keep up a high level of activity and jump from one task to another without finishing them, to stay busy and distracted.
• Excessive optimism: they downplay or minimize real problems, as a way of avoiding suffering.
• Overcommitment: they commit to more activities than they can handle so as not to miss out on anything.
• Justification: they rationalize their evasive behavior and their search for novelty as a way of making the most of life.
• Focus on possibilities: they focus more on future opportunities than on present reality.
• Indecision: they find it hard to decide because they don't want to close themselves off from other options.
• Self-indulgence: they give themselves over to pleasures to avoid pain or dissatisfaction.

From Trust

What a person with E-Mode 7 thinks, feels and does in the Trust dynamic.

Reference character: Anna (Frozen)

Perspective · ThinkFrom Trust

What do they think?

When they live their Axis from Trust, their thoughts reflect a deeper connection with their inner world and an acceptance of every side of life, including the less pleasant ones:

• Balance: “Life isn't just about seeking pleasure; I can also find meaning in difficult experiences.”
• Accepting reality: “It's okay to face and accept reality as it is, not as I'd like it to be.”
• Awareness of others: they take in the needs and feelings of the people around them, not only their own need for stimulation.
• Valuing the present: “The present moment is worth as much as, or more than, my plans for the future.”
• Depth: “The depth of an experience can be as rewarding as novelty.”
• Inner calm: “I can find serenity and satisfaction even when I'm not on the move or looking for something new.”
• Commitment: “Commitment to people and projects enriches me and builds a life with purpose.”
• Gratitude: “I'm grateful for what I have here and now, without needing more to be happy.”
• Meaningful bonds: “Deep, lasting relationships are as important as exciting experiences.”
• Personal growth: “Growth often comes from challenges and doesn't always have to be pleasant.”
• Personal responsibility: “I'm responsible for my own happiness and wellbeing, and that responsibility doesn't have to be a burden.”

This change in mindset takes them from the constant search for stimulation and the avoidance of pain to a mature acceptance of life as a whole: they can enjoy their natural optimism and enthusiasm with their feet on the ground and committed to their relationships and responsibilities.

Affective · FeelFrom Trust

What do they feel?

They experience more balanced and sustainable emotions:

• Satisfaction: content with life as it is, without needing new experiences to feel complete.
• Emotional depth: they let their emotions flow and live them fully, even the uncomfortable or painful ones, with a sense of security and without the urge to change them.
• Acceptance: of their negative emotions and of less pleasant experiences, without needing to escape from them.
• Gratitude: genuine gratitude for small everyday joys and not only for big thrills.
• Patience: they can wait and enjoy the path toward their goals, not only the anticipation or the immediate result.
• Connection: they deepen their relationships and invest time and energy in building meaningful, lasting bonds.
• Compassion: their optimism and enthusiasm extend into genuine empathy for others and their needs.
• Calm: inner peace, even when things don't go as planned.
• Stability: steadier emotions, without the extreme highs and lows they sometimes seek in order to feel alive.
• Reflection: they feel comfortable spending time on introspection and value moments of quiet.
• Realistic happiness: they keep their optimistic, joyful nature, but within a realistic frame that accepts life in all its facets.

Their pursuit of pleasure and adventure is balanced by introspection, intellectual curiosity and an appreciation for simple things, and they cultivate a wisdom that goes beyond the next thrill.

Effective · DoFrom Trust

What do they do?

Their actions become more balanced and focused:

• They face challenges: instead of avoiding difficult situations, they take them on with courage and a problem-solving attitude.
• They commit: to long-term projects, people and goals, and recognize the value of consistency and patience.
• They are grateful: they appreciate the present moment and value what they have, instead of always looking for the next thing.
• They plan realistically: they balance their desire for future adventures with a sensible assessment of what is practical and possible.
• They concentrate: they pay attention to the task at hand and finish projects before moving on to the next one.
• They embrace everyday life: they find joy and satisfaction in routines and obligations, not only in what is new and exciting.
• They are disciplined: they develop and maintain a personal discipline that helps them reach their goals even in the face of obstacles or distractions.

The need for variety and stimulation is balanced by depth, introspection and the ability to concentrate. They learn to enjoy the process as much as the result and build a true joy even in difficult situations.

From Fear to Trust

The integration process for E-Mode 7 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 5 (concentration and reflection, a positive appreciation of solitude and the ability to manage impulsiveness), which they usually did not develop or did not stimulate enough. They move toward greater depth.

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

Perspective · Think

Perspective: from Fear to Trust

Changes in their way of thinking help them balance their innate optimism and their appetite for adventure with a greater acceptance of reality and a more patient, reflective and contemplative attitude:

• From avoidance to acceptance: from “I have to avoid pain at all costs” to “I can face and handle pain as part of a full life.”
• From outer seeking to inner satisfaction: from “Happiness comes from outside experiences” to “True satisfaction comes from a sense of fulfillment and inner peace.”
• From instant to delayed gratification: from “I need to satisfy my desires right now” to “Waiting and working toward long-term goals is rewarding.”
• From impatience to patience: from “Everything has to happen now” to “I can enjoy the process and be patient while things unfold.”
• From unrealistic optimism to realistic hope: from “Everything will always turn out fine” to “I can keep hoping even when things are uncertain.”
• From overstimulation to depth: from “I need more experiences to feel alive” to “I find depth and meaning in simpler, more sustainable experiences.”
• From fear of confinement to valuing structure: from “Structure and routine box me in” to “Structure can be a safe base from which to explore.”
• From planning to presence: from “I'm always planning the future” to “I'm present and engaged with the here and now.”
• From excessive positivity to accepting the negative: from “I have to stay positive” to “It's healthy to recognize and accept negative emotions too.”
• From multitasking to concentration: from “I can do lots of things at once” to “When I focus on one thing at a time, my work is better, I'm more effective and I enjoy it more.”

These shifts encourage them to embrace life in all its facets, to appreciate the present moment and to find satisfaction in consistency and personal growth, not only in novelty and excitement.

Affective · Feel

Affective: from Fear to Trust

To manage their emotions in a more balanced way, they can try:

• Recognizing and accepting emotions: all of them, including the less pleasant ones, as part of a complete human experience.
• Going deeper instead of escaping: when a difficult emotion comes up, instead of looking for a quick way out, taking the time to explore what lies behind it and what it teaches.
• Tolerating frustration: consciously increasing their tolerance for frustration and boredom, recognizing that these are passing states that can lead to meaningful growth.
• Reflecting before acting: before acting on impulse to relieve discomfort, pausing to think about the long-term consequences.
• Creative expression: channeling emotions, even challenging ones, through writing, music or art.
• Meaningful bonds: building deep relationships where they can share their authentic emotions.
• Emotional education: reading about emotions and how to manage them, or seeking guidance from a therapist or a coach.
• Long-term consequences: considering how avoiding negative emotions affects their life and relationships, and facing situations instead of avoiding them.
• Accepting the process: accepting that emotional growth takes time and that it's okay not to always feel joyful or excited.

Moving toward integration, they balance their natural pursuit of pleasure and positivity with the acceptance of the full range of human emotions, and their experience of life becomes richer and more nuanced.

Effective · Do

Effective: from Fear to Trust

Behaviors that can help:

• Constructive confrontation: facing difficult or painful situations instead of avoiding them or looking for quick distractions.
• Meditation: practicing mindfulness and living in the present moment without constantly looking for the next stimulus.
• Commitment: sustaining long-term projects and relationships, resisting the temptation to jump to the next thing when the novelty fades.
• Routines: establishing and keeping daily routines that provide structure and stability.
• Self-reflection: regularly setting aside time for introspection to better understand their motivations and emotions.
• Recording thoughts: keeping a journal or writing down reflections to process what they think and focus on their ideas.
• Moderation: moderating the pursuit of pleasure and stimulation, recognizing the value of simple things and of the inner world.
• Emotional expression: allowing themselves to feel and express a wider range of emotions, even uncomfortable ones.
• Gratitude: consciously focusing on what they already have and on what is good in their current life.
• Active listening: truly listening to others, without mentally planning the next adventure while the other person is talking.
• Responsibility: owning their actions and commitments, and keeping them even when obstacles arise.
• Being present: avoiding constant distractions (the phone, too many open tabs, several conversations at once, a mind that wanders while the other person is talking) and meeting the task and the other person here and now.
• Being alone: experiencing periods of solitude and stillness to reflect and recharge, instead of constantly seeking company and activity.

These behaviors help them find satisfaction in consistency and depth, as well as in variety. As they integrate, they enjoy life more as it is, even in its most everyday aspects, and find joy in achievement and personal fulfillment.

Levels of integration

Disintegrated

Insatiable and elusive, they act impulsively and irresponsibly to escape pain and anxiety, without finding true joy. They swing between frantic activity and depression, and may end up overwhelmed and paralyzed, feeling trapped and out of options.

• Effective: they act impulsively and irresponsibly, trying to escape pain and anxiety without finding true joy.
• Affective: they swing between euphoria and depression, lose control and act thoughtlessly to avoid suffering.
• Perspective: they come to feel trapped and out of options, overwhelmed and paralyzed, possibly facing serious financial and physical problems because of their excesses.

Semi-integrated

They grow restless about missing out on other experiences and keep busy with multiple projects, but are easily distracted. They become impatient, want instant gratification and rarely feel satisfied, even when their wishes come true.

• Effective: voracity and consumerism; they take on multiple projects but are easily distracted.
• Affective: impatience and a search for instant gratification; they rarely feel satisfied, which leads to weariness and excess.
• Perspective: a self-centered, exaggerated outlook; they constantly seek new experiences but feel dissatisfied even when their wishes come true.

Integrated

Joyful and content, they let go of the belief that they need certain objects or experiences in order to be well. They take an active part in life, with realism and productivity, and find joy in the here and now, appreciating what they have.

• Effective: they take an active part in life with realism and productivity, and experience joy and satisfaction.
• Affective: they feel fully content and grateful; they appreciate the present and no longer need specific objects or experiences.
• Perspective: a healthy optimism, focused on possibilities, that balances enthusiasm for the new with a practical, realistic approach.

C-Modes: C6 and C8

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 7 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 aspects of the inner world.
• Problems: insecurity and anxiety.

Integration and disintegration strategy