I met Liz Elkins Newcomer in 2006. She was getting her MFA in Acting at UCSD, while I was getting mine at USD. She was in school with my then partner, who tried his damndest to prevent us from becoming friends (Narcissists don’t like it when you’re happy and celebrated for your light.) but I just really really liked her. We both had dads who were attorneys, loved singing, became obsessed with yoga and were fairly desperate to belong and be accepted as actors.

We saw the same therapist for a while, and started the hard and often ugly work of looking within as a means to create clearer paths forward. And we both made a habit for far too long of prizing romantic relationships above all else.

Knowing Liz now is so different, and so comforting in its familiarity, all at once.

She has created a gorgeous family with her uber-talented husband, Michael Newcomer, and they have a full life in their hometown of New Orleans. Liz shares candidly about her financial awakening, and their creative goals for their new theatre company with such clarity and openness, I can’t help but be reminded of her amazing presence on stage.

Liz has been studying the Enneagram for more than a decade. I remember when she first discovered the unique system for assessing personality types, and am so impressed to see the fruits of her deep work paying off in her ability to share it with others. Liz breaks down the 9 personality types, how the Enneagram works, and answers some of my questions about being an 8 and how to cope when you’re one of The Trouble Types. ( -That’s not a Thing, btw.)

To learn more about Liz’s work, or to book a coaching session with her to unlock your own life’s mysteries, click here.