David N. Daniels, M.D. (August 30, 1934 – May 26, 2017) was a world-renowned Enneagram and self-help teacher, personal development teacher, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine, a leading developer of the Enneagram system of nine personality types, and is the lead author of the Enneagram bestseller, "The Essential Enneagram" which includes the only scientifically validated Enneagram personality test (Harper Collins), which was updated and revised with vital new material in 2009.

In the last seven years of his life, David devoted much of his time and heartfelt passion to writing an Enneagram relationship book with co-author Suzanne Dion called, “The Enneagram, Relationships and Intimacy: Understanding One Another Leads to Loving Better and Living More Fully.” This book brings together the power of the Enneagram, "Relationship Mindfulness," and a deep understanding of the nine Enneagram personality types to transform relationships from conflictual and struggling to harmonious and thriving.

It was David’s great hope that his book about the Enneagram, when applied to self-help and development, relationships and intimacy, would share an insightful body of wisdom that would in turn help us all to heal the world. David also co-developed the outstanding DVD, "The Enneagram: Nine Paths to a Productive and Fulfilling Life" and "The Enneagram in the Workplace” (both only available on The Narrative Enneagram website at www.enneagramworldwide.com).

In private practice for over 40 years, David also taught the nine Enneagram types and system at Stanford University, in the community, and internationally for 33 years. Together with author and teacher, Helen Palmer, he co-founded the Enneagram Studies in the Narrative Tradition (ESNT) now called The Narrative Enneagram (TNE), The Enneagram Professional Training Program (EPTP), and was one of the original founders of the International Enneagram Association (IEA). David was a big believer in the personal liberation found in self-assessment and self-help practices and developed many simple personal development methods and practices to use daily. He is well known for a self-awareness tool he termed, "The Universal Growth Process" of the 5As: Awareness, Acceptance, Appreciation, Action and Adherence. This tool is a moment-to-moment practice of opening receptively to ourselves and then to others. David also developed a daily 10-minute mindfulness breathing exercise as a simple form of meditation.

David brought his knowledge of the nine Enneagram types to individuals, couples and groups, and to a wide range of applications in clinical practice, the workplace, and to those incarcerated. He has developed many innovative workshops, including The Dynamics of Vital Relationships, Anger and Forgiveness, Loss and Grief as Transformers, the Enneagram's Gift to Love and Life, Intimate Relationships, Love and Will, and The Enneagram's Gift to Mastering Conflict Constructively and Compassionately. He always believed that understanding our differentiating personality types was the key to instilling far more compassion for one another and in the end, healing world conflict. If we come to truly understand ourselves and others, acceptance and love would follow and world peace would eventually prevail.

David's work is archived and carried forth at www.drdaviddaniels.com