Redheaded Jill

Let’s start at the beginning with Enneagram number 1. (With information taken from narrativeenneargram.org)

1: The Perfectionist – “Perfectionists believe they must be good and right to be worthy. Consequently, Perfectionists are conscientious, responsible, improvement-oriented and self-controlled, but also can be critical, resentful and self-judging.” Ones live with a harsh inner critic, they are perfectionists and feel a strong sense of responsibility to see things done “right”, they repress their desires and focus on being correct and good, their pet peeve is violation of rules, they seek approval through their good behavior. When they feel good they mimic a 7, when they feel stressed the mimic a 4.

2: The Giver “Givers believe you must give fully to others to be loved. Consequently, Givers are caring, helpful, supportive and relationship-oriented; they also can be prideful, intrusive and demanding.” Twos are neck deep in caring for others, they love to help, they are often taken advantage of, struggle to express their own needs and can be manipulative in how they present themselves. In health a 2 mimics a 4 and in distress they mimic an 8.

3: The Performer “Performers believe you must accomplish and succeed to be loved. Consequently, Performers are industrious, fast-paced, efficient and goal-oriented; they also can be inattentive to feelings, impatient and image-driven.” Threes love to be known for achievements and success, they are all about image, highly competitive, they are under intense pressure to win and be the best. When feeling secure they mimic a 6, under stress they mimic a 9.

4: The Romantic “Romantics believe you can regain the lost ideal love or perfect state by finding the love or situation that is unique, special and fulfilling. Consequently, Romantics are idealistic, deeply feeling, empathetic and authentic; they also can be dramatic, moody and sometimes self-absorbed.” Fours long for what they can’t have or see as missing from their lives, riddled with a deep sense of abandonment, envious of others having what they don’t, authenticity is the most important thing, I suffer therefore I am. When healthy fours mimic a 4 and at stress they mimic a 2. (Funny because when 1s are stressed they mimic 4, but 4 mimic 1 in health… Interesting how all these things intertwine!)

5: The Observer “Observers believe they must protect themselves from a world that demands too much and gives too little. Consequently, Observers seek self-sufficiency and are non-demanding, analytic, thoughtful and unobtrusive; they also can be withholding, detached and overly private.” Fives need privacy, they limit contact with the world for self preservation, avoidant of feelings and prefer to watch rather than do, minimalist tendencies. In health a five mimics an 8, in stress they resemble a 7.

6: The Loyal Skeptic “Loyal Skeptics believe you must gain certainty and security in a hazardous world that you just can’t trust. Consequently, Loyal Skeptics are intuitive, inquisitive, trustworthy, good friends and problem-solvers, but also can be doubtful, accusatory and fearful.” Sixes are obsessed with safety and security, they doubt everything and can be very contrary, they anticipate all emergencies and how to avoid them, they have to question everything until they fully trust it/them, procrastination from fear of making incorrect choices. Healthy sixes mimic 9 while in stress they go to 3.

7: The Epicure (one with sensitive and discriminating tastes) “Epicures believe you must stay upbeat and keep your possibilities open to assure a good life. Consequently, Epicures seek pleasurable options, and are optimistic and adventurous; they also avoid pain, and can be uncommitted and self-serving.” Life is all about adventure, they have an insatiable appetite for new pleasures, optimistic and high energy, difficulty with commitment, detests limitations and being bored. In health sevens go to 5, in stress they go to 1.

8: The Protector “Protectors believe you must be strong and powerful to assure protection and regard in a tough world. Consequently, Protectors seek justice and are direct, strong and action-oriented; they also can be overly impactful, excessive and impulsive.” Eights are high energy, believe in strength and protecting the weak, direct and confrontational, can come across as aggressive and intimidating, detests feeling vulnerable, strong sense of right and wrong or fairness. Eights go to 2 in strength and 5 in stress.

9: The Mediator “Mediators believe that to be loved and valued, you must blend in and go with the flow. Consequently, Mediators seek harmony and are inclusive, amiable, easygoing, comfortable and steady; they also can be self-forgetting, conflict-avoidant and stubborn.” Harmonious, seeing all sides, avoidant of conflict, bad at saying “no”, unsure about their own needs, hates to rock the boat. When feeling their best nines mimic a 3, in struggles they mimic a 6.

These are very brief descriptions of the enneagram numbers. For more info I recommend you check out a good podcast or read a book on the subject. I think it’s important to use personality tests as a tool to help better your life, but don’t let it be all consuming. We aren’t trapped by this information, and we can always improve no matter what state we’re in. My shrink even uses the knowledge of the enneagram to help her patients.

Next time we’ll talk about different terminology, such as the wings, what health/stressors mean in enneagram terms and what happened in childhood to make the numbers what they are.