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Enneagram 1

The Reformer

Wings 9 & 2

Arrows 4 & 7

Type One

Honest, responsible, practical, and hardworking. Ones are noble changemakers who have an inner drive to improve the world and make it a better place for all. They can instantly see what needs to be enhanced and are usually the ones to do it. The challenge with this is that because they can believe that everything needs to be “better”, it can leave them feeling as though nothing is ever quite good enough. They have an internal compass as straight as an arrow, but sometimes forget that it’s not the direction everyone must follow. They are well-organized, have high standards, and appreciate structure but can slip into perfectionism if it is all taken too seriously. Their inner critic, which may be more accurately described as an inner judge, harshly calls out their “mistakes” and directs them on how things “should” be done.

Overview of Type 1

 

Core fear: To feel bad or wrong and be without integrity

Core desire: To feel virtuous and be good, right, and balanced

Focus of attention: What’s right/wrong - identifying what you feel should be corrected (errors and imperfections) and improving them

Limited belief: I’m not able to be loved or considered perfect unless I am good, responsible, and do things the right way

Liberated knowing: I am able to make mistakes and be loved perfectly and wholly as I am

Strengths: Truthful, sensible, diligent, dependable, inspiring, noble, discerning, wise

Blind spots: Intrinsic perfection and self-kindness

Three part defense system:

  • Defense mechanism: Reaction formation - replacing your own negative feelings that you see as unacceptable with the positive opposites that you believe are acceptable

  • Avoidance pattern - Mistakes

  • Idealized self-image - "I am good"

    Enneagram Ones use the defense mechanism of reaction formation to avoid mistakes and maintain the idealized self-image of being "good". The idealized self-image is who our type structure believes we need to be, and we can unconsciously or consciously avoid anything that challenges this image. As a One learns to express their anger, and knows that anger can actually be good and right, it deepens connection within themselves and with others.

Mental healing & growth:

Moving from habit of mind to holy idea - judging to perfection

  • Judging - An evaluating mind that dictates what is good, better, best, and thinking that you know the right way

  • Holy perfection - Knowing that all of life is what it is and that in itself is perfect, which allows you to embrace everything with total acceptance

Emotional healing & growth:

Moving from passion to virtue - anger to serenity

  • Anger - Felt and expressed as resentment, frustration, self-righteousness, or irritation at things not being as they should be

  • Serenity - A willingness to accept that everything is as it should be, which allows you to experience patience and calmness

Coping strategies

True Self

  • Lovingly (even jokingly) challenge the inner critic to expand your viewpoints

  • Befriending imperfection

  • Having compassion for the fear of making mistakes

  • Learning to see things in color, not just black/white

  • Practicing emotional spontaneity and prioritizing having fun

Type Structure

  • Criticizing yourself and others

  • Holding yourself and/or others to impossibly high standards

  • Procrastination

  • Being rigid, inflexible, and living by a set of rules

  • Controlling your feelings, needs, and impulses

Creating emotional safety with a 1

  • Reassure them that you love them in their mess

  • Don’t be critical of them, be curious

  • Follow through on what you say you are going to

  • Express your acceptance and forgiveness

Reminders as a 1

  • Lean into acceptance and forgiveness

  • Learn to see “wrongdoings” as differences

  • Share your impulse and desires

  • Relax, play, and be spontaneous

  • Shift from black/white thinking and explore the grey

  • Making mistakes makes you human

  • You are lovable

Breaking the stereotypes

People can think I…

  • Am critical and judgmental

  • Can't be playful and spontaneous

  • Have unattainable standards

  • Believe I'm always right

  • Am cold and rigid

The whole truth is I…

  • See your potential and want to help get you there

  • Love to have fun and am discovering how to let go of the "should's" that prevent it

  • Am learning to be accepting of what is

  • Want to be fair

  • Can be very warm and flexible

“Embrace the glorious mess that you are.”

— Elizabeth Gilbert