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may/june 2017yogajournal.com.auyour
The nine numbers, or personality types, of the Enneagram
each have corresponding qualities. To determine your
number, read about each one’s defining traits and key
motivations here, and then see which number resonates
most strongly for you. (Keep in mind that we have aspects
of all nine types inside us, though we tend to have more
of one type than the others.) With an open mind and an
investigative spirit, simply notice what resonates most.The Reformer
DEFINING TRAITS: Principle, purpose,
self-control, and perfectionism
KEY MOTIVATIONS: To be right;
to strive for greater things
BASIC FEAR: Being corrupt, evil, defective
AT THEIR BEST: Ones are conscientious and
ethical, with a strong sense of right and
wrong. They are teachers and advocates for
change, always striving to improve things.
AT THEIR WORST: Ones are afraid of making
a mistake; they can slip into being critical
and perfectionistic, and tend to struggle with
resentment and impatience.
The Individualist
DEFINING TRAITS: Expressiveness,
drama, self-absorption
KEY MOTIVATIONS: To create and
surround themselves with beauty, and
to take care of emotional needs before
attending to anything else
BASIC FEAR: Having no identity
AT THEIR BEST: Fours are highly creative,
self-aware, sensitive, and reserved.
AT THEIR WORST: Fours can be moody and
self-conscious. They typically have problems
with melancholy, self-pity, and
self-indulgence.
The Enthusiast
DEFINING TRAITS: Spontaneity,
versatility, and scatteredness
KEY MOTIVATIONS: To maintain
their freedom and happiness; to avoid
missing out on worthwhile experiences
BASIC FEAR: Being deprived and in pain
AT THEIR BEST: Sevens are extroverted
and practical. They focus their talents on
becoming joyous and satisfied.
AT THEIR WORST: Sevens can become
distracted and exhausted by staying on
the go; they typically have problems with
impatience and impulsivity.
The Helper
DEFINING TRAITS: Generosity,
people pleasing, and possessiveness
KEY MOTIVATIONS: To be loved,
needed, and appreciated; to
vindicate their claims about themselves
BASIC FEAR: Being unworthy of love
AT THEIR BEST: Twos are empathetic, giving,
and driven to be close to others.
AT THEIR WORST: Twos can slip into doing
things for others simply to feel needed. They
typically have problems with possessiveness
and acknowledging their own needs. The Investigator
DEFINING TRAITS: Perceptiveness,
innovation, and isolation
KEY MOTIVATIONS: To possess
knowledge; to have everything figured
out as a way of defending against threats
from their surroundings
BASIC FEAR: Being helpless or incapable
AT THEIR BEST: Fives are visionary pioneers,
often ahead of their time, and able to see the
world in an entirely new way.
AT THEIR WORST: Fives can become
detached. They typically have problems
with eccentricity, nihilism, and isolation.The Challenger
DEFINING TRAITS: Decisiveness,
self-confidence, willfulness
KEY MOTIVATIONS: To b e
self-reliant and important in the world
BASIC FEAR: Being controlled by others
AT THEIR BEST: Eights are self-mastering, and
use their strength to improve others’ lives. They
are self-confident and decisive.
AT THEIR WORST: Eights can be egocentric
and domineering. At times, they feel they must
control the people around them, sometimes
becoming confrontational. They can have
problems with their temper and showing
vulnerability.The Achiever
DEFINING TRAITS: Adaptability,
desire to excel, and image-
consciousness
KEY MOTIVATIONS: To distinguish
themselves from others; to be admired;
to impress others
BASIC FEAR: Being worthless
AT THEIR BEST: Threes are self-accepting,
authentic, and role models who inspire.
AT THEIR WORST: Threes can be overly
concerned with their image and what others
think of them; they typically have problems
with workaholism and competitiveness.The Loyalist
DEFINING TRAITS: Responsibility,
anxiety, and suspicion
KEY MOTIVATIONS: To feel
supported by others, to test the
attitudes of others toward them
BASIC FEAR: Lack of security or guidance
AT THEIR BEST: Sixes tend to be stable,
self-reliant, and trustworthy. They foresee
problems and foster cooperation.
AT THEIR WORST: Sixes can be indecisive,
reactive, and rebellious. They can also
become defensive and evasive, and deal with
self-doubt and suspicion of others.The Peacemaker
DEFINING TRAITS: Receptivity,
reassuringness, complacency
KEY MOTIVATIONS: To create
harmony; to preserve things as they are
BASIC FEAR: Loss and separation
AT THEIR BEST: Nines are able to bring people
together and heal conflicts. They are accepting,
trusting, and stable; they are usually creative,
optimistic, and supportive.
AT THEIR WORST: Nines can be too willing to
go along with others to keep the peace. They
want everything to go smoothly, and so can
also be complacent. They may have problems
with inertia and stubbornness.