Enneagram Type 1

The Enneagram is a tool to greatly help individuals understand their personalities and identify patterns of the lives.  Improving self-awareness and recognizing re-occurring traits is especially appealing to an enneagram type 1.  An Enneagram Type 1 is commonly referred to as “The Perfectionists,” and now, as “The Improver.”

The enneagram type 1 or “perfectionist” personality is decided to uphold specific values and standards they deem essential; however, they often feel it's necessary to justify their behavior.  Enneagram ones can lead successful lives by achieving their goals; however, they can be too strict on themselves and others on the way without awareness.

Understanding an Enneagram type 1 can be a little intimidating at first.  While this sort may appear to put up everything together at face value, underneath the outer lining, enneagram ones might be overflowing with unresolved expectations and desires.  Read onto find out more about Enneagram Type 1's and how to acknowledge the most common characteristics.

Enneagram Type 1 Characteristics

The Enneagram type 1 personality cares deeply about quality and the pursuit of improving standards to accelerate purpose and goodness in the world around them.

Called perfectionists, enneagram ones will uncompromisingly use laser focus, strictly adhering to an ideal standard they believe is good. Enneagram Ones will tirelessly work until they're pleased with results, which could have positives and negatives, depending on the situation.

When healthy, an enneagram type 1 can perform their goals and enjoy success.  When an enneagram one is unhealthy, negative situations can make them become obsessive.

The next headings will explore the dichotomy of how enneagram 1's behave because of the motives.  The driving force behind a ones desire for improvement can be a catalyst for change or crippling to the individual.

The characteristics of the enneagram type 1 often develop because of growing up in unstable, chaotic environments.  Within these structures, enneagram ones begin constructing approaches to determine order and purpose.

Healthy Enneagram 1

A healthier enneagram 1 understands their tendency toward being rigid and seeks to utilize empathy when communicating their expectations.  In order to avoid being blinded by their ambitions, they'll seek to comprehend the more significant interests of the group rather than their desires. 

When healthy, an enneagram one holds space for competing opinions and never having to be overly critical or harsh.  They could relax, knowing they can disagree without judging or being demanding.

Healthy enneagram type 1's can approach their use reason, avoiding obsessive characteristics. They could hold both a solid passion for work and the capacity to take a break and enjoy other things. A healthier enneagram it's possible to unwind, realizing not everything must be so serious.

For one's, learning how to give themselves and others grace is an essential step toward growth.

Unhealthy Enneagram 1

An unhealthy enneagram 1 tends to target on the shortcomings of others. By being critical of others, they don't have to deal with their problems, letting them safeguard their misshapen standards of what's right.

When unhealthy, an enneagram one can produce a narrative within their mind that features or eliminates details that best support their point of view.  This creates a dissonance between right and wrong concerning how they interact and communicate with others. 

Overlooking their judgemental attitude, they don't begin to see the hypocrisy of the standards. This misstep can result in misunderstanding themselves and others, preventing any meaningful or productive change within their life.

An unhealthy enneagram type 1 may have poor ability to target on achieving their goals and express frustration when their strict expectations are unmet.  Nevertheless, rather than taking responsibility to higher their lives, they'll try to find others to blame.  This destructive behavior permits a construct within them that they are still correct and that many people are wrong.

Concerning their goals, an unhealthy you can become an obsessive workaholic. This pattern can develop depressive or obsessive-compulsive disorders ultimately causing breakdowns.

Unfortunately, the driving passions within enneagram 1's can manifest in cruel methods destroy themselves and those around them. Without realizing their standards, unhealthy practices can develop to preserve their self-image and should be correct.

Enneagram Type 1 Conclusion

Utilising the Enneagram isn't about conforming to a stereotype; instead, it could benefit individuals identify traits and develop healthy patterns to overcome the shadow sides of the personality.

Enneagram type 1's walk a precarious line between passion and obsession in life. Driven deeply by principles and a should be moral, they base their lives in what they believe is correct. This path can take a wrong turn and cause a negative outlook on themselves and their surroundings. If channeled into a positive direction, 1's can become shining types of justice to those around them.