Enneagram Type 1

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

The enneagram type 1 or “perfectionist” personality is made a decision 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 could be too strict on themselves and others along the way without awareness.

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

Enneagram Type 1 Characteristics

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

Known as 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 about results, that could have positives and negatives, depending on the situation.

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

Another headings will explore the dichotomy of how enneagram 1's behave because of the motives.  The driving force behind a ones desire for improvement could 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 healthy enneagram 1 understands their tendency toward being rigid and seeks to use empathy when communicating their expectations.  To avoid being blinded by their ambitions, they'll seek to comprehend the more significant interests of the group as opposed to their desires. 

When healthy, an enneagram one holds space for competing opinions without having to be overly critical or harsh.  They could relax, knowing that they may 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 capability to have a break and enjoy other things. A healthy enneagram it's possible to unwind, realizing not everything has to be so serious.

For one's, learning how to offer themselves and others grace is a vital step toward growth.

Unhealthy Enneagram 1

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

When unhealthy, an enneagram one can create a narrative of their mind which includes 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 start to see the hypocrisy of these standards. This misstep can result in misunderstanding themselves and others, preventing any meaningful or productive change of their life.

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

Concerning their goals, an unhealthy one may 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 these 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 about what they believe is correct. This path can have a wrong turn and result in a negative outlook on themselves and their surroundings. If channeled into a positive direction, 1's can become shining forms of justice to those around them.