Why you should know your Enneagram number
and how to discover yours
Hi! I’m Katie, and I’m a cultural and social psychologist—but you can think of me as your BFF with a PhD. I live in the desert of Texas alongside the cacti, roadrunners, and horned lizards. If you’re looking to understand your inner landscape and the whirlwind of the world around you, I hope you find something of value here. Make sure to subscribe—and you won’t miss a beat! Thank you so much for being here.
Personality plays such a huge role in our day to day.
It’s incredibly important to understanding who we are and why we do what we do.
In fact, personality is one of my favorite topics to talk about as a psychologist!
As someone who has taught personality psychology in college-level courses for close to 20 years, I have loved my fair share of personality inventories over the years.
I have been quite the Evangelist for personality quizzes.
Even paying for them myself and sending them—sometimes unsolicited—to family and friends.
I’ll discuss the Meyers-Briggs with passion and fervor at dinner parties.
And, I will do anything to bring up my Enneagram number in casual conversation—anything!
Over the past decade, I have truly, madly, deeply come to love the Enneagram as a viable tool for typing and understanding personality.
THE ENNEAGRAM’S HISTORY
A little backstory on the Enneagram.
The Enneagram is an oral tradition, something that is ancient but was not written down.
That means its lineage was spoken and has been told from generation to generation.
There was no written record of it until about the 1960s and 1970s.
You likely know that the Enneagram has experienced a rise in popularity in the last 5-10 years.
Authors and educators have since begun writing about and documenting the Enneagram.
Some people even reference their Enneagram type in their bio.
One of the most comprehensive books on the Enneagram is Richard Rohr's book, The Enneagram1.
Rohr's book is a great resource to use as a reference.
Before you run to Amazon, know that it is very long and challenging to read, cover to cover.
I recommend starting out using it as a resource to flip to for guidance.
(And also—full disclosure: because the Enneagram may find its origins in ancient religion community, his book is written from a Christian perspective. If that’s your gig, great. If not, only pick it up if you’re able to look past that worldview to find the nuggets of wisdom tucked inside.)
On that note, there is a lot of speculation about where the Enneagram originated.
Some believe that it originated with the Sufis. Others think that it originated with the Desert Fathers.
Because we don't have a written account of its history, it's really tough to know.
USING THE ORAL TRADITION OF THE ENNEAGRAM AS MODERN WOMEN
The Enneagram is remarkable because it is an excellent opportunity to continue in the spirit of its oral tradition.
Most good Enneagram teachers suggest that you should read more than just a book or do more than simply take a test.
Instead, you should sit and listen to a teacher.
Then, talk about the Enneagram.
Discuss your personality type and possible Enneagram number with teachers—and loved ones alike.
The idea is to encounter the Enneagram as a process and examine over time what may be your dominant type or number—versus taking a quick test or reading an excerpt, choosing a number, and moving on.
The Enneagram is best approached with curiosity and commitment.
It is something you want to sit with, listen to, and listen for rather than study and know and master, and I love that idea.
USING MOTIVATION AS A WAY TO UNDERSTAND YOURSELF
Here is an excellent quote from the book, The Road Back To You2:
"There is a missing element there in us not knowing ourselves before we try to figure out why we're here and what we're supposed to do. And the Enneagram fills in that piece."
I love the Enneagram as a tool that can help us understand ourselves, why we're here, what life is all about, and what we're supposed to do with our lives.
Knowing yourself is crucial to the broader story of our lives, and the Enneagram is a great way to gain that dynamic self-awareness.
The Enneagram looks more at one's motivation than one's behavior.
In psychology, we define motivation as the things that activate and direct behavior.
With the Enneagram, we are interested in tapping into what makes you tick, what gets you going.
We're not directly examining behavior.
We're digging deeper and pressing into what proceeds your behavior—what comes before your behavior—or what might even predict your behavior.
THE NINE TYPES
Let's dive into the nine personality types.
It's important to remember that there is not one number that is better than another.
I repeat: there is not one number that is better than another.
Resist the urge to organize the numbers this way in your head!
These numbers are not organized in chronological order because that order is meaningful.
You do not start at One and strive to progress to a Nine, nor is the Seven more advanced than the Four.
They are classified as numbers as a neutral way not to label or give preference to the different types.
They are just numbers.
THE ENNEAGRAM ONE
The motivation for the One is the need to be perfect.
Frequently, Ones are called the reformers.
They are very interested in things being right and fair.
They have a high justice meter and an increased need for fairness.
They're interested in things being correct and even being perfect.
With the Enneagram, your gift is also often your weakness. The One's gift is to find correctness and fairness. However, as a One, they might easily slip into the need for perfection.
Enneagram Ones can often be perceived as critical. They want things to be right and fair and correct and honest, and sometimes others may perceive that effort as critical.
THE ENNEAGRAM TWO
The motivation behind the Enneagram Two is the need to be needed.
Enneagram Twos are often called the helpers, and their being revolves around relationships and other people.
When they enter a room, they dial into one person, approach them, and want to inquire about how that person is doing. They want to meet that person's needs and serve them.
Their primary motivation is to give and receive love.
Still, the slippery slope with the Two is that often there is an expectation for the love to be reciprocated when they show love to another. Sometimes, things are given or done with strings attached.
While an Enneagram Two may have pure intentions and desire to forge strong and healthy relationships, oftentimes, they can fall prey to the slippery slope of doing things so that others perceive them as being a nice person or so that they will receive something in return.
THE ENNEAGRAM THREE
The motivation of the Enneagram Three is the need to succeed.
Frequently, Enneagram Threes are called the achiever.
The slippery slope here is vanity and being concerned with how others perceive them.
While they may want to do and succeed and feel valuable and be authentic, they can easily fall into the trap of doing all of that for the accolades or the perceptions or the interpretations of other people for their reputation.
THE ENNEAGRAM FOUR
Enneagram Fours are called the individualists.
The Four's primary motivation is the need to be unique.
Artists are often Enneagram Fours, and they deeply desire being original and unique.
An Enneagram Four values authenticity.
They strive to be themselves and show up in the world as their true selves.
They live for beauty, intimacy, and depth, but frequently they fall into the trap of their ego. They may begin to believe that the world revolves around them. They may feel that they are so unique that no one can ever understand them.
Many Enneagram teachers say that the Fours are the least common number in society.
THE ENNEAGRAM FIVE
The Enneagram Five's primary need is to perceive.
Often called the investigator, they want to know all things.
They want to read all of the books and achieve great insight, knowledge, and even wisdom.
Sometimes, the Enneagram Five needs a lot of privacy and space.
With the need to perceive, the Five's pitfall can often be falling into the trap of needing to know everything before making a decision. They can drown in analysis paralysis and get caught in a spiral or researching endlessly.
THE ENNEAGRAM SIX
Enneagram Sixes are known as the loyalists.
The Six's primary need is the need for security and feeling safe.
Many Enneagram teachers believe that the Six is the most common number. In fact, some teachers believe that half of the world's personalities are Sixes.
Frequently, the Six can fall into the slippery slope of fear and anxiety. They can allow that need for security to rule them and their lives.
THE ENNEAGRAM SEVEN
The Enneagram Seven's primary need is to avoid pain.
The Sevens are often called the enthusiasts.
Sevens are the ones that always want to party. Everything is about fun.
They are likely the first to jump on the bandwagon to go and do any new and novel thing. They love novelty, trying new things, and excitement.
The pitfall with the Seven is that this need to avoid pain can push them into a place of not feeling, not expressing emotions, glossing over negative emotions, or glossing over the hard things. They can fall prey to spiritual bypassing.
THE ENNEAGRAM EIGHT
The Enneagram Eight's primary need is the need to be against.
They are often called the challengers.
Many Enneagram Eights have a high need for justice, similar to the Ones.
With the need to be against, they often want to have a presence and ignite change.
They wish to self-protect and make sure everything is just and fair. This can frequently slide them into a space of appearing as if they are only against things rather than being for something.
THE ENNEAGRAM NINE
Lastly, the Enneagram Nines are the peacemakers.
Their primary need is the need to avoid.
The Enneagram Nines are the ones who always see the good and everything. They always see everyone's side.
They are averse to conflict, which can result in them shutting off the world. They avoid any conflict, even healthy conflict, and can slide into a place of passive aggressiveness.
SHADES OF NUMBERS
It's important to note that the Enneagram is not a classification system of nine boxes.
The goal is not to fit you into one of the nine boxes and put the lid on top of you.
Instead, the Enneagram is a very dynamic and fluid personality typing system.
It's helpful to think that there are different shades of the numbers.
So, you may be an Enneagram One. You may have a family member who is also an Enneagram One. You may also have a friend who is an Enneagram One. While each of you may have some consistent personality characteristics, you may exhibit a different shade of that One-ness.
In the same way, there are different shades of red or various hues of blue. Each of the numbers is a continuum, and we are uncovering which number you most identify with to step into greater self-awareness.
The different shades of the numbers could also help us identify what we call wings.
Everyone has a wing to their number, as well.
Perhaps you are an Enneagram Five. You will likely have a Six wing or a Four wing.
Your wings will wing off of your primary number.
Each person likely has a dominant wing, just as they have a dominant main number.
WHAT ARE WINGS?
It's also important to note that the most balance comes when both wings are active and informing your personality.
So, if you are an Enneagram Five, you will likely have both Six and Four tendencies, too.
This is one of the many ways the Enneagram is an integrated and balanced way to look at personality.
When you take an Enneagram test, oftentimes, your wing is your secondary or third number that might fall on your results. However, you should spend some time in self-reflection and spend some time in self-study instead of just taking a test and the test computing results for you.
Instead of accepting that the first number in your printout is your primary number and your second number is your wing, sit with yourself and sit with the Enneagram to read about it, listen to teachers, and reflect on your primary number and your wing tendencies.
STRESS AND INTEGRATION
Finally, let's talk about stress and integration related to the Enneagram.
This is another way that the Enneagram is a fluid personality typing measure.
When you are in integration, or in other words, when you are in health, one moves to a different number based on your dominant number.
In the same way, when you are in stress or disintegration, you will move to a different number.
For example, the Enneagram Six moves to a healthy Nine in integration.
The Enneagram Six also moves to an unhealthy Three when in stress.
You can see this illustrated on a visual of the Enneagram itself. The below diagram that shows the movement and dynamic nature of all the numbers.
With the Enneagram, there is organic energy and fluidity that is happening.
In this fluid way, personalities can fluctuate, flow, and be malleable in response to the environment or situation.
It’s a much healthier way to look at personality than some of the classification systems we see regularly.
The goal is to truly know ourselves rather than simply classifying ourselves on a personality typing system—and placing ourselves in an unchanging box.
And, lastly—the Enneagram can help us understand who we are and what we truly want out of life.
This increasing self-awareness can invite us into purpose—directing us towards a generative energy that fulfills our human need to find meaning in life.
When we give ourselves to the hard work of integrating what we have come to learn about ourselves, The Enneagram becomes a sacred map of our soul, one that shows us the places where we have vulnerabilities or tendencies to get stuck, as well as the possibilities of where we can go for deeper freedom and inner peace.” — The Sacred Enneagram, Christopher Heuertz3
DISCOVER YOUR ENNEAGRAM TYPE
Suppose the Enneagram feels like a helpful tool for you.
In that case, I encourage you to spend time reading books, listening to teachers, and, most importantly, with yourself.
Tap into who you are, what makes you motivated, and what energizes and directs your behavior.
And, if you have any questions, comments, or thoughts about the Enneagram and finding your type, post them in the comments below! I’d love to hear from you!
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Rohr, R., Ebert, A. & Heinegg, P. (2001). The enneagram: a christian perspective. Crossroad Publishing Company.
Cron, I. M. & Stabile, S. (2016). The road back to you. Inter-Varsity Press.
Heuertz, C. (2017). The sacred enneagram: finding your unique path to spiritual growth. Zondervan.
Cover art by Alena Ganzhela used under license