Enneagram Type 1: The Improver
What to Know about Enneagram Type One
Enneagram Type 1s go by the nicknames “The Improver” or “The Perfectionist.” They are hard-working and responsible, always wanting to do the right thing.
Ones have a harsh inner critic and are very hard on themselves. They have a hard time relaxing and having fun when there are more important things that need to be done. They often harbor resentment for those they feel aren’t working as hard as they (Ones) are.
Below you will find an overview of what motivates the Enneagram Type 1 and things they can work on to improve their daily living.
Enneagram Type 1’s Focus of Attention
→ On What is Right and Wrong
Type Ones focus on what is right or wrong. They naturally focus on what is wrong with themselves and other people and try to fix it. Ones think in terms of black and white and have trouble seeing the gray areas in between.
→ Being a Good Person
Type Ones want to be good people, and they do so by avoiding mistakes and living up to a “perfect ideal.” They are ethical and responsible and always try to do the right thing. However, they have a hard time seeing other “right” ways to do something and can be intolerant of other people’s opinions/behaviors if the One doesn’t deem it as “good.”
→ Improving Themselves and/or Others
Ones have a harsh inner critic that’s always finding faults in what they do. They, therefore, feel like they have to improve themselves to make things better.
Type Ones may get annoyed when they see others not working as hard as them and may try to improve them. They react by harboring resentment. Though unconsciously, Type Ones may want to be doing what the person is doing.
Type 1’s Passion: Anger
The passion (or vice) of Enneagram Type 1 is ANGER. (Learn about the Enneagram Type Passions here.)
We all experience anger in some capacity. But for Type Ones, ANGER is ever present whether they realize it or not.
As children, Ones felt criticized and internalized it as “it’s not okay to be angry.” Their ANGER is often suppressed and can manifest as passive-aggressive behavior or irritation.
They bury their ANGER because anger is “bad,” and their priority is on being “good.”
Type Ones unconsciously avoid feeling their ANGER, which manifests in other ways, such as annoyance, criticism, and self-righteousness.
Because they try not to be in touch with their ANGER, they can hold it inside their bodies to the point where it causes them to be overly tense and implode.
Their quest to be “good” all the time may lead to unintentional emotional and/or physical burnout.
Type 1’s Strengths and Struggles
Struggles
Unaware of their anger or in conflict with it
They can be overly serious and not give themselves a break to loosen up and have fun
They have a strong inner critic
Their black-and-white thinking makes it hard for them to see other “right” ways
Can be overly critical of themselves, others, or both
Strengths
Hardworking
Responsible and Reliable
Trustworthy
Has a high integrity
Know what they want
Committed
Improvers
Things for Enneagram Type 1 to Work On
📍 Allow yourself to experience joy in the moment. It’s okay to relax and not be so serious all the time. Life is full of joy. Let yourself experience it.
📍 Notice when your inner critic comes up and how often. Start paying attention to what it’s saying and then question it. Why is it saying what it’s saying? Try to get to the root cause of its harshness. > Try accepting yourself and others for how you/they are. Know that you can’t change how another person behaves, but you can change/choose how you react to them.
If Someone You Love is a Type 1
❣️ Try to help your One take in positive feedback instead of focusing on the negative all the time. The One’s harsh inner critic may make it hard for them to see the positive on their own.
❣️ Don’t be indirect with a Type One. Try to be more consistent and trustworthy. Ones want objectivity and logic when working things out and can resist overly emotional people.
❣️ Try to help the One have more fun and relax. Suggest doing a fun activity together once in a while and schedule it on the calendar. Even if it’s scheduled fun, it can still be fun.
“At the core of all anger is a need that is not being fulfilled.”