A Few Things to Know About Nines

Apr 27

If we’re not careful, the Enneagram archetypes can easily be treated as oversimplified stereotypes. Maybe you’ve already seen examples of this! This post is intended to give a little more clarity about Type Nines— to dig deeper, highlight some things that you may not know, and break down common assumptions.

While Nines aim to create harmony in their environment, not all Nines perceive themselves as “easy-going”. I think it can be frustrating for some Nines when others underestimate them or view them as “soft” because in their mind, although they may not always express it, they can be quite stubborn!

“Sloth” refers to the passion of type Nine. (To read more about passions, check out this post called Moving from Vice to Virtue) I think people can take the term “Sloth” and run with it, shaping their entire perspective on Nines based on those assumptions. Enneagram type does not define ones interests, taste, or hobbies and we should be mindful of that.

So what else could we be overlooking when it comes to Type Nines? Let’s dive into it!

Quick note: This may not resonate 100% with every Type Nine, and that is okay! There are many individual differences within each Enneagram type. I want to emphasize that humans are complex, and it’s okay to not perfectly align with everything you read about your type. If you’d like to see what other Nines have to say about this post, you can find it on Instagram right here. Join the conversation!

Alright, Let’s get into it!

Here are a few things to know about Enneagram Nines!

Common Underlying Motivation

To be at peace internally & externally

→ While the core motivation for Type 9s is often about peace, it’s also about balance and unity. They don’t just want to keep the peace - they want everything to be fair and equitable, so they’re driven to bring things into balance in that sense. 9s often move toward comfort, ease, and simplicity.

Consistently Avoiding

Being the cause of conflict or disruption

→ Sometimes even internal conflict (such as bringing attention to strong beliefs they hold internally) can be uncomfortable.

You might not know that…

→ 9s have thoughts, feelings, and perspectives to share if you’ll take time to listen
And sometimes 9s really don’t have an opinion on a topic, and that’s okay, too!

→ But NOT sharing isn’t always about avoiding conflict: it can also be because the 9 doesn’t feel safe to be open or share because they are afraid their perspective will be dismissed, interrupted, or disregarded. (Just because a 9 doesn’t shout their opinion from the rooftops does NOT mean it is unimportant to them.)
And also, they sometimes might just not feel like sharing.

→ Some 9s learned early on in life that relationships can be fragile, so they prioritize keeping them intact, even if it means not speaking up.

→ But they’ll speak up when they deem it necessary, especially when they witness others experiencing injustice.

→ Not all 9s love candles and journaling and being alone - 9s can have literally ANY interest, and they can be outgoing, chatty, and competitive! Enneagram type ≠ interests, tastes, hobbies, etc.

→ 9s don’t always experience themselves as “easy-going.”