A Few Things to Know About Ones
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 Ones — to dig deeper, highlight some things that you may not know, and break down common assumptions.
While Type One is commonly known as “The Perfectionist”, it’s important to note that their main focus isn’t really about being perfect or being the best. “Being good” is much deeper than that, but it’s hard to find and sustain. In this post, I mention Ones repress their anger, and while most Ones do this to some extent, some Ones (the sx subtype in particular) are more comfortable feeling and expressing anger. Also, Ones often wish others knew that when they correct or advise, they genuinely want to help. They’re not trying to be mean.
So what else could we be missing when it comes to understanding Type Ones? Let’s dive into it!
Quick note: This may not resonate 100% with every Type One, 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 Ones have to say about this post, you can find it on Instagram right here, and join the conversation!
Alright, Let’s get into it!
Here are a few things to know about Enneagram Ones!
Common Underlying Motivation
To be good - not just good at things, but to be deeply, morally, ethically good
→ This motivation is not about being the best, and it’s often not even about perfection. Instead, 1s are aiming to find a deep sense that everything is good: all is well in the world and in themselves. The good they are seeking is about virtue, integrity, righteousness (but not self-righteousness), and fairness, and it contains warmth, balance, and the flourishing of all of humanity. For some 1s, pushing toward a standard of excellence and perfection feels like one way to get there, even though that’s not what they’re ultimately seeking.
Consistently Avoiding
Being bad or being the last to know when they’re wrong
→ 1s often have a fear that they are somehow irredeemably corrupt or deficient, so they work incredibly hard to avoid this. They are also so keenly aware of things being imperfect that their inner critic might pop up and remind them of allllll the imperfections. Then, when someone else points out an error, they’re not the last to know they were wrong.
You might not know that…
→ Not all 1s feel like perfectionists, in the traditional sense of the word. Many 1s are more concerned with fairness, accuracy, ethics, and clarity than they are with “perfectionism,” but it can easily be labeled as perfectionism from the outside. 1s frequently feel a lot of pressure to make things right, to make things better, and to reach a standard that may or may not be possible.
→ Most of the time, 1s genuinely want your feedback, and they’d like to hear what you think, especially if you’re in a relationship with them. They want to be the best partner/friend/sibling/etc., but it can be difficult to hear feedback when their inner critic takes it and runs with it. Being extra gentle, while still being clear, is always appreciated.
→ Many 1s spend a lot of energy ensuring they are appropriate. The anger or rage they feel beneath the surface about all the things that are wrong in the world feels inappropriate, so they work to repress it, and it often leaks out as resentment and frustration. But anger isn’t necessarily a bad thing! Anger gives energy, helps set boundaries, and offers willpower to make the world a better place. When 1s become more able to feel and release their anger, they can use it for good.
→ We all think of 1s as industrious, idealistic improvers, but there’s more to them! They can also be fun, excitable, silly, and spontaneous.
→ Sometimes the pressures of life weigh on them, and they feel responsible to fix everything. In this mode, it’s really difficult for 1s to loosen up and have fun, but that fun side exists!
→ 1s can be very black-and-white about a lot of things in life. Often, this is a tool they’ve needed to keep themselves in line. If there are strict boundaries around right and wrong, they can move through life without too much angst, as long as they stay inside those boundaries. This helps them stay free of mistakes and ensures they won’t be harshly punished (by themselves or others). Most of the time, 1s who want to grow are working to step out of this rigidity, but it’s a long process to learn that while these skills have been necessary in the past, they might not be helpful for the future.
And BTW…
→ 1s have deep emotions, and even if they’re not always able to articulate them, they exist under the surface. It sometimes takes time to be able to express what they do feel rather than what they should feel.
