Core Motivation by Enneagram Type
When discovering your Enneagram type, it’s important to focus on the core motivation of each type rather than focusing on each type’s common behaviors. For some, recognizing their core motivation is immediate. For others, it takes a bit more self-discovery along with, perhaps, some deeper knowledge of the Enneagram. In this post, I highlight 4 things we should keep in mind when we talk about core motivations, as well as an overview of each type’s motivation and what they’re frequently avoiding. You’ll also find reflection prompts to help guide you through observing your own core motivation.
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LET’S START WITH A DEFINITION:
In Enneagram terms, core motivation is a persistent driving force beneath your outer behavior.
But there's a lot more to it! So let's take look at the things we don't often talk about when we talk about core motivation.
#1. IT’S WAY MORE BURIED THAN WE THINK
Often, we think we should easily be able to understand and observe core motivation, but that's not necessarily the case. Sometimes it's easy to see, but most of the time, it's very subconscious. It takes deep reflection and self-awareness to identify it (and even when you've been doing this for a while, sometimes you're only able to see your motivation after the FACT)
#2. IT’S NOT THE ONLY MOTIVATION WE HAVE!
There are a lot of things that motivate us! While the Enneagram is about one deep, persistent driving "why," there are so many other things we want and move toward that are very close to that "why."
#3. IT MIGHT NOT ALWAYS BE A PERFECT FIT
Sometimes it's helpful to look at which core motivation is closest and how that shows up in your life in particular. I think we over-attach to the examples of core motivation (i.e. 3s are after success) rather than what's really driving them (i.e. 3s are after worth)
#4. IT'S OKAY IF IT TAKES TIME TO FIGURE IT OUT
Tests can be helpful tools to point us in the right direction! But that doesn't mean they will be perfect measures of motivation. Most tests are good at telling you what's happening on the outside (behavior), but you still have to engage in some reflection to figure out what is underneath the surface. I've found that for a lot of people, the core motivation isn't as glaringly obvious as what they're avoiding (core fear / the thing that feels like the WORST). Below, I’ve included what each type frequently avoids to bring a bit more clarity.
TYPE ONE
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, Ones 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, and fairness, and it contains warmth, balance, and the flourishing of all of humanity.
Consistently Avoiding
Being bad or being the last to know when they’re wrong.
Ones 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.
TYPE TWO
Common Underlying Motivation
To be loved, wanted, and needed.
This motivation isn’t just about being helpful – it’s also about securing relationships, finding positive connections, and creating a positive environment where everyone is happy and taken care of. Twos seek warmth, affection, and love, so that’s what they offer to others.
Many Twos experience a sneaking suspicion that if others don’t need them, they won’t want them, so they make themselves indispensable.
Consistently Avoiding
Being dismissed, discarded, or rejected.
Deep down, Twos often believe that if others don’t love them back, they are unlovable. Dismissing their help often feels like rejection to Twos, so they do everything they can to avoid that. Even when Twos cognitively know that it’s not true, they often fall into believing that their worth is attached to how lovable and helpful others find them.
TYPE THREE
Common Underlying Motivation
To be valuable and worthy.
While some Threes aim at big, bold, public success, many don’t! Deep down, Threes want to feel valuable. They want others to feel like they are worthy (because they often believe that if others believe they are worthy, they are).
Threes learned early on that if they perform well at whatever they’re doing, they will be valuable. As a result, Threes often end up chasing worth through productivity and success. In this context, success is not limited to financial or career success: it’s whatever “success” means to that individual and their family of origin.
Consistently Avoiding
Being worthless and falling short of their potential.
Threes are often able to see the potential within themselves and within others. This potential seems positive, but it often feels like stifling pressure. Even if they reach the highest heights, they can still feel like they’ve failed because the success wasn’t as fulfilling as they expected or because there’s always more potential to meet.
TYPE FOUR
Common Underlying Motivation
To be truly, deeply understood for who they are (both by themselves and others).
Because of this, Fours tend to be very introspective - they often live inside their heads and are thinking and feeling through possibilities, daydreams, and what’s missing or lacking. They also desire to be fully authentic (and how can they know if they’re authentic if they don’t know what’s under the surface?)
Consistently Avoiding
Being inauthentic or insignificant.
Avoiding being inauthentic often means that Fours spend more time than most other types considering how they feel or what they think about things and why.
TYPE FIVE
Common Underlying Motivation
To be competent and self-sufficient.
Fives often have a distinct sense that they need to hold onto what they already have (space, energy, emotional energy, time, sometimes money, etc.). Self-sufficiency, frequently achieved through being competent and capable, allows them to keep all the resources they have without needing to give anything up.
Fives may also ensure they can meet their own needs by needing less from the world and from others.
Consistently Avoiding
Being depleted and without resources.
Often, Fives have a deep fear that if they need resources from others, they’ll be intruded upon or depleted, and they are so averse to this that they withdraw.
This reaction often feels really important for survival, even when the Five cognitively knows that the people around them are not trying to overwhelm or inundate them.
TYPE SIX
Common Underlying Motivation
To be safe, secure, and in community.
Sixes spend a lot of mental energy managing uncertainty. Sometimes, this is focused on physical safety, but it’s more often about financial security, overall well-being, relational safety, trust, etc. Sixes are vigilant about what might happen, and solving for or planning for those problems helps them feel safe.
Looking for what might happen can propel 6s into doubting and questioning things (and depending on the 6, they might doubt or question themselves).
Sixes are VERY hard to describe because they can be so different, depending on the subtype.
Consistently Avoiding
Being stranded without support or safety.
Some Sixes avoid this by building strong relationships, checking in, finding connection, and planning what they might do if something goes awry.
Other Sixes avoid this by showing strength (almost like they won’t be stranded if they don’t show they need people) or by moving assertively to control the situation.
TYPE SEVEN
Common Underlying Motivation
To be free to explore possibilities without limitation.
Sevens experience the world as expansive, beautiful, and full of possibilities! They tend to have a million ideas per second, it seems. Their enthusiasm and positivity can be contagious! And even though this seems like they’d be out-going and always “the life of the party,” 7s can also be introverts!
Consistently Avoiding
Being trapped in pain or boredom.
For many 7s, there’s nothing worse than feeling stuck. It’s not necessarily that they can’t feel their feelings, it’s just that they don’t want to get stuck in those feelings.
Similarly, boredom can feel panic-inducing because it feels so limiting to be trapped. And now all the 7s have broken into a cold sweat just reading this description.
TYPE EIGHT
Common Underlying Motivation
To be “against” - not to be contrarian but as a way to show strength and protect themselves from being too vulnerable.
Vulnerability can feel dangerous for 8s because it is showing a soft spot that can be exploited. For some 8s, any vulnerability in themselves or others is intolerable. For other 8s, seeing vulnerability in others ignites a desire to protect those people from harm (just like they might protect themselves).
Consistently Avoiding
Being betrayed or controlled by someone else.
Like we always say, “8s don’t need to control YOU, they just don’t want YOU to control THEM.”
TYPE NINE
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.
REFLECTION PROMPTS TO OBSERVE CORE MOTIVATION:
Notice what upsets you, makes you angry, or sends you into defensive mode. What are you protecting? What are you believing about the world in that moment? What are you believing about yourself? What are you believing about others?
Think of a time when you felt aligned with your purpose and truly fulfilled. What did that look like? What were you doing? What were you working toward?
When you think of the future, what do you hope will happen? What if that doesn't happen?
What is most important to you and why? I know "family" or "career" can be important for many of us. But why? Dig a little deeper.
A NOTE ON GROWTH
I think we've unintentionally painted this picture within the Enneagram education community on Instagram that being "healthy" is the only goal and that it is only a matter of months before you get there. But if we're honest, most of us STILL struggle with the same hang-ups, personality patterns, and driving motivations even after YEARS with this. Growth is slow, intentional, and sometimes stagnant: but being able to observe your patterns is often a sign of growth in and of itself.
There is no expectation that you'll be a completely different person when you're healthy: often being "healthy" is about doing a bunch of little things well. Like taking care of yourself physically, drinking water, moving in a way that works for you and your lifestyle as you are able, connecting with others, being kind, paying your bills, noticing your emotions, etc. It's not about monumental change - it's taking these little things day by day. It's okay if you're not there yet! It's okay if you never get "there." Just don't forget to live your life along the way.
