Am I an Enneagram type 9?
9’s Core Motivation – I am striving to:
- Feel settled, at ease and content
I focus my attention on:
- Making sure those around me feel comfortable and happy
- Maintaining an internal sense of peace and calm
- How to get my needs met without upsetting others
I avoid:
- “Rocking the boat”
- Situations that can lead to conflict, disagreement, or tension
Typical characteristics and strengths:
- Optimistic
- Agreeable, easygoing
- Steady, patient
- Natural mediator
- Good listener, receptive
- Kind, compassionate, understanding
- Gentle, yet strong and powerful
- Reassuring
- Collaborators, inclusive, good at bringing people together
- Caring, supportive, helpful
- Accepting and non-judgmental
- Able to hear and appreciate multiple viewpoints
Typical challenges or blindspots:
- Complacent, uncertain
- Indecisive
- Waver, hem-haw, procrastinate
- Resist change
- Quietly stubborn, passive-aggressive
- Ignore or oversimplify problems
- Focus on less important issues
- Disengage, check-out
- Go along to get along
- Aloof, disconnected from feelings
Typical patterns and behaviors:
- I am easy to be around, friendly and kind. My steady, gentle demeanor often makes me approachable.
- I am positive and hopeful. I see the glass half-full even when things are rough.
- I like to collaborate and build-consensus. I think listening to others and hearing multiple perspectives is important.
- I often collect feedback and opinions before making a decision. Sometimes I spend too much time hearing opinions as a way to avoid making a decision.
- I can easily give up on my priorities to keep those around me content.
- I can have a hard time asserting myself. When I do assert myself, those around me can be surprised or uncomfortable.
- When stress or conflict overwhelms me, it is common for me to “numb out” – sleeping, watching shows, reading, gambling, drinking, etc. – to avoid feeling the discomfort of an unsettling reality.

Considering your wings and arrows may help clarify nuances of your type.
- 9’s Wings: 8 and 1. Most of us “lean” more toward one of our two wings, sharing some behaviors with that type.
- Growth Arrow: 3 – 9’s “move” toward 3 adopting 9ish behaviors and patterns for growth and development.
- Stress Arrow: 6 – where 9’s may go when they are experiencing acute stress or difficulty. Here we see the 9 demonstrate “low-side” or unhealthy type 6 behaviors.
Not sure what Enneagram type you are? Please contact me to learn more about Enneagram typing.