Here’s What You Desire, Based On Your Enneagram Type

Have you ever felt that you were ceaselessly searching for something that was always just out of reach? Does it ever seem like there’s an unconscious need pulling you in different directions? Thanks to the enneagram, many of us can discover what that core need or desire is. Oftentimes, this desire is so innate to us that we don’t even realize it’s there. We’ve become so used to searching for this thing that we think EVERYONE is searching for it. In fact, it can surprise us or even bother us when we come across people who aren’t driven by the same core desire. Let’s take a look at what each of these desires are for each enneagram type.

It’s important to remember that you will probably have ALL these desires, but there will be one that stands out more than all the rest. One desire will be tugging at your core throughout your whole life and will influence a lot of the decisions that you make.

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Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Ones Desire Integrity

Ones fear that they are bad, corrupt, or evil. They desperately seek a feeling of integrity, wholeness, and morality. They feel like they must be crusaders for what is right and rid the world of what is corrupt. They tend to take life seriously and are usually responsible and hard-working. Their principles and values guide everything that they do. They often wonder why other people have such lax standards for themselves. Sometimes their desire for integrity can lead them to having judgmental behaviors, self-righteousness, and/or perfectionism.

Twos Desire Love

Twos fear being unworthy of love or fundamentally unlovable. They have a genuine concern for others and want to nurture and care for them. They see themselves as “healers of the broken hearted” and are often more aware of others’ needs than their own. They want to feel needed, appreciated, and affirmed. The only problem is that this can sometimes lead to a ceaseless need to be needed or even pride at how much other people have come to need them.

Threes Desire Success

Threes have a terrible fear of being worthless or without inherent value. As a result they seek after achievement, value, and a sense of significance in the world. They strive to be competent, effective, and successful. They are extremely goal-oriented and hard-working, and can feel lost or adrift when they aren’t accomplishing things. Unfortunately this can sometimes lead to a constant chasing after success that always feels out of reach.

Fours Desire Significance and Identity

Fours greatly fear having no identity or personal significance. They often feel alone and misunderstood, as if they are an outcast looking at the rest of the world from a forgotten corner. They are usually enigmatic and tend to hide part of themselves. They are brutally honest with themselves about their shortcomings and flaws. While many other types try to ignore their own flaws, fours reflect on them and are always striving for greater self-knowledge and authenticity. Unfortunately, fours can struggle with bouts of self-pity or melancholy.

Fives Desire Knowledge and Competence

Fives struggle with the core fear of being incapable or incompetent. They feel an endless urge to fill their minds with knowledge and accurate information. They pore over details and want to learn as much as possible about the subjects they are interested in. They tend to be independent, reserved, and extremely curious. They often feel like their minds are always racing with ideas and information that they want to explore. In the quest for their core desire some fives can become stuck – drowning in specialization on a topic that won’t get them anywhere.

Sixes Desire Security and Belonging

Sixes are plagued by anxiety and often feel alone in the world, as if they have no support or guidance. They try to find a group, authority, or belief system that they can trust in without question – but this desire is foiled by their simultaneous skepticism. They question everything and struggle to trust. They are often strategic, hard-working, responsible, and suspicious. They are always looking forward, trying to predict terrible things on the horizon so that they can be prepared and avoid disaster. The downside to this is that sixes can become constantly fearful or unable to know what they believe because their mind is riddled with doubt about everything.

Sevens Desire Happiness

Sevens are terrified of being trapped or in pain. As a result, they seek freedom and adventure. They want to live life to its fullest and be as busy and active as possible. They are driven by their curiosity and have a contagious sense of optimism about what life will hold. They hate being bored and enjoy brainstorming lots of new ideas and experiences to enjoy. Actually implementing those ideas can be tough though because they are easily distracted. The downside to the seven mindset is that it can sometimes lead to frenetic escapism and self-indulgence.

Eights Desire to Be In Control of Their Own Life

Eights are self-confident, willful, and assertive. They are running from their core fear of being harmed or controlled by others and seek independence and control of their own lives. They know how to get results and apply just the right amount of force to get things done. They are usually determined, strong-willed, and honest. They believe that people need to be pushed past their comfort zones to achieve their best and they are often testing their own limits to ensure that they are capable and have the power to get through life. The downside to the eight mindset is that it can lead to constant fighting and a need to intimidate or challenge others.

Nines Desire to Be at Peace

Nines are the types most fearful of fragmentation and a loss of connection with the people they love. They make people feel safe and they enjoy being comfortable and in harmony with the world around them. They are usually laid-back and even-keeled, taking what life brings them in a matter-of-fact, down-to-earth manner. They believe in emphasizing the good in life rather than focusing on the bad and they enjoy delighting in the simpler pleasures of life. They dislike creating a scene, fighting, or getting worked up over the “little things”. The downside to this is that it can lead nines to becoming neglectful or passive.

Want to Find Out More About the Enneagram?

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Here’s What You Fear, Based On Your Enneagram Type

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