Here’s What You Notice Right Away, Based On Your Enneagram Type

When I first heard about the Enneagram, I remember being so excited to dive in and figure out where I fit among the 9 Enneatypes. Then as I learned more about the Enneagram I got more and more confused about what my Enneatype really was. I took a coaching course on the Enneagram, read dozens of books about the Enneagram, and spoke to several coaches. Over time I went from believing I was a 6w5, to a 3w4, and now (after MUCH coaching) I’m settled at 4w5 (self-preservation). One of the things that can really help you to clarify your type is understanding what you naturally focus on. Each of the 9 Enneagram types has a fixation; a focus that they can’t seem to pull their eyes away from unless they spend a lot of time working on it. Today that’s what we’re going to be looking at, and we’re also going to be giving some tips for achieving balance.

But you might be asking, what is the Enneagram? The Enneagram is an ancient personality typing system that describes people in terms of nine basic types. Each type has a different pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting that stems from a deeper inner motivation. Today we’re looking at where each Enneagram type naturally focuses their attention; what they notice before other people do. Why does this matter? Well, if we can understand what the people around us focus on, we can better understand them and their likes, dislikes, frustrations, and stressors. If we understand these things about ourselves we can work to grow, expand our focus, and deal with areas where we may be hyper-fixating.

Not sure what your Enneagram type is? Our questionnaire can help!  Take our in-depth questionnaire here

Let’s get started!

Estimated reading time: 15 minutes

What You Focus On, Based On Your Enneagram Type

Enneagram Type 1 – The Perfectionist

If you’re a One, you immediately notice correct or incorrect actions or behaviors. Perfectionists hold themselves to high standards and believe everyone else should do the same. To the One, life is about being good, improving their world, and meeting the endless critiques of their own mind with fixes and improvements. The 1s’ quest for improvement leads them to focus on “rightness” in their environment. Mistakes stand out to them like a sore thumb. Errors, unfairness, responsibility or irresponsibility, reliability, and matters of right and wrong are always on their mind.

In the healthy One, this can look like being ethical, reliable, fair, honest, and conscientious. In the unhealthy One, this can look like being nit-picking, judgmental, controlling, uncompromising, and self-righteous.

How to Achieve Balance:

Many Ones over fixate on perfection to the point where they can’t enjoy life or accept themselves or others without a lot of criticism and judgment. The key for this type is to learn how to let go of their rigid standards and allow themselves to make mistakes. Practicing self-compassion, being open to different perspectives, and learning to see the beauty in imperfection can help Ones expand their focus beyond perfection.

Think of Kintsugi, shown in the picture above. This Japanese art form repairs broken pottery with gold, silver or platinum to highlight the beauty of imperfection. All of us are like Kintsugi; not one of us is perfect, but in our own ways, we can piece together the best of ourselves into something beautiful. But if we strive for perfection at all times we set ourselves up for failure, disappointment, exhaustion, and gloom. This is not the way to health for a One, but a way to judgment, repression, and pain.

Find out more about Ones: Help for the Stressed Out Enneagram 1

Enneagram Type 2 – The Helper

If you’re a Two, you naturally notice the needs and wishes of others. You sense others’ feelings, notice when there’s a fluctuation in their feelings, and what to do about it. Two’s want to be loved and valued, and they often believe that this love must be earned through acts of kindness and support. They are highly attuned to the emotions of those around them, constantly scanning for ways to make themselves indispensable by assisting, comforting, and nurturing others. Twos want to be the confidantes; the ones that everyone turns to when they need support, wisdom, or advice. The 2s’ quest for appreciation leads them to prioritize relationships, emotional connections, opportunities to help, and acknowledgment of their efforts.

In the healthy Two, this can look like being caring, generous, warm-hearted, supportive, and empathetic. In the unhealthy Two, this can look like becoming overbearing, manipulative, needy, possessive, and self-sacrificial to the point of neglecting their own needs.

How to Achieve Balance:

For Twos, achieving a healthy balance starts with making time for self-discovery and reflection. If Twos are always chasing after others’ love and approval, they’ll lose themselves and become overly consumed with others. Twos need to take time to understand their motivations, desires, and needs separate from the act of helping others. This process of self-awareness allows them to maintain their intrinsic values and sense of self even as they connect with others. Introspective activities, like journaling, meditation, or solo hobbies, can help them reconnect with their inner world. This self-reflection paves the way for Twos to offer support without compromising their identity or well-being, ensuring they don’t lose themselves in the pursuit of being needed by others.

Find out more about Twos: 10 Signs of an Unhealthy Enneagram 2

Enneagram Type 3 – The Achiever

The focus of attention for the Achiever is on success, performance, and the appearance of being outstanding. Threes are driven by a desire to be affirmed, to distinguish themselves, and to be perceived as valuable through their accomplishments. “What can I do to stand above the crowd?” is a question frequently on their mind. Often this stems from a childhood where the only way they felt truly loved and noticed is when they were exceptional. This creates an adult who is acutely aware of tasks, goals, and benchmarks that signal success. This adult is constantly on the lookout for ways to improve their performance. Their keen sense for what will gain recognition and acceptance motivates Threes to work tirelessly towards their aspirations, often with a strategic plan and a laser focus. The 3’s quest for achievement leads them to prioritize efficiency, adaptability, ambition, and the cultivation of an impressive or charming image.

In the healthy Three, this can look like being motivating, self-assured, competent, and energetically pursuing their goals with integrity. In the unhealthy Three, this can look like becoming overly competitive, deceitful in the pursuit of success, egotistical, and sacrificing authenticity to maintain an image of success.

How to Achieve Balance:

For Threes, life becomes about doing, not being. It revolves around becoming something, not accepting who you are at your core. Because of this, Threes often work themselves to exhaustion, hoping that by doing so they will achieve value. For Threes, it’s important to realize that they are part of a bigger community. They need to feel part of something larger than themselves and when they do this their anxiety and need to stand out starts to lessen. They bring the energy, vision, and charisma that they naturally have into something that is meaningful for a greater cause. Along the way, they need to make time for rest, mindfulness, and peace. This means slowing down, letting go of constant productivity, and finding joy in simple moments. By doing so, Threes can cultivate a more authentic sense of self that is not solely defined by their achievements. Many Threes also benefit from therapy or coaching to explore their deeper selves and motivations beyond success. Through this process, they can learn to value themselves for who they are and not just what they do.

Find out more about Threes: Escaping the Trap of Vanity for Enneagram Threes

Enneagram Type 4 – The Individualist

The focus of attention for the Individualist is on what is missing or lacking in their life. These deep souls wander through life seeking an idealized, often unattainable reality. They carry with them the sense that something of importance within them is missing and they must find it. Life becomes a journey of looking for that ultimate thing; a love, a situation, wisdom, anything that can fill that space and make them feel whole. Fours are intensely attuned to their emotional states, constantly seeking meaning, identity, and significance in an effort to find their unique place in the world. This pursuit often leads to feelings of envy, melancholy, incompleteness. Their quest for uniqueness and authenticity drives them to focus on their personal expression, emotional depth, and the accumulation of experiences that align with their idealized vision of life.

In the healthy Four, this can look like being creatively expressive, deeply empathetic, introspective, and able to find beauty in the mundane. In the unhealthy Four, this can lead to becoming self-absorbed, overly moody, envious of others’ perceived ‘normality’ or ‘happiness’, and prone to feelings of inferiority or despair.

How to Achieve Balance:

For Fours to achieve a sense of balance, integrating aspects of the Enneagram Type One—such as practicality, responsibility, and a grounded sense of principle—can be incredibly beneficial. Engaging with the practical and the real, Fours can then put their emotions into constructive action, transform their sensitivity into strength, and find a deeper connection to the world by recognizing the beauty in everyday efforts. Set up positive and constructive routines for yourself, avoid “reading” negative intentions by others about you, and make time to engage in the real world rather than getting stuck in daydreams about what you “could have” been.

Discover more about Fours: The Enneagram 4 – The Individualist

Enneagram Type 5 – The Investigator

The first thing that Five’s notice is intrusion. What do other people expect from them? What outer demands are draining their energy? Fives often feel depleted of energy and develop an urgent need to hoard up energy so that they don’t become drained. They are fundamentally driven by a need to understand the world around them, believing that knowledge equips them with the tools necessary for navigating life’s challenges. They are intensely private individuals who value their independence and autonomy, often retreating into their rich inner worlds to ponder complex ideas or concepts. Fives tend to keep to themselves for fear that the outer world will make demands that they can’t satisfy, or that others will expect too much of them. Yet at their core, Fives seek knowledge, competence, and understanding.

In the healthy Five, this can look like being innovative, insightful, objective, and keenly perceptive, with a deep capacity for focus and expertise in their areas of interest. In the unhealthy Five, this can look like being detached, overly intellectual, stingy with time and energy, prone to excessive isolation, and being cynical about the outside world.

How to Achieve Balance:

For Fives to achieve balance, it’s essential to step outside the confines of their mind and engage more fully with the physical and social world. This involves recognizing the value in getting in touch with their bodies, perhaps through regular physical exercise or mindfulness practices such as yoga or tai chi, which can help in grounding their often intense mental activity in the sensations and realities of the present moment. Additionally, immersion in nature can be profoundly therapeutic for Fives, providing a sense of connection to something larger than themselves, and offering a serene environment for contemplation away from the distractions of modern life.

Equally important is cultivating relationships with others. Fives tend to operate under the assumption that they must go it alone, that seeking help or support is a sign of weakness or will inevitably drain their energy. However, this mindset only serves to reinforce their isolation. By proactively reaching out, expressing their needs, and allowing themselves to be heard, Fives can build a support network that enriches their lives and challenges their belief that others shouldn’t be trusted.

Find out more about Fives: The Enneagram Type 5 – The Investigator

Enneagram Type 6 – The Loyalist

Sixes are the preparation experts, scanning for potential problems and risks. They quickly notice problematic patterns; things that could go wrong in the future. Their vigilance about the possible negatives in any situation makes them proficient at foreseeing and preparing for challenges. They are tuned into the underlying currents, the ‘what ifs’, and often focus on reading between the lines. Because of this, the world of the 6 can seem threatening, unpredictable, untrustworthy, and full of peril. They try to defend themselves against these threats by being vigilant, actively imagining worst-case scenarios, asking questions, and analyzing. Preparing for the worst, they hope to avoid it.

In the healthy Six, this can look like being a skilled troubleshooter, preserving communities, paying attention to details, taking care of people, being self-reliant, reliable, and committed. In the unhealthy Six, these qualities can show up as being panicky, paranoid, self-destructive, blaming, and lashing out.

How to Achieve Balance:

To cultivate balance and inner peace, I would encourage Sixes to pause and take stock of how much mental energy they expend dreaming up how they’ll prepare for possible worst-case scenarios. Take a moment to evaluate how frequently these anticipated scenarios come to fruition versus the times when worries remain just that—worries. Acknowledging this disparity can be the first step in learning to quiet the mind.

The practice of being present, focusing on the here and now without the shadow of future anxieties looming large, is immensely powerful. Begin noticing and appreciating aspects of your environment and relationships that are trustworthy and reliable. This awareness serves as a foundation for exploring new experiences and perspectives. By daring to step out of comfort zones and engage with unfamiliar situations, Sixes can discover that the world isn’t as terrifying as they expected. That there is beauty and contentment to be found, and that they can gradually shift from a mindset dominated by fear to one enriched by trust and openness to life’s unfolding adventure.

Find out more about the Six: The Enneagram Six – The Loyalist

Enneagram Type 7 – The Enthusiast

Sevens are constantly seeking out new experiences, options, and adventures. They notice what’s possible on the horizon; opportunities for fun, adventure, and enjoyment. In their pursuit of joy and freedom, they tend to steer clear of unpleasant emotions, opting instead for choices that give a feeling of excitement and happiness.

A healthy Seven has a proactive approach to emotions. They embrace challenges and confront difficult feelings head-on, allowing for growth and resilience. They are joyful, satisfied, realistic, productive, and enthusiastic. On the other hand, an unhealthy Seven may resort to excessive escapism, avoiding emotional discomfort through constant distraction and superficial pleasures which can lead to recklessness, self-centeredness, and a constant state of distraction.

How to Achieve Balance:

To achieve equilibrium as a Seven, it is crucial to cultivate mindfulness and self-awareness. Taking moments to pause, breathe, and acknowledge your emotions can help you connect with your inner state. The key is to process emotions in full rather than getting almost done and distracting yourself with something else. Many Sevens leave so many emotions and fears repressed that they project them on others in negative ways or act out to avoid dealing with them. Rather than suppressing feelings with distractions, practice fully processing your emotions to understand their root causes. By learning to identify and address the sources of impatience, Sevens can find out what they’re really made of and how to be more authentically joyful.

Find out more about Sevens: 7 Struggles of the Enneagram 7 Type

Enneagram Type 8 – The Challenger

Eights are known for their intensity, assertiveness, and a strong desire to maintain control over their own lives and protect those around them from injustice. Their focus is on power, who has it, who needs it, how to protect it for themselves and/or others. They notice what needs control and what needs a level of assertiveness to manage.

When healthy, they face challenges head-on, displaying remarkable leadership and stamina. Eights are driven by a quest for truth and fairness, willing to confront anything they perceive as dishonest or unfair. At their best, healthy Eights are heroic, demonstrating strength, self-confidence, a protective nature, and magnanimity. However, when operating from a less healthy place, Eights can become ruthless, dictatorial, domineering, confrontational, and prone to self-glorification.

How to Achieve Balance:

For Eights, achieving balance means acknowledging and expressing their vulnerabilities. Despite their natural aversion to exposing their emotions, the path to healing for Eights involves learning how to take off their tough exterior and allow themselves to be intimate and vulnerable with those they trust. This process of opening up can lead to more genuine connections and provide a much-needed outlet for their intense emotions. Additionally, Eights benefit from setting aside time for quiet reflection and activities that nourish the soul, helping them to connect with their deeper feelings and motivations. Through these practices, Eights can find a more harmonious balance, enabling them to use their considerable strength in a way that is both empowering and compassionate.

Discover more about Eights: The Enneagram 8 – The Challenger

Enneagram Type 9 – The Peacemaker

Nines naturally notice others’ positions, wants, needs, and what to align with. They have a powerful desire for peace, stability, and harmony in their environments and relationships. Because of this, they tend to see all points of view, which gives them a gift for mediating and peacemaking. Nines try to avoid conflict and tension, preferring a calm, serene existence.

At their best, Nines are profoundly receptive, accepting, trustworthy, and present. They can be great unifiers, bringing people together with ease and promoting an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding. At their worst, a Nine becomes complacent, disengaged, and neglectful of their own desires and needs. They might go to great lengths to avoid conflict, to the point of ignoring problems or minimizing their own opinions and feelings to keep the peace. This can lead to passive-aggressive behavior, emotional shutdown, and a sense of disconnectedness from their own life’s direction.

How to Achieve Balance:

For Nines to achieve balance, it’s crucial for them to engage more fully with their own lives, recognizing that their presence and opinions matter. This can be encouraged through practices that foster self-awareness, like journaling, mindfulness meditation, or assertiveness training. By acknowledging their own worth and the value of their contributions, Nines can start setting healthy boundaries and expressing their needs and desires more openly. And for extra impact, physical activities can help Nines reconnect with their bodies and counteract their tendency towards inertia. By grounding themselves in their physical senses and asserting their own identity, Nines can find a more authentic, aware, and engaged way of living that gives them a fuller sense of meaning and direction.

Find out more about Nines: Seven Struggles of the Enneagram 9 Type

What Are Your Thoughts?

We’re eager to hear your thoughts and experiences! Do you recognize yourself or someone close to you in these descriptions? Whether it’s about how you’ve found balance, the challenges you’ve faced, or tips for enhancing self-awareness, your input is invaluable.

References:

The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine Personality Types by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson (Bantam Books, 1999)

The Enneagram, Relationships, and Intimacy by David Daniels, M.D. and Suzanne Dion (David Daniels and Suzanne Dion, 2018)