Type 9s are the peacekeepers of the world. They are easy-going and easy to be around, always desiring to keep the peace. However, they often achieve this by avoiding conflict, usually by minimizing their own needs.
At their best, they embrace all and are able to bring people together and heal conflicts. At their worst, they are stubborn and apathetic, uncaring about anything going on around them.
Easygoing, Receptive, Agreeable, Stagnant, Conflict-Avoidant
Key Desire: To have inner peace and stability
Key Fear: Conflict and losing connection with others
Key Longing: Your presence matters
Strengths:
- Patient
- Optimistic
- Easygoing
- Agreeable
- Understanding
- Genuine
- Supportive
Challenges:
- Stagnant
- Too conciliatory
- Passive-aggressive
- Conflict-avoidant
- Stubborn
- Indecisive
- Averse to change
Type 9 Wings
Each type is influenced by its nearest “wing.” We usually lean on one wing more than the other. These wings give more intricacy to who we are.
9w8 “The Referee”
If you lean more on your 8 wing, you are independent, social, adaptable, and more assertive. You struggle with wanting to avoid conflict, but also desiring to confront it. You oscillate between keeping the peace and becoming assertive, which usually happens when you’re angry.
- Caring leaders
- Independent
- Stubborn
- Generous
- Self-motivated
- Defensive
- Strong willpower
9w1 “The Dreamer”
If you lean more on your 1 wing, you are friendly, hardworking, and generally more serious. You thrive with routine and prefer a peaceful environment. You want to maintain peace internally and externally. You see many sides to a situation, but typically hold back helping if your needs will be affected.
- Peaceful
- Highly principled
- Composed
- Sarcastic
- Discerning
- Self-critical
- Modest
Growth & Stress
Every Enneagram has stress and growth paths. These are the directions we go toward as we grow or become more secure, and when we’re stressed and disintegrating.
Security
Move toward healthy 3s
- Self-assured
- Highly efficient
- Focused and energetic
Stress
Move toward unhealthy 6s
- Anxious
- Self-doubting
- Pessimistic
Levels of Development
Healthy Levels
Level 1:
At their best, they are autonomous and fulfilled. They can stay calm under pressure and are present to their needs, thus able to form more profound relationships. Intensely alive and fully connected to themselves and others.
Level 2:
They are deeply receptive, accepting, emotionally stable, and serene. They trust themselves and others. They are at ease. They are patient, unpretentious, good-natured, and genuinely nice.
Level 3:
Optimistic, reassuring, and supportive. They have a healing and calming influence—harmonizing groups and bringing people together. They are good mediators, synthesizers, and communicators.
Average Levels
Level 4:
They fear conflicts, so they turn attention away from themselves and accommodate others. They idealize others and say “yes” to things they do not really want to do. They do what is expected of them.
Level 5:
They are disengaged, unreflective, and inattentive. They become unresponsive and complacent, walking away from problems, and “sweeping them under the rug.” They hide in comforting fantasies as they “tune out” reality. They are indifferent.
Level 6:
They minimize problems to appease others and have “peace at any price.” They are stubborn and believe nothing could be done to change anything. They resort to wishful thinking and magical solutions. They procrastinate and are unresponsive.
Unhealthy Levels
Level 7:
They can be highly repressed, undeveloped, and ineffectual. They feel incapable of facing problems. They become obstinate, dissociating themselves from all conflicts. Neglectful and dangerous to others.
Level 8:
They want to block out anything that could affect them. They dissociate so much that they eventually cannot function becoming numb and depersonalized.
Level 9:
They finally become severely disoriented and catatonic, abandoning themselves, and turning into shattered shells. Multiple personalities are possible.
Posts About Type 9
Feeling Stuck? The Struggle of Type 9s
If you’re constantly feeling stuck and struggle with knowing what you want, you might be a Type 9. Find out how you can grow!
The Human Connection 