The first Enneagram type we will cover is the Enneagram one, also known as “The Reformer”. Ones have a strong sense of right and wrong, are always striving to make things better, are usually organized, orderly, and fastidious.
Ones are people who have a “sense of mission”. When they feel that something is calling them or there is a problem, they feel they have to fix it or go after it, no matter the cost. While they have a strong sense of purpose, they also feel that they need to justify these actions to themselves and those around them. Ones spend a lot of time thinking about their actions and the consequences that could come with them.
The Enneagram Institute describes the one as a person who has instinct and passion and uses their convictions to control and direct their actions. To others they can seem rigid and highly self-controlled.
“I am the combination of [being] rigid in what I hold myself accountable for and loose [in] what I hold other people accountable for,” enneagram one English teacher Kelly Honz said.
Their basic fear is of being evil or corrupt. They sometimes have problems with repression, resistance, and aggression. Their perfectionist tendencies eventually cause them to be miserable and tired because nothing is ever good enough.
“I really resonate with when unhealthy [ones] become easily obsessive,” enneagram one senior Grace Jesske said. “Also when healthy that you are in tune with your morals because I am very in tune with my morals.”
When this personality type is not in a great mental place, or activley trying to better themself, it is considered an unhealthy state. For ones this causes them to become self-righteous, intolerant and inflexible. They think that they alone know “the truth” and that everyone else is wrong. They can become obsessive about imperfection of others, while being contradictory towards what they say with their actions. Many Ones have been diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive disorder (OCD).
Every number has their own positive and negative qualities. While each person is different, this is typical of an unhealthy One.
When they are in a healthy state, Ones prioritize living in the moment, being mindful, and are hopeful. They have a strong sense of principle, are in tune with their morals, and are self-disciplined.
“I am often focused on how I can be better,” Honz said.
When at an average state they are generally dissatisfied with reality, afraid to make mistakes, are well-organized and highly critical of themselves and others. They feel that they have to be the people to make improvements in the world.
For both Jesske and Honz, figuring out which number they were was difficult. This is common among many Ones.
“I took it three times, and each time I was trying to be more honest,” Honz said.
The perfectionist tendency of the One can cause them to do tasks multiple times until they feel satisfied with the result. Taking the Enneagram test is no different.
“I feel like my personality truly embodies what it means to be a reformer,” Jesske said.
Some famous Enneagram Ones are: Michelle Obama, Gwyneth Paltrow, Martha Stewart, Martin Luther King Jr. and Tina Fey.
