Enneagram Type 9 Self-Improvement (Tips for Growth)

In this brief guide, we will look at some Enneagram type 9 self-improvement tips and other related subjects like enneagram type 9 relationships and enneagram 9 in love. We will also look at some features and traits of the Enneagram 9 personality type and Enneagram test.

Enneagram Type 9 Self-Improvement 

For the best Enneagram type 9 self-improvement, they need to make things happen instead of avoiding conflict or being away from the action and they need to prioritize taking action. 

Enneagram type 9 may be someone who wants to be by themselves and stay out of trouble, but they need to understand some way to find a method for their madness, if they truly want self-improvement.

The enneagram type 9 self-improvement may be an easier process compared to other types, because they want peace and tranquility and they want things to be just right, which means that if they know the value of self-improvement and just how it will help them, they will be motivated to do it.

A small thing that can jumpstart the process of enneagram type 9 self-improvement is getting a nice calendar or planner and streamlining their days because taking action may be their weak spot.

Enneagram type 9 may like to think, but they need to do things to get better and improve.

For true enneagram type 9 self-improvement, they need to understand and accept that conflict is a necessary and beneficial part of life and they also might need to engage in physical activity to connect with their body.

When the enneagram type 9 directly addresses an upsetting issue they may realize right away why it is the right thing to do.

Another enneagram type 9 self-improvement tip is that they need to stop internalizing their problems and face and work through their negative emotions, because repression as a defense mechanism does not work for anyone.

Enneagram Type 9 Careers

The best enneagram type 9 careers need to allow them stability and peace and their career also needs to allow them to help other people. 

The enneagram type 9 might also enjoy slower-paced because they need to connect with others more than they need to achieve things or deal with substantial goals.

Keeping their traits in mind, the best enneagram type 9 careers are:

  • Counselor
  • Social Worker
  • Human Resources Manager
  • Veterinarian
  • Diplomat
  • Psychiatrist
  • Librarian
  • Editor
  • Religious Worker

Enneagram Type 9 Childhood

Enneagram type 9 in childhood may often feel connected to both parents due to their need to be harmonious, and depending on what their home situation is like this can be good or bad.

When the Enneagram type 9 is very attached to their family but the family is dysfunctional, like if there is frequent conflict or turmoil, the enneagram type 9 will eventually “tune out” and start to seek ways to numb themselves to the conflict.

Enneagram type 9 childhood may also be spent trying to make the parents happy, which may come from a place of wanting a peaceful life, and when they are not able to, they will convince themselves they are happy.

Usually, when the enneagram type 9 is in a supportive family setting they may feel nurtured and supported and because it is a positive environment, they may nurture and support others as well, like parents or siblings.

The Enneagram type 9 often forgets, that they simply do not have the power to completely alter the moods of everyone outside themselves no matter how much they may want to so they may try in vain; once they realize it doesn’t matter, they may try to cope by numbing out negative input and potentially living in denial.

The enneagram type 9 child may also have a very rich fantasy life to numb out his worries and there are often many “imaginary friends” in the life of an enneagram type 9 child whose family life is not that great.

Enneagram type 9 childhood is also characterized by a feeling of connectedness and sometimes this may lead to them having a hard time differentiating their own feelings from those of others. 

The type 9 may get their sense of identity from their parents, through introjection or other mechanisms defined by the psychoanalytic theory, rather than them forming their own unique identity. 

Enneagram Test

Any enneagram test will assess which one of the 9 personalities a person belongs to and the adjacent types may also be explored after knowing which type someone is so they can get some idea of what they can be after self-improvement.

A wing is a crossover that may form between two adjacent personality types.

Reading or talking to someone about the enneagram personality types can inform the person about what their wing may be one may also check out some enneagram books to get started.

The most common enneagram test that is validated and widely used is the Riso Hudson 

Enneagram Type Indicator (RHETI) and a number of online tests are available online as well, but they may not always be as valid and reliable.

Enneagram Type 9 Celebrities

Here is a list of some Enneagram type 9 celebrities:

  • Bill Clinton.
  • Renee Zellweger
  • Clint Eastwood.
  • Sandra Bullock
  • Grace Kelly
  • Nancy Kerrigan
  • Lisa Kudrow
  • Stan Laurel
  • Jennifer Jason Leigh
  • Abraham Lincoln
  • Andie MacDowell
  • Mr. Magoo
  • Dean Martin
  • Jerry Mathers
  • Dan Quayle
  • James Earl Ray
  • Ronald Reagan
  • Ralph Richardson
  • Carl Rogers
  • Roy Rogers
  • Gena Rowlands
  • Eva Marie Saint
  • Garry Shandling
  • Martin Sheen
  • Tom Skerritt
  • Ringo Starr
  • Mary Steenburgen
  • Daniel Stern
  • James Stewart
  • Eric Stoltz
  • Billy Bob Thornton
  • Andy Williams
  • Tricia Yearwood
  • Renee Zellweger.

Enneagram Type 9 Self-Improvement Reddit

It can help a lot to have some enneagram 9 self-improvement tips when they come from fellow Enneagram 9s, because you know they are trusted and true, and that if they have worked for others there is a better chance that they will work for you.

These tips and experiences about enneagram 9 self-improvement are from reddit, and they may significantly help someone that wants to move towards growth.

“The most powerful tool I have come across for a 9 to grow with is the 5-second rule: “If you have an impulse to act on a goal, you must physically move within 5 seconds or your brain will finish off the idea.” So to get moving, when you have this impulse to work on a goal or do something you know you need to do, you count down “5-4-3-2-1 Go” and move acting on that goal. A woman named Mel Robbins recently wrote a whole book on this and has several talks online about it.

Why it is extremely good for 9s is that it forces us to take action. When we do this consistently with small and large things, it fosters firmer and more clear desires and decisions because the decisions have to be actionable, and your brain will start to trust you to act and be rewarded for you making a decision. If that makes any sense. A lot of the reason we 9s don’t know what we want is because we don’t act on what we want so what we want is irrelevant and there is no reward for deciding what we want. The 5 second rule boots us out of that cycle.”

“One of the many things I’ve realized after discovering I am a 9 is that I downplay things that are special about myself. I am unique in many ways but never considered these traits as anything important. I come from an eclectic family of artists so perhaps I just figured my unique traits were nothing out of the ordinary. Anyway, I have been lucky that things have unfolded in my life to push me toward focusing on my artistry as a career, but I continue to discover things about myself that make me special that I’ve always known were there, but never gave much thought. Perhaps try making a list of things in life that you are drawn to and good at and then try looking at that list from a stranger’s eyes to give you a new perspective.”

“Was the feeling in your gut something you’ve felt for a long time before acting on it?

What’s your opinion on taking more time now, to figure out what you want to do later, so that later, you don’t have to completely change your career or life? A friend of mine was telling me how you only get so many chances to work toward a goal until you’re older and less valuable in the work marketplace.”

“9w1 here. I think that when I am more in a routine I feel more inclined to go to a 3 in growth. Whether it’s getting up early, gym, meal prep or making plans to be active or socialize or prioritize your time. However on the flip I can do this in a narcolising way as well to avoid things. It can go either way. I do find physical energy gives me more confidence and more drive to continue on to a certain goal or 3 like motivation. I can waste a lot of time on the internet and Netflix. When I do set my mind to something and really plug into that then I will follow that fully but it’s hard getting that for any 9. Sloth is our weakness”

“9w1 – schedule, to-do lists, routine, responsibility. Take on responsibility. It sounds crazy I know, but you need a force outside yourself to pull you into action. I work with two 3’s, and my wife is a 6. You have to wake up and seriously think about the things that need to be done that day, and do them. Write them down. Priorities are hard for 9’s. We need help. Even ask those in your life what needs to be done today. After a while, you’ll begin to sense it and can drive yourself. Lean on others with these gifts, ask questions, learn from them and then apply them. Once you gain responsibility you’ll be filled with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction knowing at the end of the day you did what you set out to do, you did it well, and you did it on time. It’s the best feeling for a 9.”

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we look at some Enneagram type 9 self-improvement tips and other related subjects like enneagram type 9 relationships and enneagram 9 in love. We also looked at some features and traits of the Enneagram 9 personality type and Enneagram test.

The best thing about the Enneagram theory of personality is that it has built in ways to help people grow and improve themselves by allowing them to explore the wings, which are crossovers with the adjacent personality types.

Wings are aptly named, because they create the very real possibility of the person flying out of their set patterns of behavior and become better people by actively trying to inculcate some of the healthy traits of the personality types next to them.

Another feature of the enneagram personality theory is that it talks of integration and disintegration positions, which makes it easier for the person to figure out how they are mishandling their stress and what they can choose to not do.

If you’ve enjoyed the ”Enneagram Type 9 Self-Improvement” mentioned above, I would recommend you to take a look at ”9w1 Celebrities” too.

If you found this article helpful or have further questions about the Enneagram type 9 self-improvement, please feel free to reach out to us.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Enneagram Type 9 Self-Improvement 

How do you comfort an Enneagram 9?

To comfort an Enneagram 9 you can tell them that the conflict they are experiencing won’t last too long and that you are there for them. 

The enneagram 9 will usually internalize their true feelings in the face of conflict, and they may often have trouble keeping in check and they may often space out or forget to do things, in which case you can slow down and “hang out” a bit, listen to them and try to stay peaceful. You need to not come on too strong, or get impatient.

What do Enneagram 9s need to hear?

Enneagram 9 needs to hear, most of all, that “Your presence matters.” 

Enneagram 9 personality types may often have trouble finding harmony even though it matters most to them, in which case they need to hear that they are a peacemaker and they matter to the universe at large, and their presence has a purpose.

What does an Enneagram 9 go to in stress?

The Enneagram 9 goes to the position of an unhealthy 6 in stress, which means that they may become anxious and worried but when they are goping in an opposite direction than stress, they may go in their Direction of Integration (growth) where they become self-developing and energetic, like healthy Threes.

Which Enneagram type is most rare?

The rarest Enneagram type is type four the Individualist and type 8 the challenger. 

Type 4 may be the rarest because they are private and many people don’t meet a lot of type 4s.

Are Enneagram 9’s lazy?

No, enneagram 9’s may not be lazy, but they might seem to be because of their conflict-avoiding and somewhat evasive personality that keeps them from engaging with a lot of situations.

Citations

https://www.psychologyjunkie.com/2019/07/31/heres-what-you-should-focus-on-for-self-improvement-based-on-your-enneagram-type/

https://enneagrampaths.com/tag/enneagram-type-9-self-improvement/

https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-9

https://www.enneagram.net/type9.html

https://www.crystalknows.com/enneagram/type-9

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