Enneagram Type 1 - The Reformer/Idealist

Enneagram of Birth: Enneagram Type 1

Type 1: is known as the Reformer or Idealist. They have a strong ability to sense how things "should be" and an even stronger desire to see the right thing happen.

They can tend to be perfectionistic, responsible, wise and discerning. They love to plan down to the very last detail and make sure everything is "just right." Truth is very important to type 1's.

At their core, they long to avoid making mistakes, to live in integrity and to be the "good one." They believe that they must be good in order to be worthy or approved and they fear being bad, corrupt, evil or irresponsible.

In childhood, a type 1 may have heard the message that it was NOT okay to make mistakes. This childhood message can be carried into adulthood affecting their outlook on life and creating deep fear of failure or not being good enough.

The type 1 receives information primarily through their gut (or their visceral senses) - meaning they may have an intuition and just "know" something is a certain way. Each type in the gut triad then processes their information in different ways - the TYPE 1 takes their gut instincts, and processes them through logic in order to make their decisions.

• Type 1's finds their IDENTITY based on outside feedback (Am I good enough?) and is dependent on their interrelationships in order to feel content and confident.

• They may find themselves frustrated that their ideals are rarely achieved. This results in disappointment and longing. They have high expectations of their own and other's behaviors in the world.

• When a Type 1 doesn't get what they want or find themselves in conflict with others, they remove emotion from the situation using logic (rather than anger because it is "wrong"). They long to solve the conflict in the "right way" even if they don't feel right about it.

  
  

A Type 1 in a season of GROWTH will move toward the healthy side of the 7 (Enthusiast) finding more energy, spontaneity and willingness to be flexible with changed plans. IN STRESS, a Type 1 will move to the bottom side of the 4 (Individualist) and find themselves overwhelmed by emotion and longings that they feel will never be realized.

CORE QUESTION: Type 1's are always asking "What's wrong and what needs correction?" They can have a tendency to nit pick and be critical when they are in unhealth, and offer helpful suggestions and guidance when they are stable.

The Type 1 in pregnancy may have very high ideals of how pregnancy and birth should progress. They are immaculate planners and can have very long birth plans outlined to the finest detail. They may feel like it is their responsibility to assure that everything goes just right - the risk of failure feels catastrophic.

• Type 1's have a hard time asking for help. They will push themselves to the limit because ideally, they "should be able to handle it."

• The Type 1's struggle or weakness is anger, but it rarely seen because anger is seen as "wrong." In pregnancy this may surface more often as they may get irritated by little things that are out of place, incorrect, or too challenging (and the increased hormones don't help!)

• Truth is very important to a type 1, so making sure they ask appropriate questions at their prenatal appointments and get all of the information they desire is crucial!

• Type 1's long to avoid mistakes, so they may find themselves compulsive about checking and double checking details to make sure they are doing the "right thing."

  
  

It can be devastating for a Type 1 to "fail" at birth. But they must understand that there is no failure in birth! If their plans don't go accordingly, they need honest and up front answers and to be reassured that they are doing the exactly right thing in that moment for themselves and their baby(ies).

Truth to hold to: Asking for help is not failing!

A Type 1 may find they . . .

- need help managing the home or kids in early pregnancy when they are tired or sick

- need help gathering appropriate information to make decisions

- need direction on other options for comfort during labor

- could use some meals or housekeeping in the postpartum period

If you know a Type 1, be sure to ASK FIRST, then reassure that you really want to help and don't see them as a failure because they need you.

The birthing support person can make sure mama has truthful communication when things change in labor, reassurance that everything turning out right doesn't depend exclusively on them, and reminders that the birth outcome doesn't determine their value!