You may be a Type 9

Nines like to be easy-going and peace-making in their environments, reassuring others and open to new ideas. Since they are primarily focused on avoiding conflict, they often struggle with voicing their opinions and unique perspectives. They can be overlooked by others or be disengaged from their own life.

Type 9 Overview

People are drawn to you because you are a naturally good listener and move at a calm pace with no forced agenda. You make space for multiple points of view and easily make others feel comfortable, particularly in group settings. You care about kindness and positivity and prefer to “go with the flow.” You likely encourage people around you to speak up and are willing to share your spotlight with others so their opinions or agendas can be known.

You experience distress because you can over focus on peacekeeping (rather than peacemaking) in order to avoid your own discomfort. You can be invalidating in situations that you perceive as conflict. You are often most comfortable merging with the strongest opinions around you and can lose sight of your own ideas or goals.

You can be indecisive, apathetic (particularly to change), passive, and even lazy in the face of opportunities for action. You can get lost in fantasies that give you peace and lose touch with the facts of reality, disconnecting you from your present situation or relationship.

You are invaluable to society because you are focused on building bridges and working towards a calm and peaceful existence. You are skilled at tempering intensity that could be creating a barrier to resolution and peace. You are non-judgmental, accepting, and unintrusive. You can be a grounding force amongst chaos and are willing to focus society toward peace and harmony.

  • You are a naturally good listener and move at a calm pace with no forced agenda.

  • you can over focus on peacekeeping (rather than peacemaking) in order to avoid your own discomfort.

  • You can get lost in fantasies that give you peace and lose touch with the facts of reality.

  • You are focused on building bridges and working towards a calm and peaceful existence.

The Core of Type 9

What makes you a Type 9 is your core desires, motivations, fears, and goals. No two people are exactly the same, but all Type 9’s will have the following in common

  • Core Desires

    To have inner stability and peace of mind

    To avoid conflicts and chaos

    To be included

    To create harmony in the environment

    To preserve things as they are

    To resist whatever would upset or disturb the peace

  • Loving Messages

    My presence matters.

    My opinions are important.

    I do not need to merge with others to be safe and valued.

    My ability to temper intensity with peace and calm is important.

  • Natural Gifts

    Listening in the face of intensity

    Not forcing a personal agenda

    Creating consensus

    Sharing the spotlight and giving credit

    Building bridges and grounding chaos

  • Core Fears

    Being in conflict, tension, or discord

    Feeling shut out and overlooked

    Losing connection and relationship with others

    A loss of peace and calm

    Being forced to take action or change quickly

    Creating any perceived conflict

  • Blind Spot

    Sloth/Complacency

    Remaining in an unrealistic and idealistic world in order to keep the peace, and not being disturbed by my anger; falling asleep to my passions, abilities desires needs, and worth by merging with others to keep peace and harmony.

    Overcoming these messages:

    You don’t have your own opinions.

    You don’t care about what’s happening around you.

  • Triad Groups

    Gut - emphasizes their instincts in order to manage anger, control, and justice

    Withdrawing - attempts to meet personal needs by pulling away from relationships

    Positive Outlook - channel disappointment or conflict into positivity

    Pragmatist/Attachment - attach to positions in life that give them a sense of security and ease

Type 9 Support Types

Type 8 Wing (9w8)

More energy, confidence and drive, with more focus on practicality and access to angry feelings. They will express their anger more easily in hopes of fostering more inner peace, and seek to resolve any conflict or distress as soon as possible.

Type 1 Wing (9w1)

May appear more disciplined, orderly, and focused. Will likely be disciplined and value-focused in their decisions. More idealistic and binary in their views. Can be objective supporters with a balance of analytical thinking and calmness.

Type 6 traits in Stress/Challenge

Increased anxiety, suspiciousness, even paranoia. May overcommit, struggle with self-doubt, and defensiveness. Can also become focused on operations and following through on goals and solutions. Shows loyalty and improved self-care.

Type 3 traits in Security/Growth

Increased willingness to take action and have ownership over what happens. Will feel empowered by a lost sense of initiative and step into their own opinions and goals without giving over to a stronger, louder opinion in someone else or avoiding attention.

How to try on Type 9

I suggest that you “try on” Type 9 and give yourself time to see how it fits you. Not every word and detail will be a perfect match, but it helps to see the traits come alive in your unique life.

  • There is not a "best type"

    It's common to read through the number types and think that one or two personalities sound like the best ones, but it's much less common for those to actually be your core type. Every number has its strengths and challenges and most often it feels like someone is reading your journal (how would they know that about me?) when you find your actual type!

  • Understanding motivations vs excusing behavior

    Each type has a set of core desires and fears that drive behaviors and perspectives. Each type also has its own spectrum of healthy, average, and unhealthy patterns. Using the Enneagram to excuse unhealthy patterns ("I'm a 9 so that's just how I am") will keep you stuck, whereas awareness and ownership of those same patterns can provide the skills we need to thrive in our roles and relationships.

  • Don't just rely on a test to find your type

    Enneagram tests are becoming highly accurate, but not all tests are created equal. Even the most reliable tests can be wrong because they are based on the test taker's level of self-awareness. Tests are a great starting place for narrowing down your type and trying on one or two to build the self-awareness to confirm the type. If tests aren't your thing, there are many podcasts or books that explain the types. Same rules apply.

  • Understanding the connections between the numbers is key

    One of the best parts of the Enneagram model is how dynamic it shows us we are and the ways in which our personality adapts to the situation. Every type has access to 4 other personality characteristics - 2 wing types (the numbers on either side of your type) and 2 other types, your Stress and Rest numbers. We can also understand our types more clearly by learning about unique groups of three types called Triads.

  • The Enneagram is a tool, not a box

    The power of the Enneagram exists in its ability to recognize who we are at our core - what we're most afraid of and what we most desire in life. It encourages us to use our strengths to thrive as well as uncover the (usually subconscious) barriers that keep us stuck and unhappy. You are wonderfully made and the world needs your healthiest self.

  • Find a teacher or coach

    There are many great ways to learn about the Enneagram types, but it can get oerwhelming quickly if you jump in alone. Getting a coach. counselor, or finding an Enneagram teacher to help guide you through the information is crucial. They can help you know the basic information but more importantly help you lean what your type looks like unique to you.

Ready to learn more?

Get the Type 9 Growth Guide

What’s Included:

  • Over 100 pages of tools I’ve used with my own clients, personalized for a Type 9

  • Roadblocks to growth

  • Self-care suggestions

  • The Quick Reference Guide for all Types (my favorite go-to)

  • A personalized workbook to build self-awareness and spark exploration