The One – The Purist
The hard thing about the Enneagram is trying to keep it simple. Enneagram Life is about keeping it accessible for anyone. I get to take my time, in how I can explain the types with regards to the Enneagram. This system is very complex, and it takes years to master just a hint of understanding it completely. My goal is to take clear steps on the basics — so our readers can wrap their head around the differences of the type.
Type 1
The One, the Purist — as we call this type is unique in regards to structure. Think about the friend or family member that always wants to be right in their thinking. Someone, who has clear goals or who thinks something is right or wrong; good or bad. A person that is very organized – a neat freak, or someone who likes things to have order. If you know this person, (and we all do), congratulations, you have met the Purist.
The purist feels that we live in an imperfect world and their main goal is to have perfection — or as close to it as possible.
The One is also part of the anger triad of the Enneagram (One, Nine, Eight) and can focus on regulations, rules, doing the right thing and being accountable. If you or a person you know, can get anger—on what they feel is a simple mistake or error, you or they could be a One.
Basic Anxiety
The main thought of the One is on being bad, evil or corrupt.
Basic Want
The main goal for the One is to be good, balanced and have high integrity.
Think about Martin L. King, who was a One. His whole goal in life was to do the right thing for him and the world. Note: If the One feels their point-of-view is right (even if it’s not the main majority) they will defend it to the end. The other spectrum of that is Malcolm X, who also at the beginning of his fight for human rights was to fight with the fist or violence. Both men had the goal of doing the right thing, just different ways they went about it.
You will also hear the One use in their communication speech—right or wrong a lot; should or shouldn’t, or good or bad.
How to Help the One
One of the Purist’s issue is they hate to be judged or not seen as having a fault. Try to help the One focus that everything they feel is the right course for them isn’t necessary the right thing for others. Even if they feel, they along can only make it right – because they are the only ones that can do it right — others can and should take some of the responsibility roles. It’s okay if someone has a different way of doing things. It can be hard for Ones when others don’t see their point-of-view.
Ones in Culture
Hilary Clinton, Martha Stewart, Church Lady from SNL, Charlton Heston, and Condoleezza Rice
