We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
Although I often share minimalism inspiration and decluttering tips on this site, I also like to explore how those concepts can be applied to our broader lives and even our psyches. Our lives are not only cluttered with material possessions. Our minds are also cluttered with unhelpful beliefs, habits, and thought patterns. Could the principles of essentialism and minimalism help us clear out mental and emotional clutter, as well?
One tool that can be very useful in exploring this topic is personality typology. I’ve written about the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) before – exploring how knowing our personality type can help us narrow down which decluttering advice will actually work for us as individuals. All typology systems focus on different aspects of personality – both the positive and the negative. Figuring out your type can help you get specific about areas of your life you can improve. While these systems are not scientific, it’s undeniable that certain patterns of human behavior show up differently for various types of people. While one person struggles with being too rigid, another is unable to create structure or stick to habits. One set of generic advice won’t help both of them, and probably won’t help either.
In addition to MBTI, I find that the Enneagram is useful to sort through those unhelpful beliefs referenced above. In this post, we’ll explore which of these tend to weigh down the Enneagram 1. If you’re an Enneagram 1, this knowledge can set you on the path to unburdening yourself and living more joyfully.
What Is the Enneagram?
So, what is the Enneagram? You can explore sites like The Enneagram Institute for a full picture. And you can go deep in analyzing all the elements if it’s something that interests you. But I’ll summarize briefly here.
The theory goes that there are nine core personality types, and these are based on a core fear. Even as other characteristics vary among individuals, the nine core fears lead to similar behaviors and overcompensations among people of the same type. I don’t know that anyone could tell you whether these core fears are based on innate temperament or childhood experiences. Personally, I assume it’s a combination of the two.
Each type presents differently at varying levels of health. A healthy Enneagram 1 who has done self-development will appear quite different from one who is under stress or immature. Each type has wonderful qualities as well as qualities that generally considered negative.
Although numbers are assigned to these types, no type is inherently better than another. All have their positive qualities and their weaknesses.
When you first read about the types, you’ll probably relate to parts of many of them. But the theory is that there is one that is your main type. You can take a test to help you narrow down your type, but tests aren’t foolproof in my experience. In addition to a test, I recommend reading about the types you align with most. You should also ask those close to you what they think. It’s hard for us to see ourselves objectively, and often close relations can provide useful perspective.
Who Is The Enneagram 1?
In this post, we’re focusing on the Enneagram 1. Again, you can read more detailed guides like this one to go in depth about the Enneagram 1. But I’ll summarize here to provide context before we move on to what Enneagram 1s can let go of.
An Enneagram 1’s core fear is of being corrupt, wrong, or defective. To counter this fear, they focus significant energy on having integrity and moral righteousness. They want to be correct and morally upright in all they do and to improve the world around them.
This sense of mission to reform the world can be a powerful force for good. Famous figures like Ghandi, Nelson Mandela, and Joan of Arc are often typed as Enneagram 1s. Type 1s are principled and impressively disciplined. They are incredibly hardworking and detail-oriented, and they have a strong sense of duty.
On the negative side, Enneagram 1s’ strong convictions and desire to be perfect leads them to repress desires and emotions. In short, they don’t often let themselves have fun. In addition, those positive qualities of attention to detail and a desire to improve things makes them harshly critical. This criticism is often directed at people, things, and systems in their environment. But even more so, it’s directed at themselves. If you have an Enneagram 1 in your life, you may feel that they criticize you too frequently. What may surprise you is that inside their own minds, they are critiquing themselves even more harshly.
What Should an Enneagram 1 Let Go?
Based on the description above, you can probably guess some of the things that Enneagram 1s could unburden themselves from. Type 1s are usually seen as tightly wound and impatient because they are carrying a lot of psychic baggage. If you’re an Enneagram 1, you probably don’t even notice that you’re carrying this weight. But just like decluttering your home, as you begin to let go, you’ll realize how light and easy life can actually be.
1. Perfectionism
As stated above, Enneagram 1s strive for perfection. And because of their keen eye for detail, they are not going to accept just anything as “good enough.” While this tendency makes them perform to a high level at anything they do – an immensely positive quality – the consequence is a heavy burden of impossible expectations.
If you’re a Type 1, you probably know you’re a bit of a perfectionist and maybe even joke about it. But have you thought about how much time and energy you spend striving for an unreachable ideal? If you’re constantly striving for the impossible, then you’re often disappointed. Beyond that, this ideal of the perfect, morally upright person you want to be leads you to clamp down on desires and impulses that don’t meet that standard. If your goal is to be perfect at all times, you must maintain constant self-control. You can’t let loose, have fun, or explore new things. All those activities can exacerbate your core fear of being immoral or defective.
Imagine how freely you could breathe if you didn’t have the weight of these expectations on your shoulders. You could take vacations, sleep in late, let others take responsibility, and just enjoy your life. At least just occasionally!
2. Criticism of Others
We’ve painted a picture of the Enneagram 1 as having a strong sense of right and wrong. While you are highly in tune with your personal values, you may also harshly criticize others’ behavior and choices. You have exact definitions of what is morally right according to your worldview. But it’s important to remember that others will not necessarily share that worldview.
Now, the focus of this post is how Enneagram 1s can embrace joy by letting go of unnecessary burdens. It may seem that criticism of others is not harming you personally as a Type 1. But that’s not the case. Noticing others’ flaws and “immoral behavior” makes you angry. And you can ruin your day ruminating about how wrong or corrupt others are. Even if they are objectively wrong, remind yourself that, in many cases, it doesn’t really affect you. Consciously choosing to care less about others’ actions will free up mental energy for more positive thoughts. Instead of stewing in frustration about colleagues’, family members’, or politicians’ wrongdoings, you can free up your mind to enjoy your life.
3. Self-Criticism
Of course, everything above regarding criticism of others goes double when it comes to your criticism of yourself as an Enneagram 1. Often people will notice when interacting with a Type 1 that they are critical. They have a sharp eye for detail and a desire to improve things, so critiques are a natural consequence. What many people don’t realize is that the Enneagram 1 is much more critical of themselves than of others. After all, they can see into their own minds and root out any “bad” or “wrong” thoughts and desires. To others, it can seem like the Type 1 believes they are perfect and everyone else is wrong. But Enneagram 1s themselves know that staying on the “right” path at all times takes immense energy and denial of impulses. And, of course, constant internal censure.
As a Type 1, you may not even realize how much you do this. Your inner critic drains your ability to have fun,. But it also prevents you from seeing and leveraging your admirable qualities.
Imagine how enjoyable life could be without an inner monologue about all the ways you’re failing to reach your ideal. Remind yourself that no one is perfect, and it’s not reasonable to expect anyone to be – including yourself.
4. Strict Self-Discipline
One of your superpowers as an Enneagram 1 is self-discipline. While others struggle to stick to a routine or to make responsible choices, Type 1s make it look easy. And that’s a fantastic quality.
The flip side for you is that doing the correct thing at all times is an absolutely exhausting burden. Since this is your natural mindset, you likely don’t realize how much pressure you put on yourself to maintain your habits. It may seem counterintuitive to say that you should have less self-discipline. But for Enneagram 1s, that is, in fact, the best advice.
What do you think would happen if you let go of those rigid expectations? If you let yourself sleep in on a Saturday, eat an unhealthy meal, or play hooky from work one day? Your mind tells you that the consequences would be disastrous – that you would spiral out of control. But the fact is you would still be much more disciplined than any other type.
Recognizing the constraints you apply to yourself and making an effort to shake them off will allow you to live more joyfully. As you practice letting go, you’ll realize that your fear of becoming out of control is unfounded. You can trust yourself to maintain high standards even without oppressive routines.
What Do You Think?
Are you an Enneagram 1? Or do you have a close relationship with a Type 1? What are your experiences with “letting go”? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
You May Also Like…
What Are the Best Books about the Enneagram?
What You Need to Let Go as an Enneagram 8
What You Need to Let Go as an Enneagram 7
What You Need to Let Go as an Enneagram 6
What You Need to Let Go as an Enneagram 5
What You Need to Let Go as an Enneagram 4
