Description of Type Nine: The Mediator

Nines are motivated by the need to keep the peace and to create a harmonious and comfortable life.  They erase their own needs and priorities to accommodate others and to avoid conflict.  They are disconnected from their own emotions, especially their anger.  They like to merge with others and with their environment, and they gain their sense of self through these connections.

Healthy Nines Are: Adaptable, compassionate, easygoing, supportive, patient, and nonjudgmental; they go with the flow.

Unhealthy Nines Can Be: Indecisive, spaced-out, apathetic, undisciplined, unassertive, passive-aggressive, and stubborn.

Enneagram Type #9 in Relationships

Strengths (healthy attributes)

·      Flexibility and adaptability

·      Amiability and receptivity

·      Ability to see all sides of an issue

·      Patient, undemanding, relaxed attitude

·      Accommodation and acceptance of people and life

·      Genuine care, support, and empathy

·      Steadiness and stability

·      Slower pace acts as a nice counterbalance for active types

Weaknesses (average to unhealthy attributes)

·      Excessive desire for comfort and ease

·      Indecisiveness and difficulty knowing own priorities

·      Discomfort with confrontation, even when necessary

·      Getting diverted into inessentials

·      Going along with others’ priorities while internally resisting

·      Dependency on others to initiate action, tendency to inaction

·      Submerged anger that manifests as stubbornness

·      Difficulty making self important or asserting self

·      Tendency to be overly accommodating

Questions?  Comments?  Suggestions?  My e-mail address is:  grussrowe@cox.net

This page was last updated on 05/29/05.