Your core values can simply be thought of as the beliefs and opinions that guide your decisions and how you live your life. Finding and setting your core values is so important because they can help you to more confidently make decisions for your life. You will be able to pursue things that align with your true purpose because you know what is guiding you.
Everyone has an unique set of core values. One thing that may influence a person’s core values is their Enneagram Type. Each Enneagram Types values different traits and ideals because their core desires and motivations differ. Taking a look at each Type’s common values will help you to determine your core values, so let’s take a look at some common values for each Type.
Type 1 – The Idealist
Type 1s are guided by honesty, responsibility, goodness, purpose and duty. They are honest in the words that they use and how they live their lives. They also seek out honesty from others and particularly do not like being lied to. They typically take responsibility for their own actions and don’t deflect when something doesn’t go their way. Type 1s are always pursuing goodness and integrity with their actions. They will do the right thing in most situations and will strive to do it the right way. Type 1s seek a deeper purpose from their own life. They are not content to just live for themselves, but will also look for the deeper good for their community, too. Finally, Type 1s have a strong sense of duty for following through with their obligations and to do the right thing in any given situation.
Type 2 – The Giver
Type 2s are guided by love, empathy, approachability, relationships and openness. Type 2s desire love for themselves, but also want to make the world a more loving and caring place, so they will approach others with love first. They have a great capacity for empathy. They strive to understand, care for, and love others. Type 2s value approachability because they want others to come to them when they need help. They value being needed by others and will make this easier for others by being approachable. Above most everything else, Type 2s will value personal relationships with others. This value shows up in how much effort they will expend for relationships. Finally, Type 2s have an openness about them that allows them to welcome others.
Type 3 – The Performer
Type 3s typically value reputation, competence, productivity, recognition and success. They value their reputation and will protect how others view them. Type 3s seek out competence so they can best do their tasks and accomplish their goals. They will also relentlessly pursue proficiency in all that they do. Type 3s value productivity and efficiency. They want to achieve as much as possible, as quickly as they can each and every day and throughout their life. Type 3s want to receive some form of recognition for all of their hard work and their accomplishments. Finally, they strive for success in everything that they set out to do. No matter how big or small the task is, they will want to succeed.
Type 4 – The Romantic
Type 4s value beauty, originality, authenticity, creativity and self expression. They appreciate and want to create beauty to make the world a better place. Type 4s want to express their originality by putting their unique spin on any task. When they complete a task or project, they will like have approached it from their unique viewpoint. Type 4s value authenticity from themselves because they strongly believe that you should remain true to who you are. They will also appreciate and seek out others’ authenticity. They view creativity and new perspectives on ideas. Finally, they seek to use self expression so the world can also see their unique, original and creative outlook.
Type 5 – The Observer
Type 5s tend to value understanding, wisdom, autonomy, knowledge, and logic. Type 5s seek out understanding of what is real and true. They typically seek to understand their external world. They also value the wisdom to know how to approach and understand the facts that they learn. Type 5s also want autonomy to be able to direct and control their own life. They tend to be independent and don’t want to have their freedom limited. They use knowledge as a their pathway for gaining competence. Finally, they believe that logic, data and facts provide universal truths in this world.
Type 6 – The Supporter
Type 6s tend to value loyalty, security, reliability, community, and well being. Type 6s will give, but also want to receive, true loyalty from their closest friends and family. Trust is paramount in their relationships, but it may take some time for them to establish that trust. They value security so they can remain safe and avoid unnecessary risks. They will spend a lot of time thinking about and planning for this security. Type 6s must have reliability in order to trust others. Type 6s will seek out a community that will support them and give them security. This leads to them being natural community builders and connectors of other people. Finally, Type 6s value their own well being and the well being of their loved ones.
Type 7 – The Adventurer
Type 7s seek out joy, experiences, optimism, pleasure, and energy. They value joy and want their world to be filled with enjoyment and happiness. They don’t place a strong amount of value on material goods, but prefer to seek out fun and exciting experiences. They are the most optimistic of all of the Enneagram Types, partially because they do not like to think about or deal with the negative parts of life. Type 7s value pleasure and seek it out wherever they are. Finally, Type 7s value energy, particularly positive energy.
Type 8 – The Protector
Type 8s value strength, freedom, resourcefulness, assertiveness, and control. Type 8s value strength, wanting to be strong and appear strong to others. They use their strength to influence others and create a more just world. They seek out freedom because they want to pursue life on their own terms. Type 8s are resourceful and believe that others should be too. They will not sit around and wait for life to happen to them, but seek to use their resourcefulness to make it happen the way they desire. Type 8s use their assertiveness to protect themselves and others. They worry that they may be betrayed, so their assertive nature seeks to avoid this. Finally, people often think that Type 8s want to control others, which is a misconception. They don’t necessarily seek out control of others, but they do want to maintain control of themselves and their own destiny.
Type 9 – The Mediator
Type 9s value peace, unity, harmony, balance and kindness. Type 9s seek out peace in their inner and outer world. They will take steps to make sure that their peace is not disturbed. Type 9s will promote unity with the people around them, seeking to build consensus. They seek out a harmonious environment, both externally and internally. Type 9s prefer to live in a state of balance so their life is steady. Finally, Type 9s value kindness. They generally treat others with kindness, but also value that trait in others, too.
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