Enneagram 9 careers (strengths & weaknesses)

In this blog post, we are talking about the Enneagram type 9 careers, about their strengths and weaknesses – and what should they focus their energy on. 

The type 9 and the best Enneagram 9 careers

Enneagram type 9 are comfort seekers. Type 9 is pleasant, calm, people who do not ask much from life.

They prefer simple pleasures, which are always at hand – ready meals at the nearest fast food restaurant, watching replays of their favourite TV shows or relaxing in a comfortable chair. 

Enneagram type 9 is usually not ambitious, although they may be very talented.

They face anxiety by hiding at work,  and prefer to do minor activities, and not getting involved in big projects.

The inertia of the 9 types is most clearly seen in an instinctual way.

Apathy and indifference to oneself can lead to difficulties in mobilizing to get what they really want or to fulfil their real needs for self-preservation.

They increasingly use food and drink to suppress their feelings of anger and anxiety and are often foodies with a predisposition to addiction. 

They do not want their pleasant states to be disturbed by others and often resist through passivity, remain silent, stubborn.

At the lower, unhealthy level, they fall into a deep apathy about their lives and can become sluggish, erased and unproductive.

They end up being “chronic couch vegetables”, emotionally closed and slowly wasting their health, relationships and possibilities. Addictions are common.

As long as type 9 manages to overcome his inner apathy and laziness, and fights fervently for his passions, the best Enneagram 9 careers are as a counsellor, psychotherapist, social worker, psychiatrist, veterinarian, librarian or editor. 

Enneagram type 9 – Laziness and self-forgetfulness

The laziness of the 9 types derives from the desire not to involve his whole being in the activity he undertakes.

They are not necessarily lazy when it comes to everyday things – on the contrary, they can be very hard workers, running a business or maintaining a house.

Their laziness is an internal, spiritual one, which provokes their desire not to be affected or touched by reality.

They do not want to be present in their own lives in an active way, to have initiative.

Thus, even mid-level 9 type people engage on autopilot, so that life is less concrete and threatening. In a way, life is lived from a distance.

This laziness is, therefore, laziness to remember oneself or to become aware of one’s own identity.

They don’t invest energy in taking connection with themselves, others or the world around them.

To identify with one’s instincts and body means to be aware of our mortality.

Type 9 prefers to cling to certain comfortable inner states or to identify with something beyond his own person, even to obscure his own consciousness, so as not to touch his entire concept of mortality. 

The world passes into a vague plane and the 9 type people feel safe at the expense of sacrificing their own energy and vitality.

Despite being good spiritual seekers, they often try to reap the psychological and emotional benefits of inner work by doing the opposite of the purpose of being present. 

Ironically, they want the union between the world and themselves to exist, but they only get the false peace of dissociation and numbness – the thread of peace is so finely stretched that anything can break it.

Like any other ego project, it is doomed to failure.

Enneagram type 9 – Strengths

One of the greatest sources of power for the 9 types is their deep patience: a pronounced “laisser faire” towards other people, which gives them the opportunity to focus on their own development. 

We observe this quality in a good parent, who patiently teaches his child something new while maintaining a respectful and vigilant distance.

Their patience is sustained by a silent power and a fearful endurance. They are able to “hold on” through hardships and suffering. 

We often notice their ability to outperform aggressive competitors, at work or in relationships – very similar to the fable with the turtle and the rabbit.

Healthy people are able to pursue with determination and thoroughness their own goals, which they often achieve. 

When they realize the power of the will, they will discover in them a great vitality and an extraordinary strength of character, because they are the centre of the Instinctive Triad.

The upper 9 type is particularly effective in resolving crises because it has great internal stability. It does not unbalance the small ups and downs of life, nor the big problems, obstacles or disasters.

When everyone around reacts with exaggerated anxiety, the 9 guy becomes calm and gathered centre who continues undisturbed and solves the problem.

A healthy 9 types of people have a great power of acceptance of those around them, a very important feature in today’s global society.

This explains why people of type Six, who always divide people into “accepted” or “unaccepted” groups, should evolve into type Nine. 

What are the Enneagram personality types?

Enneagram is the name of one of the newest personality systems, which emphasizes psychological motivation and emotional perspective on life.

The name comes from the Greek words ennea (new) and grammes (something is written or drawn).

The nine Enneagram personality typologies are represented by a geometric figure called the enneagram, which also indicates the connections between the nine types. 

The enneagram consists of three parts: the circle, which according to esoteric traditions symbolizes unity, an inner triangle (connects types 3, 6 and 9) that symbolizes the `law of three` and an irregular hexagon (connects types 1, 4, 2, 8, 5 and 7) which symbolizes the `law of the seven` – 142857 represents the decimal that is repeated after dividing 1 by 7.

The enneagram is not used in specialized academic studies but rather is promoted in the business management environment and the religious or spiritual one.

In business, it provides information about the dynamics of work, and in the spiritual environment, it is a way to a better understanding of the self and to spiritual development.

 Critics of this system argue that the data provided are more subjective and interpretive than those provided by academic tests – such as Myers-Briggs, making it more difficult to scientifically validate.

Basic personality type

The enneagram represents a set of 9 distinct personality types, each of which is represented by a number.

It is common for a person to find himself in each of these types, but only one will predominate – this is the basic type.

Each of us is born with a personality dominated by one of these types, and innate temperament and other prenatal factors are the main determinants of personality.

Tangential personality type

The basic personality type can undergo slight changes, following the influences exerted by the two adjacent personality types – tangential on the enneagram.

These are also called `wings`. Tangential types add new, sometimes contradictory elements to the basic type.

The `wing` is the second side of the coin and must be considered to better understand a person.

For example, a person with the basic personality 9 has a `wing` either type 1, type 8, or both. These tangential personalities influence but do not change their basic personality.

Enneagram 9 careers – a Summary

Enneagram type 9people remind us of the essential quality of union, wholeness, and completeness.

They remind us that all things are interconnected – nothing in the universe is separate from the rest of things. 

This knowledge brings them inner peace; their purpose in life is to be a living memory of the spiritual nature of reality and, consequently, of the implicit unity of our whole existence.

Enneagram type 9 is fully present and aware of this universal unity of existence, but at the same time, they also have a strong sense of self.

The less healthy have the ability to perceive some of the limitless qualities of reality, but they get lost or merge in the surroundings.

The free do not forget themselves and do not get lost in idealistic fantasies. 

One of the greatest sources of power for the 9 types is their deep patience. The 9 type is particularly effective in resolving crises because it has great internal stability.

It does not unbalance the small ups and downs of life, nor the big problems, obstacles or disasters. 

Healthy 9 type people have a great power of acceptance of those around them, a very important feature in today’s global society, which is why it makes them great psychologists, counsellors, social workers or librarians. 

If you have any questions, comments or recommendations, please let us know in the comments section.

Better yet, if you are an Enneagram type 9, we’d love to know about you! What is your profession?

Do you feel you are doing what you really love? 

FAQ about enneagram 9 careers

References

The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine Personality Types, by Don Richard Riso 

Personality Types: Using the Enneagram for Self-Discovery, by Don Richard Riso, Russ Hudson

Understanding the Enneagram: The Practical Guide to Personality Types, by Don Richard Riso, Russ Hudson

Enneagrampaths.com