How Does The Inner Critic Develop Based On Your Enneagram Type

If you want freedom in your life, you have to come to terms with your inner critic. How does the inner critic develop based on your enneagram type? It develops based on the fears of each kind.

The Enneagram is a psychological and spiritual tool.  Learning your type helps you to notice when you become fixated on your type. You often get caught in your ego when you are under stress. The inner critic tries its best to keep you stuck in your ego.  

Learn more about the Enneagram: Click Here

You miss so much in life when you are stuck in your type. To give you an idea of how debilitating this can be, imagine that you have nine sources of wisdom to learn from and yet you are only using one of them.

How often do you hear that negative critical voice in your head? If you are like many of us, you will listen to it telling you that you are not good enough, that you are not smart enough, that you are not beautiful enough and other negative comments.

The irony is that the inner critic is that part of your psyche that wants to keep you safe.  When you were a child, it kept you safe. But now was an adult it can become destructive.

If you pay attention to your inner critic, you will miss much in life because you will be too fearful of trying anything out of your comfort zone.

I invite you to befriend your inner critic. Let it know that you appreciate its desire to keep you safe, but you are now an adult and can take good care of yourself.  As you honour the desire of the inner critic to keep you safe; and not get caught up in its fear of the unknown, it will have less and less control over you.

Learn more about the inner critic: Click Here

Nine different types make up the Enneagram personality tool. Each type expresses the inner critic differently.

Type One The Reformer:

I am good or okay if I do things right.

The inner critic will let you know when you or someone else is not doing something correctly.  People who identify with type one can be so hard on themselves. 

Please let the one part of yourself know that it is okay not to be perfect.

Type Two The Helper:

I am good or okay if I feel loved and appreciated.

The inner critic will want proof to know that you are loved. It will do everything it can to make sure that you are the center of attention.  It will work hard to make sure you get the proof that you are loved.  Sadly the instructions from your inner critic will end up pushing away the people that you like.

Please let the two in you know that it is essential to take care of yourself. Let yourself know that you are loved and appreciated.

Type Three The Achiever:

I am good or okay if I am seen to be successful.

The inner critic will keep you busy being successful. It will ask a lot of you to make this happen. The inner critic will instruct you to become whatever person you need to be to get the job done.  It will feel at times that you lost your soul.

Please let the three know in you that it is okay to be average.

Type Four The Individualist:

I am good or okay if I can feel my emotions and be my unique self.

The inner critic will do its best to make sure you never fit in with your family, friends or community. It will keep calling on you to focus on showing people how unique you are. It will tempt you with painful emotions to keep you from risking new relationships with others.

Please let the four know in you that you are unique and that you are valued.

Type Five The Investigator:

I am good or okay if I have all the information I need to make an informed choice.

The inner critic will urge you to keep your thoughts to yourself.  You only share when you are confident that you have learned all there is to learn. The worst thing for a type five would be to share a half-baked idea.

Please let the five in you know that the world needs to know your opinions even when you do not feel that you have researched enough.

Type Six The Loyalist:

You are good or okay if you feel secure.

The inner critic will fill your head with all the many things that could go wrong.  If it has its way, it will keep you in constant anxiety preventing you from trying anything out of your comfort zone.

Please let the six in you know that you have courage within you and that you are not alone.

Type Seven The Enthusiasts:

You are good or okay if you have lots of adventures and fun.

The inner critic will always be looking for new adventures. It will do everything it can to prevent you from feeling any discomfort.  It will discourage you from finishing a project if you are already feeling bored.  Its motto is fun at all costs.

Please let the seven in us know that it is okay to slow down and feel their pain.

Type Eight The Challenger:

You are good or okay if I stay in control of my environment.

The inner critic will always be on patrol for anyone who might be trying to stop you from doing what you need.  Anyone perceived as a threat will not be tolerated. The inner critic knows that the eight has a sensitive heart and will do everything it can to keep you safe.

Please let the eight in us know that you will be supported in what you do and encourage you to show us your beautiful heart.

Type Nine The Peacemaker:

You are good or okay if everyone is getting along together.

The inner critic will encourage you to keep the peace at all costs.  Just ignore your own needs and do what everyone else wants to.  To keep you safe it will insist that you have no worth or value.  Hence it is better that you blend in with everyone else.

Please let the nine know in you that your opinions and thoughts are valuable.  Let them know that their own needs and desires are critical too.

The good news is that you don’t need to be controlled by your inner critic anymore.  Let your inner critic know that you are thankful for its desire to keep you safe. You will never get rid of your inner critic, but you can quiet it down to the point that it will no longer control you.

The world is full of wonder and adventure. Go and enjoy the adventure we call life. There is so much to experience.

To do this, you must risk doing what feels uncomfortable. You must risk new experiences.  Get the best out of your life. Your inner guidance will show you the way.

You can do it!

Roland Legge can help you to befriend your inner critic. To learn more about yourself sign up for Fall 2018 Workshops: Click Here