The Enneagram Type Nine is known as “The Peacemaker” because they are defined by their desire to maintain inner and outer harmony. Gentle and agreeable, Nines are able to diffuse conflict and bring others together. They are easy to be around and are the glue in their relationships.
Nines are defined by their desire to maintain a sense of inner peace and harmony, and to avoid conflict or other emotional disturbances. They are typically agreeable, calm, and easy to be around.
Nines rarely rock the boat, but they can be stubborn. While they typically go with the flow, they dislike being controlled and will respond with passive resistance if pushed too far.
Deepest Fear: Nines fear being too needy and thus pushing people away. They cope with this fear by submitting to the desires and agendas of the people around them: being agreeable in order to be included.
Core Motivations: Nines are motivated by their need for peace and harmony in their environment, and the desires to avoid conflict and deal with unpleasant emotions.
How Rare are Enneagram 9s?
- In a Truity study of more than 54,000 respondents, Type Nines were found to make up approximately 13% of the population; 14% of women and 12% of men.
Enneagram Type 9 In Depth
Gentle and agreeable, Peacemakers are the skilled mediators and counsellors in a group of friends or coworkers. They work hard behind the scenes in order to keep the group harmony steady and flowing.
As children, they knew how to get along with each classmate, making them a great addition to any group project. They can easily see the many different sides to an issue and tend not to jump to conclusions quickly, if at all.
Complacent and humble, Peacemakers are stable and gentle, willing to go the extra mile to avoid rocking the boat. They’re appreciative of the little things others do and the simple pleasures in life.
Nines are part of the “body-based” triad of the Enneagram, along with Eight and One. Ones resist their anger and focus on self-control and Eights express their anger and focus on controlling others. Nines, however, avoid their anger and focus on maintaining inner peace.
While seemingly agreeable, Nines resist outer control like an Eight, except they do so passively. This can result in passive-aggressive tendencies.
Many Nines grow up in environments where they were forced into a position of mediating conflict between parents or other family members. Since they were surrounded by bigger emotions, they learned at a young age to devalue their own.
Healthy Nines are exceptional mediators and persuaders that can help other people understand different perspectives. Less healthy Nines, however, can show up as apathetic, overly passive, and highly self-critical.
Nines grow when they learn to connect more deeply with their authentic self, prioritize their own desires, and express their wants and needs to other people.
Enneagram 9 Wings
9w8: The Nine wing Eight type is a Nine who shares many of the Type Eight characteristics. This type is independent, social, adaptable, and generally more assertive and direct than other Nines. Common careers include counselor, writer/editor, diplomat and social worker.
9w1: The Nine wing One type is a Nine who has many of the same features as the Type One personality. This type is hardworking, friendly, modest, and generally more serious and diligent than other Nines. Common jobs for this type include nurse, veterinarian, religious worker and human resources manager.
Core Values of Enneagram 9s
- Harmony, kindness and unity with the world. Idealistic and well-wishing, Peacemakers aim to be the glue that holds the entire group together — whether they’re with family, friends or colleagues.
- The quickest way into a Peacemaker’s heart is to acknowledge their contributions and reassure them of their importance.
- Gently sharing their nuggets of wisdom and serenity with others, Peacemakers believe in the power of forgiveness and acceptance.
- External comfort paired with a sense of inner balance make up the Peacemaker's ideal lifestyle — and they gladly create this atmosphere through every aspect of their lives.
How to Recognize an Enneagram 9
Peacemakers are social chameleons who can adapt to the group dynamic easily and help others get along. They’re soft-spoken yet loyal and fun to be around, intuitively knowing how to include and engage everyone in conversation.
Peacemakers are cooperative and always willing to let someone join the circle and state their own opinions. Kind yet firm in their personal stances, they make an effort to neutralize tension and restore group harmony.
Easygoing and willing to tolerate everyone, Peacemakers retain their self-esteem through being kind and helpful to others. They enjoy the comfortable side of life and may have a personal space to recharge from the outer world.
Many are deep seekers of meaning and have a fond appreciation of spirituality and a sense of connectedness with the universe.
Healthy vs. Unhealthy Enneagram 9s
When they are healthy, Nines use their natural conflict-diffusing powers to maintain harmony and bring on the social fluidity in a group. They’re natural counsellors and teachers with a gift for persuasion and mediation. Optimistic and fully alive, they have a strong self-identity and can ascribe to a simple and healthy lifestyle. When self-actualized, Peacemakers can develop a keen sense of ambition and take the necessary steps to use their calm energy to better others’ lives and well-being. They’re excellent communicators, and patient enough to deal with any situation. Self-actualized Peacemakers can use their deep well of wisdom to help others resolve their internal and external conflicts.
When they are average, Nines stay out of the limelight and maintain regular contact with their close friends and acquaintances. They may have issues with procrastination and can often correct their work habits with consistent schedules and careful planning. For Peacemakers, this is an important, lifelong process. Peacemakers are change-adverse and lovers of the comfy and familiar. They enjoy the idea of a cozy retreat to take a break from the world and simply relax. They have the tendency to avoid direct confrontation and run away from problems when they emerge.
When they are unhealthy, Nines become lethargic, unable to concentrate on a task and believe they do not matter in the grand scheme of things. They may become sluggish and unable to focus, simply procrastinating time away instead of achieving anything. Cruising through life on autopilot, Peacemakers go through the motions without trying to set goals or make improvements. On another note, Peacemakers may become internally self-critical for not being able to carry through with plans and establish a firm identity. Extremely stressed Peacemakers often fail to set personal boundaries, which may lead to burnout and emotional exhaustion. Their passive-aggressiveness ends up straining existing relationships.
Growth Tips for Enneatype 9s
- Pay attention to your wants and needs. Nines get into the habit of forgetting themselves and going along with the wants and needs of other people. They fear that making things about them will lead to conflict or discomfort. But by repressing your desires, you’re limiting your potential for growth. Spend time reflecting on your thoughts and feelings without external input to better understand what you truly want.
- Listen to your body. Nines are prone to neglecting their physical health in the same ways that they can neglect their mental health. Exercise and meditation can help you feel more in touch with your body and better able to understand what it needs to thrive.
- Learn to see the value in conflict. Expressing yourself can lead to conflict, but it also leads to deeper and more meaningful relationships. Embrace opportunities to connect with people by sharing what you think and being open to disagreements.
- Practice being more direct and assertive. If being direct and assertive in conversation feels intimidating to you, practice with the people you trust the most. You can work your way up to being more comfortable in asserting yourself in everyday conversations.
- Lean into adventure. Nines value routine and are often uncomfortable with change. Challenge your resistance to change by exploring the ways in which you are in control of your life. Consider ways that you can step outside of your comfort zone and be more adventurous.
Famous Enneagram Type 9s
- Marie Kondo
- Barack Obama
- Queen Elizabeth II
- Ariana Grande
- Ronald Reagan
- Carl Jung
- Joseph Campbell
- Woody Harrelson
- Zooey Deschanel
- Ron Howard
- Audrey Hepburn
- Morgan Freeman
- Whoopie Goldberg
- Sophia Loren
- Abraham Lincoln
- Alicia Keys
- “Dorothy Gale” (The Wizard of Oz)
- “Winnie-the-Pooh” (Winnie-the-Pooh)
- “Luke Skywalker” (Star Wars)
- “Bruce Banner/Hulk” (The Incredible Hulk)
- “Pocahontas” (Pocahontas)
Type 9s in Relationships
Enneagram Type Nines are comfortable and cozy in relationships. They focus their attention on both their own comfort and typically enjoy preparing for the comfort of their mate also. Even more than gauging with themselves internally, a Nine partner will focus on what’s going on in the environment and, as long as they’re comfortable, merge with others’ desires and wishes. However, a healthy Nine can still prioritize themselves and their goals and find time for active self care too.
When they’re not healthy however, Nines can overly focus on staying still or avoiding conflict altogether. They want to achieve harmony at any cost, even if they passive aggressively avoid relationship issues. Alternately, unhealthy Nine may at times tune in so much to what the other person in the relationship wants, that they lose a clear sense of their own needs and agendas.
In the name of practicality and earthy comforts, sometimes peace-loving Nines forget that conflict, not just harmony, is part of the necessary flow of life. Instead they stay in their “turtle shells” avoiding rocking the metaphorical boat in any way.
At their best however, Nines can be extremely powerful. They can be thought of as a great river, one which can carry everything along with them but with a hidden dammed up reservoir of energy. They have very little access to it, due to feeling bad for rocking the boat. For this reason, they are generally the most tired of all the types.
Because of their inner fatigue and tuning out, it’s important that a Nine wake up to what’s going on internally. When they bravely and wisely engage with their partner about what’s not going well without blowing up in rage or retreating, they’re on the right track. The avoidance of conflict may otherwise cost them their own identity and selfhood. Furthermore, it opens the door to depression, addiction, one night affairs, dissociation, and full inaction.
If you love a Nine, you have found someone who is known to be the most gentle, peaceable, and altruistic of all the types. This energy spent merging with others’ needs, however, can make them slothful. If you have to rouse them, consider yourself lucky if they will move in the direction you want, since they may honestly care more about you and the relationship than themselves. However, encourage them to have their own autonomy and self-respect, so they are not damming up passive-aggressive anger. Make sure you actively listen with them and pause to see what’s really going on with them, too.
Realize when they get loud, they are feeling either unheard or anxious. Address those particular issues as best as you can even though they may say “it’s fine.” Making daily prioritized lists will also help with Nines. They will always try to put you first, so give them express permission to take care of their own physical and mental health, errands, work, hobbies, and needs.
Enneagram Relationship content was co-developed with marital therapist turned relationship coach Christa Hardin (MA).
Type 9 Relationship Compatibility by Partner Type
Type Nines with Type Ones: Tend to be both thoughtful and organized. Click here to find the Type 9 & Type 1 couple pairing guide.
- Type Nines with Type Twos: Tend to be both mindful of others and considerate. Click here to find the Type 9 & Type 2 couple pairing guide.
- Type Nines with Type Threes: Tend to be both fun-loving and mission-driven. Click here to find the Type 9 & Type 3 couple pairing guide.
- Type Nines with Type Fours: Tend to be both thoughtful and relaxed. Click here to find the Type 9 & Type 4 couple pairing guide.
- Type Nines with Type Fives: Tend to be both comfortable and safe. Click here to find the Type 9 & Type 5 couple pairing guide.
- Type Nines with Type Sixes: Tend to be both witty and practical. Click here to find the Type 9 & Type 6 couple pairing guide.
- Type Nines with Type Sevens: Tend to be both peaceful and passionate. Click here to find the Type 9 & Type 7 couple pairing guide.
- Type Nines with Type Eights: Tend to be both caring and driven. Click here to find the Type 9 & Type 8 couple pairing guide.
- Type Nines with Type Nines: Tend to be both thoughtful and fair-minded. Click here to find the Type 9 & Type 9 couple pairing guide.
