For Ones this means that they can have a wing Nine (also known as Enneagram 1w9) or a wing Two (Enneagram 1w2).
Below you find descriptions for each wing. We will explore how either wing can positively influence your main personality type as well as the specific challenges this combination brings with it. If you are new to wings and want to learn more about how they work, you can read our introduction to wings here.
Ones who have a Nine wing usually notice it by being a little bit more introverted and detached about their idealistic approach to life. The influence of the Nine makes it easier for them to remain calm in sticky situations and more considerate as a whole. Ones with a Nine wing wish to improve themselves and the world just as much as any other One, but they usually choose a gentler approach.
Compared to Ones with a Two wing, these Ones are much less interested in throwing themselves into the trenches to change the world. They tend to stay on a purely idealistic level, which is great because it helps them in their relationships with others, softening the resentment that can arise from the world not behaving as they think it should.
“Ones with a Nine wing wish to improve themselves and the world just as much as any other One, but they usually choose a gentler approach.”
Something that happens regularly with Ones who have the Nine wing is that they withdraw into nature. Sometimes they simply prefer the company of animals or solitude over the interaction with humans. Things often stay a bit more abstract with them, both in the way they think and the way they talk, which can make them look a bit like Fives.
Their motivation however is different than that of Fives: Where Fives try to escape the overwhelming demands the world has on their half-filled energy tank, Ones with a Nine wing just try to get a break from the messiness of a world they can’t shape the way they would like to.
On the less healthy spectrum of this wing, their wish for quiet and solitude can turn them into misanthropic pessimists who flee into isolation because they become so disillusioned with the world. Giving up more and more on their emotional side, they turn people into abstract problems that need to be solved, while they become unable to see the logical contradictions in their own behaviour.
The healthier they get though, the more they are able to detach from their ideals and expectations, which in turn makes them more generous and often, well, kind of mystical – in the sense that they are able to translate their worldview into words and actions that are helpful because they aren’t emotionally charged.
If you find yourself fundamentally reflected in the idealistic worldview of the One but notice that you are a lot softer, relaxed and detached than that type often sounds, chances are that’s your pronounced Nine wing.
Ones with a Two wing get a couple of great (but as per usual: also not so great) qualities from this type: They are usually more extroverted and empathetic towards people, softening the coldness many people associate with the idealistic behavior of Ones. Their Two wing makes them more generous, passionate and willing to get down and dirty. They often talk a bit more and a bit louder than other Ones and are much more willing to debate their ideas. Let’s be honest: Makes for good politicians – on every level.
Ones and Twos are kind of similar on a deep level: Both want to be seen as “good“ by others – Twos by being selfless and self-sacrificing, Ones by being righteous and free from failure. The good thing is:
“The approach of Twos makes them emotional and warm towards people, something that greatly balances out the coolly rational and logical approach of Ones.”
It softens their tendency to be hard and judgemental in their dealings with others.
It also fills them with energy to roll up their sleeves and get involved. Ones with this wing can be found in the helping professions (like teaching, counseling, medicine and so on) more often than their counterparts with a Nine wing.
The less pretty things that can swap over from the unhealthy parts of their Two wing can be the need to control and manipulate others emotionally, like Twos do to get the love they feel they deserve. The difference with Ones is that they do it to get people to transform according to their ideals.
Because, while their Two wing helps them to better sense other people’s needs, they don’t feel the same urge to meet those needs. Turn that around though, and you have someone on a healthy level who is much more caring and concerned with others. Suddenly, their integrity is mixed with compassion, their objectivity with empathy. To come back to politics: Aren’t those the politicians we need?
So if you find yourself in the rigorous idealism of the One personality but notice that you’re not nearly as cold and logic-only as the type sometimes sounds – chances are you have a Two wing helping you out there, buddy.
I relate to One with a wing two. I am a perfectionist and love justice. However, I’m not cold at all anytime. Instead I’m extroverted and compassionate. Also, I love helping people and making them better people according to my ideals. Maybe someday I will be a judge or senator!!!
As a fan of Star Trek and the general franchise, I totally agree that Mr. Spock is so an Enneagram Type 1 Wing 2 personality type.He seems really particular but at the same time has genuine empathy as a character when it comes to leading people toward achieving objectives for the “greater good”. The part where I feel he as a character falls short is expressing his feelings and empathy in a vocal way. He fits the introverted personality that sort of keeps things to themselves but definitely means well and will do the “right” thing in most scenarios.
Really interesting to think about the Enneagram Type 1 Wing 2 personalities. They probably make great leaders in general. I feel like this fits into the “lead by example principles. The fact that they are empathetic probably also helps especially if one of their employees or subordinates has an issue or needs help. If they can see that kind of scenario as not being a burden but an opportunity to help out their team. On the flipside I guess if that isn’t relayed properly they can probably develop some perfectionist standards that would result in coming off as controlling or overly bossy.
I definitely can relate more toward the Enneagram 1w9. I tend to have a more reserved personality and am definitely way more of an introvert in larger social settings. One of my favorite pastimes is going hiking either alone with my dogs or with my significant other. I find that I balance this part of my personality out with having to be pretty extroverted for work purposes. Sometimes being so extroverted at work definitely makes me feel the need to almost recharge a bit in solitude. This was a really great introspective read, thank you for sharing it with the world!