Enneagram and Discipline: Strategies for Each Personality Type

At first sight, the Enneagram and discipline may not seem connected since one is a personality system and the other requires effort and structure. However, if you look deeper, you’ll discover that understanding your Enneagram personality type holds the key to cultivating healthy self-discipline.

Furthermore, the self-awareness gained from understanding your personality type allows you to create an effective Enneagram discipline strategy. More precisely, the Enneagram test can help you create a tailor-made routine that maximizes your performance, thus supporting your personal and professional growth.

In this article, we’ll explore how each personality type can leverage their strengths to achieve the perfect balance between discipline and spontaneity in everyday life. Let’s dive in!

Key Takeaways

• Building discipline based on the Enneagram means designing systems that fit your type’s mindset.
• Fours and Sevens are the types who struggle the most with discipline.
• Ones and Sixes find it easy to accept discipline and may even become too focused on it.
• Threes and Eights are the most likely to have a pragmatic attitude toward discipline in the sense that they easily handle it as long as it serves their goals.
• Twos and Nines don’t have issues with consistency per se, but their lack of strong personal boundaries may affect their ability to stick to their routines and plans.

How Does the Enneagram Test Relate to Discipline?

The Enneagram is primarily a tool for personal growth and self-discovery.

It divides people into nine personality types and describes their needs, motivations, strengths, and weaknesses. By identifying our Enneagram personality type, we can gain a deep insight into the emotional, thought, and behavioral patterns that shape our lives.

Since discipline is a specific type of behavior, understanding the characteristics of each personality type can help us assess the likelihood that a person will struggle with discipline and the reasons behind that difficulty.

Nevertheless, belonging to a particular personality type doesn’t immediately mean we will or won’t have discipline issues.

Finally, it is our responsibility to make the most of the insights the Enneagram test offers us to optimize our routines and create the framework that best fits our way of life.

Enneagram and Discipline: How Disciplined is Each Type?

Here’s what discipline might mean for each Enneagram type:

Enneagram Type One—The Perfectionist

Enneagram Ones thrive on rules and order, so discipline comes naturally to them. If anything, they can be too disciplined, trying to introduce structure even into the areas of life that require spontaneity, not strict adherence to plans and schedules.

Nevertheless, their capacity for self-discipline is admirable and is one of the reasons why they usually assume leadership positions at work so easily. Whether they join a local gym, start a language course, or take up a new hobby, they set an example of dedication and consistency to others, driven by a strong inner sense of ethics and a deep need to do everything right.

Enneagram 1 and discipline tip: Discipline should be a tool you use to improve your life, not a goal on its own. So, give yourself a break, allow for more spontaneity and creativity in your life, especially in personal relationships.

Enneagram Type Two—The Helper

Enneagram Twos are known for always being ready to go above and beyond to cater to others' needs, as they can’t relax unless they are sure everyone around them is satisfied. It can be challenging to stick to a routine when you constantly put others’ needs before your own, so Helpers easily give up on their plans whenever someone needs their support.

Basically, Twos don’t have issues with commitment and discipline. They are hardworking and thorough. However, their lack of firm personal boundaries frequently interferes with their commitment to their goals, and they sacrifice their progress too easily to help others with theirs.

Enneagram 2 and discipline tip: Though it often seems like you need more structure and self-discipline, you actually need the strength to say no to people and activities that jeopardize your goals. So, for you, the key to improving discipline is enhancing personal boundaries, not working harder.

Enneagram 3—The Achiever

Achievers are ambitious and goal-oriented, and discipline is a huge part of their lives from an early age. They usually learn already as children that success requires consistency, and self-discipline becomes their natural strength and an integral part of their character.

However, they may be overly ambitious and take on too many responsibilities at once, which can result in burnout and work addiction. They are an excellent example of how qualities we consider to be virtues, such as self-discipline, can work against us rather than for us when our core needs and goals are not in sync.

Enneagram 3 and discipline tip: Making breaks and celebrating small wins and progress instead of exclusively valuing achievements will strengthen, not weaken, your motivation. As a result, you’ll feel more inspired and be more efficient.

Enneagram 4—The Individualist

The mere mention of discipline is enough to make Enneagram Fours feel uncomfortable. These artistic, creative soul-searchers want to be free to pursue their inspiration, and discipline feels like a cage to them.

Since they place too much value on motivation over consistency and self-discipline, they inevitably face difficulties sticking to any plan or routine. Individualists, in particular, struggle to complete less creative but essential tasks and are prone to procrastination.

Enneagram 4 and discipline tip: Balancing discipline and creativity isn’t impossible. In fact, a healthy, customized routine supports creativity and improves your performance. Don’t avoid dull tasks; instead, organize them so that each is followed by a creative activity that gives you joy.

Enneagram 5—The Investigator

Fives have highly disciplined minds. Their thought process is extremely organized. However, their everyday life doesn’t always reflect their inner sense of structure. That’s because they don’t care about practical issues and direct all their energy to their intellectual pursuits.

For example, Fives can create highly efficient work processes and systems while at the same time leaving incredible messes on their office desks. They are also likely to neglect self-care and physical health and completely lack structure in these areas.

That’s because they believe they should focus only on what really matters to them in life, and dealing with mundane things like desk clutter or everyday chores and meals simply seems like a waste of time.

Enneagram 5 and discipline tip: The area in which you lack self-discipline the most is self-care and practical, everyday life. Make a pact with yourself to commit to your physical health and take on a hobby that can support you in that.

Enneagram 6—The Loyalist

Enneagram Sixes love discipline because it contributes to their sense of safety and aligns with their core motivation, which revolves around ensuring security and predictability in life.

Like Type One personalities, Sixes can also be overly focused on discipline and even develop an addiction to it, particularly under stress or when life seems uncertain. Because they place too much emphasis on following their set routine rather than on outcomes, they might even find it challenging to finish their tasks in stressful situations.

Enneagram 6 and discipline tip: Discipline is necessary in life, but not in every moment and every area. For you, learning when to let go of discipline and embrace spontaneity is more important than perfecting your routine.

Enneagram 7—The Enthusiast

For the playful Enneagram Sevens, discipline is one of the most challenging lessons they need to learn. Creative, curious, and always busy, Enthusiasts are thirsty for excitement and find it hard to stay focused on one project, person, or task for too long. They easily get bored, and practicing discipline often feels like a ‘mission impossible’ to them.

As a result, they may fail to develop their talents because they underestimate the importance of effort and consistency while relying too heavily on talent, inspiration, and motivation.

Enneagram 7 and discipline tip: For you, discipline is frustrating, so to accept it, you need to increase your capacity for tolerating frustration. The best way to do it is to gradually introduce small changes in your daily routine, track your progress, and reward yourself when you reach milestones.

Enneagram 8—The Challenger

Enneagram 8s can be very disciplined, but only when that discipline is self-imposed or serves a practical, concrete goal. Otherwise, discipline may feel like manipulation or humiliation to them, which is the last thing they want to experience.

Therefore, while they may be very strict when it comes to sticking to their agenda, they may be very resistant to rules and schedules imposed on them by others. Ambitious, independent, and thirsty for power, Challengers are charismatic leaders who truly respect only the limitations that they create for themselves.

Enneagram 8 and discipline tip: Avoid taking on too many responsibilities, and learn to delegate tasks that are not essential. Otherwise, by taking more than you can carry, you’ll jeopardize your plans and experience burnout.

Enneagram 9—The Peacemaker

Enneagram Nines are driven by the need for harmony, and they easily accept discipline when their environment is peaceful and calm. However, when they experience stress and their surroundings become chaotic, they may get swept away by drama.

Motivated by a desire to restore harmony, they become involved in the problems of others while ignoring their own plans and agendas. As a result, they frequently miss deadlines for their goals and may grow weary of juggling their objectives with those of others.

Enneagram 9 and discipline tip: Though it may not feel right to you, sometimes walking away from other people’s drama is the best way to help them. Plus, if you constantly neglect your plans for the sake of others’ needs, you’ll end up exhausted and unable to help anyone. So, practice enforcing your boundaries and go after your goals with no guilt.

How to Use Enneagram for Long-Term Discipline

The first step in using the Enneagram for long-term discipline is taking the Enneagram test to determine your Enneagram personality type and check whether you have an Enneagram wing.

Why does the Enneagram wing matter? Having a strong wing can significantly modify the expression of your core type. The more accurately you determine your Enneagram type and wing, the more effective your self-discipline-building plan will be.

Once you know your Enneagram type and your wing, you can use the framework of SMART goals together with the Enneagram to set your objectives more efficiently.

While the SMART concept is widely accepted as an effective tool for goal setting, even without knowing your Enneagram type, the Enneagram adds value by allowing you to tailor it to your specific needs.

For example, setting a SMART goal for an Enneagram 4w3 could be to write poetry for at least 30 minutes per day and submit their work to at least three poetry competitions by the end of the current year.

This kind of goal is specific for this personality type, enables measurable results, and is achievable, relevant, and time-bound, just as a SMART goal should be. It boosts accountability, challenges this type’s creativity, and satisfies their competitive side.

Get Ready to Achieve Your Goals!

Take the Enneagram test, determine your personality type, and learn how to set and achieve goals efficiently!

Final Thoughts

Each of the nine Enneagram types has unique motivations, fears, and desires, which means self-discipline for Enneagram types requires tailored approaches. Therefore, setting goals using the Enneagram ensures they resonate with your deepest desires, not just logic.

For example, Enneagram discipline strategies for a Type 1 will differ dramatically from those for a Type 4, as each type responds differently to structure. Plus, motivation by Enneagram type varies; what excites a Type Four may overwhelm a Type One.

The bottom line is, the better you understand the link between your Enneagram and discipline, the easier it will be for you to develop efficient routines and agendas.

Enneagram and Discipline FAQ