Every Enneagram number wears a different set of glasses, which impacts how and why they say what they say, and it impacts how and why they hear what they hear.

Enneagram 1 (The Moral Perfectionist / The Reformer):
Motivated by purity & goodness, rightness & perfection.
I speak through the lens of what I can fix.
I hear through the lens of believing I need to be fixed.
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Enneagram 2 (The Supportive Advisor / The Helper):
Motivated by helping others, I receive personal value from the help I offer.
I speak through the lens of helping others; I build relationships to solidify my value.
I hear through the lens of hoping my help has value. When it doesn’t, I often feel personal rejection and try to do “better” next time.
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Enneagram 3 (The Successful Achiever):
Motivated by accomplishing & achieving.
I speak through the lens of achieving.
I hear through the lens of what needs to be done now so we can move on to the next thing.
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Enneagram 4 (The Individualist / The Romantic):
Motivated by unique expression of self.
I speak through the lens of wanting to be different, and wanting to offer different kinds of value to the world.
I hear through the lens of hoping others perceive me and my “things” as beautifully, valuably unique.
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Enneagram 5 (The Investigator / The Information Gatherer):
Motivated by energy conservation & competency.
I speak through the lens of careful management of energy & knowledge.
I hear through the lens of hoping I know enough to participate in the conversation/interaction.
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Enneagram 6 (The Loyalist):
Motivated by information gathering, security & safety.
I speak through the lens of making sure everything and everyone is safe, secure & out of harm’s way.
I hear through the lens of suspicion because I need more information before deciding what to trust.
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Enneagram 7 (The Entertaining Optimist):
Motivated by avoiding (or pushing quickly through) pain & boredom.
I speak through the lens of lightness, fun, adventure, and happy things.
I hear through the lens of avoiding pain, boredom, dullness & being dragged down emotionally.
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Enneagram 8 (The Advocate / The Challenger):
Motivated by justice, advocacy, and avoiding weakness & vulnerability.
I speak through the lens of bulldozing a path forward.
I hear through the lens of making sure I’m not bulldozed over.
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Enneagram 9 (The Peacemaker / The Peacekeeping Mediator):
Motivated by maintaining internal & external peace.
I speak through the lens of not wanting to stir anything up, internally or in my external environment.
I hear through the lens of making sure I keep the peace by however I respond.