Your overall pattern: The Reformer
You are likely an Enneagram Type 1. You are the architect of order and the champion of "doing things right." You hold a clear vision of how the world should be—fair, accurate, and virtuous—and you feel a personal responsibility to close the gap between reality and that ideal.
You likely live with a constant "Inner Critic"—a voice in your head that monitors everything you do, pointing out errors and demanding improvement. While this makes you incredibly reliable and ethical, it can also be exhausting. You may find it hard to relax because there is always something that needs to be fixed, organized, or corrected before you can justify resting.
"You are teaching the world how to be good, but you often forget to be good to yourself."
Typical behaviors
- The Editor’s Eye: You notice crooked picture frames, typos, and ethical inconsistencies immediately.
- Suppressed Frustration: You rarely explode with anger; instead, you might simmer with resentment or irritation when others are lazy or break the rules.
- High Standards: You hold yourself to an impossibly high standard, and often hold others to it as well, which can feel like criticism to them.
Strengths in this pattern
- Integrity: You are the moral compass of your group. People trust you to do the right thing, even when no one is looking.
- Reliability: If you say you will do something, it gets done, and it gets done perfectly. You are the antidote to chaos.
Common pitfalls
Even a virtuous pattern has friction points:
- Rigidity: You may struggle to adapt when plans change or when "the rules" don't apply.
- Resentment: You might secretly resent people who seem to slack off and still get away with it, thinking, "Why do I have to do all the heavy lifting?"
- Analysis Paralysis: The fear of making a mistake can sometimes stop you from starting at all.
"Reflection point: Does this really need to be perfect, or does it just need to be done?"
What you can do next
Small actions you can start today
- Intentional Error: Send a text message with a typo in it and don't fix it. Sit with the discomfort.
- The 80% Rule: On a low-stakes task, aim for 80% quality. Remind yourself that 80% is often "good enough."
Longer-term directions
- Befriend the Inner Critic: When the voice in your head starts criticizing, talk back to it gently. "Thank you for trying to keep me safe, but I can handle this."
- Embrace Serenity: Practice accepting things as they are, not as they should be.
Disclaimer and when to seek help
This test describes personality patterns for educational purposes. It is not a clinical diagnosis. If your perfectionism leads to obsessive-compulsive behaviors or severe anxiety, please consider speaking with a licensed mental health professional.