One of our friends and Enneagram Lovers, Everett, started a topic about just that in our Enneagram Lovers Club.

From this thread came a great discussion about Type Ones and Type Sixes. I hadn’t heard about any issues between Ones and Sixes before, but Everett and James, a One, discovered they had similar issues with their counterparts.

Here’s a snippet:

James: …till this day most of the closest friends I have had, have been Sixes. But, when it comes to our belief structures, they always conflict with one another, and that tends to make for a lot of resentment in our friendships, or relationships at times. They are always clinging to their beliefs, and I am always the one challenging them. What I hope to be a debate, and exchange of ideas, turns out to be an argument. It upsets me when I am no longer a reliable source of security for that person.”

Everett: I have a friend who is a one and even though we have been friends for years there is always this tension between us. Like competitive brothers. Each trying to show each other how well we are doing (on a very subtle level). So even though we have been friends for years on some level I still wonder whether he ‘likes’ me or not!”

James: I have also been competitive with some of my Six friends at times! …I believe what it comes down to is that there is a huge lack of communication between these two types due to such a difference in the way we establish and express our belief structures. I can always make a connection with a Six, but when we start to delve into more personal or in depth topics, there is always confrontation. It really is great talking about this with you.”

To read their whole exchange, check out our budding community site at Enneagramlovers.ning.com.

If you’re an enneagram lover, you’re SO invited to join us!

Now some people would just ignore the moose. But my mom and my stepdad are both Type Ones, and when they found their property being visited, they figured out the Right Thing to do. They put a big black tub full of water near the pond for the moose to drink out of.

During the chilly winter, they go and break the ice in the tub and make sure there’s still available water for the moose when they can.

And it’s not just moose who reap benefits from my parents’ place. They’ve put up just the right birdhouses for several species of birds, they’ve planted the right trees and bushes to attract good bugs and other birds, and now they’ve built boxes to keep bees.

What’s noticeably One-ish about this to me?

It’s the way that they have learned what is right in nature and done their best to emulate it. They are devoted land stewards to the place they occupy, and I can see the joy on their faces as they get out their binoculars to bird watch from the house windows. They bask in the peace that comes from sitting on the patio and simply BEING in their yard which fits right in with all the natural surroundings.

There is such a gift from Type One in this way–that they see the Right Thing to be done, and make sure to do it. And the moose, for one, thank them.