Time for scary movies, jack-o-lanterns, inflatable monsters on the lawn, and shrieks of delight as we brave haunted houses (I make a point of going to Universal Studio’s Halloween Horror Nights each year for the ultimate thrill)!
Halloween isn’t just about the fun kind of fear—it’s also a great reminder to reflect on the fears that lie beneath the surface, the ones that shape who we are and how we move through the world.
And you all know how much I love to weave the Enneagram into anything related to introspection and personal growth.
The Enneagram, a system of self-discovery and personal and professional development, outlines nine personality types, each with a core fear that impacts how we act, react, and relate to others.
So, in the spirit of Halloween, let’s take a closer look at the core fears haunting each Enneagram type. 🎃
Type 1 – The Strict Perfectionist
Enneagram 1’s are driven by the need to be good, right, and beyond reproach. Their core fear is receiving criticism because it challenges their need to be good or right. For them, the idea of making mistakes or being seen as flawed or bad can feel downright haunting. It’s a fear that pushes them to hold themselves (and often others) to impossibly high standards.
Type 2 – The Considerate Helper
Enneagram 2’s thrive on being needed and valued in their relationships. Their core motivation is to be liked and appreciated. Their biggest fear is being unloved or unwanted, which often drives them to put others’ needs above their own. But this fear can leave them feeling drained if they forget to ask for the support they also need and deserve. 2s often need to be reminded to treat themselves as well as they treat others.
Type 3 – The Competitive Achiever
Enneagram 3’s are driven by the need to be the best and outshine the rest. They are all about success, image, and making an impact. Beneath it all, though, is a fear of being seen as worthless or failing to achieve. This fear fuels their ambitions, but it can also make it hard for them to slow down or embrace failure as part of the growth process. They often feel haunted by the question: “Am I enough?”
Type 4 – The Intense Creative
Enneagram 4’s are all about needing to be unique, authentic, and self-expressive. They deeply fear being ordinary, without identity or significance. This fear of being ordinary can lead them to create a unique identity, sometimes feeling like they’re on the outside looking in. For 4’s, the scary threat of “blending in” is what keeps them striving to stand out.
Type 5 – The Quiet Specialist
Enneagram 5’s are introspective and value knowledge and self-sufficiency. Their core fear is looking foolish or incompetent. They often guard their independence fiercely, driven by the need to understand things objectively as a buffer against vulnerability. The haunting feeling of not knowing enough can keep them locked in analysis and observation.
Type 6 – The Loyal Skeptic
Enneagram 6’s are driven by the need to be safe and to belong. Their fear? Being unprepared and without support in a threatening world. This fear can lead them to seek reassurance, trusting in people, institutions, or belief systems to feel secure. The idea of having to go it alone or face uncertainty head-on can feel like the ultimate Halloween fright for a 6.
Type 7 – The Enthusiastic Visionary
Enneagram 7’s are driven by the need to experience it all, live life fully and to avoid pain. Beneath this is a fear of being limited, deprived or trapped in emotional pain. To avoid feeling stuck or restricted, they often keep life fast-paced and packed with options. But sometimes, even 7’s need to slow down and sit with discomfort.
Type 8 – The Active Controller
Enneagram 8’s have the core motivation to be strong and in control. Their core fear and vulnerability is being vulnerable. They fear that being vulnerable opens them up to being harmed or controlled by others. They project confidence and power to avoid any situation where they might feel weak, helpless, or dependent. For 8’s, facing vulnerability head-on can feel like a ghoul lurking in the shadows, ready to catch them off guard.
Type 9 – The Adaptive Peacemaker
Enneagram 9’s are driven by the need to keep the peace, crave harmony and avoid conflict at all costs. What they fear the most is conflict, and the turmoil or chaos that may arise as a result of it. They may go to great lengths to avoid conflict, even if it means ignoring their own needs or perspectives. For 9’s, the scariest thing might just be stepping into conflict or asserting themselves—fearing that doing so could disrupt the calm they so deeply desire.
Whether you’re donning a costume or passing out treats this Halloween, it’s worth remembering that each of us has our own internal “gremlins” impacting our actions and relationships.
By understanding the core fears of the Enneagram types, we gain a little more empathy for ourselves and others, shedding light on what drives us and how we can grow beyond it.
So, here’s to facing our fears—both fun and formidable—and embracing the insights that come from bringing them out of the shadows. After all, there is nothing more frightening than being aware of the fears that hold us back and choosing not to confront them. 🎃
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