What Your Inner Critic Sounds Like, According to Your Enneagram Type

“You shouldn’t have said that.”

“That’s not good enough.”

“You’re going to fail.”

These words are harsh to read. And yet, at some point, you’ve probably said them to yourself. That’s your inner critic at play – the voice in your head that causes you to doubt your abilities and question your self-worth. 

Wondering where your inner critic comes from? The answer lies in your Enneagram Type (take the test here if you haven’t yet). Each Enneagram Type is driven by unique motivations, desires and fears that shape their behavior. It’s each type's fears, in particular, that form the basis of their inner critic. 

Whether you’re wanting to better understand yourself, or the people close to you, knowing how your inner critic manifests is a great place to start. Once you understand it, you’ll get better at noticing it when it rears its ugly head and can start replacing those self-critical thoughts with kinder ones.

Type One: You Must be Perfect 

“You should have done better” /  “This isn't good enough” / “You must do the right thing”

Type Ones, the perfectionists, play by the rules and hold themselves to incredibly high moral standards. While this makes them excellent leaders and diligent friends and employees, underneath it all is a deep fear of being a bad person. This is where their inner critic takes center stage. For Ones, the inner critic is an ever-present voice in their head, always urging them to do better, be a better person, and never slip up.

But, of course, no one (not even Type Ones) can be perfect all the time, and Ones can quickly head into toxic territory if they try to be. To dial down that inner critic, Ones need to catch themselves when they go into self-criticism mode. Instead of beating themselves up, they should try speaking to themselves like they would a close friend or someone they care about – with kindness and compassion. 

Type Two: You Must Put Others First 

“You’re not helpful enough” / “People won’t love you unless you support them” / “You’re being selfish for thinking about yourself” 

Type Twos place a great deal of their self-worth on their relationships with others. This makes them incredibly empathetic, caring and generous, but at a cost. At their core, Twos fear being alone or unloved. Their inner critic convinces them that they must constantly give to be worthy. This can lead them to neglect their own needs and boundaries in an effort to please others. They may overextend themselves, forgo self-care and feel unworthy if they don’t receive the same love and attention in return.

For Twos, it’s essential to recognize when their inner critic is making them believe their value is dependent on external validation. They must learn that they are lovable simply for who they are and not for what they do for others.

Type Three: You Are a Failure

“You’re worthless if you’re not the best” / “Nobody will love you if you don’t succeed” / “You don’t matter” 

Charismatic, confident and career-driven, Type Threes tend to achieve impressive accomplishments throughout their lives. However, these successes are often fueled by the harsh voice of their inner critic, which ties their self-worth to external achievements. This can lead Threes to become workaholics, sacrificing personal relationships and self-care in their pursuit of success and validation.

To quieten their inner critic, Threes need to recognize that their worth as a person is not dependent on external accolades. They must learn to let down their guard and be vulnerable, allowing their loved ones to see the real them, not just the polished version they’ve carefully crafted.

Type Four: There’s Something Wrong With You

“Other people are happier than you” / “Why can’t you be normal like everyone else?” / “You’ll never belong—stop trying”

The Four’s inner critic can rob this type of meaningful connections with others. It tells them that they are fundamentally flawed and missing an unknown characteristic that other people somehow have access to. Left unchecked, the inner critic can trigger Fours to completely withdraw from social relationships, for the fear that they’ll be misunderstood, judged or ostracized for their failings.

For Type Fours, it’s crucial to realize that they are not broken in any way. Despite what their inner critic tells them, everyone feels lost and like they don’t fit in at some point. Instead of focusing on how they are different from others, they must realize that everyone is unique and has their own struggles, too. 

Type Five: You Don’t Know What You’re Talking About

“You’re not as capable as other people” / "You’ll look foolish if you say that” / “You don't bring anything to this relationship”

Type Fives are excellent thinkers. They tend to live in their heads, and take great joy in reflecting on concepts and problems that pique their interest. However, this thirst for knowledge has a dark side. The Five’s inner critic tells them that they must acquire knowledge in order to be competent. Deep down, they secretly feel that they’re incapable, so they overcompensate by burying themselves in theories, ideas and analysis. 

Left unchecked, their drive for knowledge can cause Fives to become disconnected from the real world, retreating from relationships in favor of their intellectual pursuits. To calm their inner critic, Fives need to recognize that knowledge isn’t the only form of power. Emotional connections, relationships and engaging with the world around them will bring joy and help them get out of their heads. 

Type Six: You’re Going to Fail If You Don’t Plan For Every Scenario

“What if something goes wrong?” /  “You’re weak for needing support” / “Why should you trust them they’ll only betray you”

At their core, Type Sixes fear harm or danger in all its forms, whether it’s emotional hurt from a loved one, being undermined at work or running into an impossible deadline. Their inner critic is tooted in anxiety about unpredictability and lack of security. It manifests as a hypervigilant, anxiety-driven voice constantly playing out "what if" scenarios.

When the inner critic takes over, Sixes can spend hours trapped in their minds, obsessing over potential risks and crafting elaborate plans for every worst-case scenario. Needless to say, this pattern of thinking is no way to live. To break free, Sixes need to recognize when they’re spiraling into worry. They must learn to trust their own abilities and give themselves more credit, knowing they are capable of handling whatever life throws their way without the need to mentally rehearse it all beforehand.

Type Seven: You’ll Miss Out If You Slow Down

“You’re wasting time by being still” / “If you commit, you’ll get trapped in the situation forever” / “Keep smiling or they will see your pain”

The Type Seven’s inner critic masquerades as a tendency towards hedonism. This optimistic, fun-loving type wants to enjoy life to the fullest – specifically, the exciting parts. Beneath their cheerful exterior, however, Sevens fear being trapped and restricted, which drives them to avoid negative emotions and focus solely on the positive ones. 

While this can make them great at finding joy in the moment, it can also lead to a sense of unfulfillment. After all, as the saying goes, “no pain, no gain.” But the Type Seven’s inner critic urges them to avoid difficult emotions and situations, even when they might eventually lead to deeper, more lasting happiness.

For Sevens, learning to recognize the value of pain is key to quieting their inner critic. Even though some challenges don’t feel good in-the-moment, they can bring plenty of satisfaction in the long-term.  

Type Eight: You’re Weak If You Show Vulnerability

“You must be in control” / “You can’t rely on other people” / “You’ll be manipulated if you trust anyone”

Outwardly, Type Eights come across as self-assured, determined individuals. They feel most comfortable when they’re in charge, and that’s for a reason. Their inner critic tells them that they must appear strong and in control to remain safe. But this outlook can actually have the opposite effect, robbing them of the connection that comes from opening up and being emotionally vulnerable with others.

To tame their inner critic, Eights must learn that they can, in fact, look to other people for support and love. Being vulnerable isn’t a weakness. It will actually enable them to flourish and connect more deeply with others.  

Type Nine: Your Needs Don’t Matter, Don’t Rock the Boat

“You are too much!” / “You’re selfish for warning attention” / “You must go with the flow to be loved”

Despite their calm demeanours and gentle natures, Type Nines are inwardly plagued by a troublesome inner critic. This voice tells them that they must be agreeable to be loved, and that their needs and opinions come second to maintaining harmony. When Nines believe this critical voice, they tend to self-forget, prioritizing other people’s feelings and needs far above their own.

To hush this critical presence, Nines must remind themselves that their wants and needs matter just as much as everyone else’s. Even though expressing themselves may feel a little uncomfortable at first, it’s the best way to silence their inner-critic.