Songs for The Reformer

Coming up on a year and a half ago, one of my best friends sent me a free Enneagram Test to could find out my personality type so she could send me a meme on Instagram. It didn't take long for me to fall down the rabbit hole and get hooked on what I thought was one of the most accurate personality tests I'd personally taken and try to find out what types of personalities the important people in my life had so that I could better understand them. The enneagram, like other personality tests, cannot be taken as law because there are just too many variables, but I do like it best out of all the others (especially Myers-Briggs which just triggers my husband into an absolute rage) because it acknowledges that there is a broad range of health and stress and growth between different people. Naturally, because I got a little addicted to it right at the beginning like I do with so many other things, I started "typing" fictional characters in books I read or shows and movies that I watched and decided that after I was done with the astrology playlists that I needed to do enneagram ones.

Just as a quick overview, an Enneagram Personality Test will (for lack of a better word) assign you to one of nine personality types, usually called Type (*insert number here*) but also called things like The Reformer and The Peacemaker. You can also look at Wing types, which are the types on either side of your Primary Type (so if you're a Type 1, you would "lean" on either a 9-wing or a 2-wing). There are subtypes and countertops and growth paths and stress paths, and since I've only been learning about this for a year I'm not even going to go that deep into it since I don't have the training. However, the most important things I've learned from official websites and from enneagram accounts on Instagram are 1) It's all but impossible to type another person so don't try, let them do it themselves and 2) The enneagram is not the be-all-end-all of who you are, it's a tool to help you figure stuff out but it should never define you. So just know this is all coming from a pretty extreme enneagram novice who just really likes that a personality test actually saw "her" and has helped her work through some things and behaviors in her life and just thinks the whole thing is a lot of fun.

Type One's in the enneagram are referred to as Reformers or Perfectionists depending on which website you look at. Some key personality traits that they share across the board are rationality, idealism, being principled, purposefulness, self-control, and perfectionism. Each Type has a basic fear and a basic desire, with Type One's basic fear being that of corruption or being seen as evil or defective and their basic desire being that of being seen as good, having integrity, and being balanced. A happy, healthy One can be wise, discerning, realistic, noble, and heroic, while a miserable, unhealthy One can be condemnatory, punitive, and cruel towards people that they think are in the wrong. They're motivated by being right and desperately want to be beyond criticism so that they can't be condemned by someone else or called out for being wrong or bad. They're usually very ethical and make excellent teachers. Those high standards they carry for themselves and others can cause them to be critical and, according to the Enneagram Institute, can cause issues with resentment, impatience, obsessiveness, compulsiveness, and depression. A One with a Nine wing, or 1w9, is usually referred to as an Idealist or Optimist and maintains the core feelings of a One while leaning on Nine traits like being objective or emotionally reserved. A One with a Two wing, or 1w2, is usually referred to as an Advocate or an Activist and maintains that core Oneness while leaning on Two traits like fighting for the rights of those less fortunate and making a difference in their community. A healthy One can often be mistyped for a Type Seven due to their Growth Path causing them to act more spontaneous and joyful, while a super stressed One can be mistyped for a Type Four due to their Stress Path causing them to act more moody and irrational.

Just for fun, here's some pop culture examples of Type One's that I've "typed" over the last year. FIRST AND FOREMOST I obviously don't own/didn't create any of these characters and secondly, it's again impossible to truly type another person, especially when they aren't real, but this its a lot of fun and I've enjoyed doing it. These are just my personal opinion, so don't @ me.

-Amy Farrah Fowler from The Big Bang Theory

-Angela Martin & Oscar Martinez from The Office

-Billie (1w9), Eileen Leahy (1w2), & Sam Winchester (1w2) from Supernatural

-Captain Phasma, Count Dooku, & Obi Wan Kenobi from Star Wars

-Chalky Studebaker from Doug

-David Rose from Schitt's Creek

-Queen Elsa from Frozen (1w2)

-Hermione Granger (1w2) & Minerva McGonagall (1w9) from Harry Potter

-Katara from Avatar: The Last Airbender

-Katy from Letterkenny

-Leslie Knope from Parks & Recreation

-Luther Hargreeves/Space Boy/Number 1 from The Umbrella Academy

-Mr. Duvall from Mean Girls

-Pearl, Rose Quartz, Ruby (1w2), & White Diamond from Steven Universe

-Pocahontas from Pocahontas (1w9)

Of course, because it's me, I have a HUGE playlist of songs that I think resonate big time One vibes, but for time's sake I've chosen just a small selection to showcase - you can follow me on Apple Music @audioaesthetics for the full playlist. Now that we've done a little catching up, let's get to the music.

Hometown Glory by Adele (written by A. Adkins)

Featured on her 2008 album 19, Adele's debut single I think does a good job capturing the essence of being a One traveling along their Growth Path. She's soaking in that One-like idealism and basking in the light of her hometown and everything it's taught her and just enjoying it for what it is.

I’ve been walking in the same way as I did/Missing out the cracks in the pavement and tutting my heel and strutting my feet/Is there anything I can do for you dear, is there anyone I could call/No and thank you please, Madame, I ain’t lost, just wandering/‘Round my hometown, memories are fresh/‘Round my hometown, ooh, the people I’ve met/Are the wonders of my world, are the wonders of my world/Are the wonders of this world, are the wonders and now

ocean eyes by Billie Eilish (written by F. O'Connell)

Featured on her 2017 EP dont smile at me, Eilish's debut single also does a pretty good job capturing that One-like essence. The lyrics, particularly in the chorus, seem to show someone who's used to being rational and principled starting to question those things and how this person they're falling for is making them feel.

I’ve been watching you for some time/Can’t stop staring at those ocean eyes/Burning cities and napalm skies/Fifteen flares inside those ocean eyes/Your ocean eyes/No fair/You really know how to make me cry when you gimme those ocean eyes/I’m scared/I’ve never fallen from quite this high, falling into your ocean eyes/Those ocean eyes

Ruby Rider by Charlyne Yi (written by G. Henry, J. Liu)

My husband and I binged Steven Universe near the beginning of quarantine last year and absolutely loved it - the characters of that show are actually the first ones I enneagram typed. Ruby, a member of the Crystal Gems, is a great example of a 1w2 or an Advocate. As a Ruby Soldier, it's very much so in her nature to be principled and purposeful and heroic, but our Ruby has a crazy temper as well which often throws her off balance. Her #1 goal is to keep her friends and family safe, especially her partner Sapphire. Ruby Rider is from S5E21, The Question, and shows Ruby trying to go off and live life on her own terms instead of being fused with Sapphire.

This ol’ Ruby Rider is Ruby riding alone/She’s a sturdy, solitary stone/This ol’ Ruby Rider, not a fusion no more/Now the dirt and the dust and the danger is my new home/I used to think I would always be by your side/But lately, you’ve been rather cold/One look in your eye could make an honest gem cry/But Ruby Rider don’t need no one to hold

Let Us Adore You by Christine Ebersole, Lisa Hannigan, & Patti LuPone (written by J. Liu, R. Sugar)

White Diamond is the ultimate Big Bad from Steven Universe and is a perfect example of an unhealthy One. Obsessively concerned with perfection and appearances, she becomes incredibly cruel, condemning any Gem or other lifeform to death unless they played their part according to her plan. Though thankfully she changes for the better in Steven Universe: The Movie and in Steven Universe Future, she's actually pretty terrifying as the villain as you realize that in her quest for perfection she ended up corrupting herself and her Diamond sisters. White Diamond doesn't get any solo songs in the show or the movie, so the closest I could get was Let Use Adore You from Steven Universe: The Movie, which shows the three remaining Diamonds (White, Blue, and Yellow) begging Steven to come live with them on Homeworld.

Come live with us in the Palace, there’s a room waiting for you/Come on, come on, come on, just let us adore you/Yes, we know that you’re not her, but you were hers/You know what it meant to love her, and you remind us so much of her

All My Hope by Crowder ft. Tauren Wells (written by D. Crowder, E. Cash)

While the enneagram wasn't designed specifically to be spiritual in nature, I like that it is able to be applied to my faith in ways that help myself and others grow in our Christian walks. An art account I follow on Instagram, @mirabellecreations, did a graphic for Valentine's Day pairing up the nine Fruits of the Spirit with the nine enneagram types and I loved that so much that I had to look into it for myself. Goodness is the clear choice for Ones as it lines up perfectly with their core desire for themselves. We are to strive for goodness, but perfection is something we need to come to terms with never reaching, which can be very difficult for Ones to do. Released as a single in 2017, All My Hope is a beautiful modern hymn that reminds us that everything good in this world comes from God and to lean on Him when we need hope.

I’ve been held by the Savior/I’ve felt fire from above/I’ve been down to the river/I ain’t the same, a prodigal returned/All my hope is in Jesus/Thank God that yesterday’s gone/All my sins are forgiven/I’ve been washed by the blood

Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

Strong in the Real Way by Deedee Magno Hall & Zach Callison (written by A. Tran, R. Sugar, S. Velema)

Pearl, a core member of the Crystal Gems and overprotective mother figure to Steven, is a lot to deal with on Steven Universe a lot of the time, but you really can't help but love her. She is a quintessential One: rational (unless Steven is in danger), idealistic, principled, purposeful, self-controlled, and perfectionistic. She has her flaws, of course, but is willing to accept (after a certain point) criticism to make herself better and stronger so that she can protect those she loves. Strong in the Real Way, from S1E20 Coach Steven, showcases these traits of Pearl's perfectly as she pleads with Steven to let her train him both physically and mentally to strengthen him instead of relying just on brute force like Sugalite.

Steven, why do you have to look up to her aside from in a literal sense/Don’t you know that a power that big comes with a bigger expense/And can’t you see that she’s out of control and overzealous/I’m telling you for your own good, and not because I’m/I can show you how to be strong in the real way/And I know that we can be strong in the real way/And I want to inspire you, I want to be your rock/And when I talk, it lights a fire in you

Before the Storm by Jonas Brothers ft. Miley Cyrus (written by J. Jonas, K. Jonas, M. Cyrus, N. Jonas)

Featured on JB's 2009 album Lines, Vines and Trying Times, this duet between exes Nick and Miley is pretty powerful stuff given how young they were at the time (both around age 16). There's a lot of justification of actions throughout the lyrics, which is a classic One move when they're having to admit they made a mistake, and now they're dealing with the consequences of their fallout.

I know this isn’t what I wanted, I never thought it’d come this far/Just thinking back to where we started and how we lost all that we are/We were young and times were easy, but I could see it’s not the same/I’m standing here but you don’t see me, give it all for that to change/I don’t want to lose her/I don’t wanna let her go/Standing out in the rain, need to know if it’s over/‘Cause I would leave you alone/Flooded with all this pain, knowing that I’ll never hold her/Like I did before the storm

Colors of the Wind by Judy Kuhn (written by S. Schwartz)

The star princess of Disney's 1995 film is a shining example of a 1w9, or an Idealist. Her entire goal throughout the movie is to make the right choice for herself and is terrified of choosing incorrectly and being miserable for the rest of her life or hurting someone else. She's also an incredible advocate both for her own people to John Smith and for the English settlers to her father and her tribe, trying to teach them both about each culture and just get them to talk to each other to see that they aren't so different after all. Her quintessential song, Colors of the Wind, really lets those traits shine through as she explains her way of looking at things to John Smith.

You think I’m an ignorant savage/And you’ve been so many places, I guess it must be so/But still I cannot see if the savage one is me/How can there be so much that you don’t know you don’t know/You think you own whatever land you land on, the earth is just a dead thing you can claim/But I know every rock and tree and creature has a life, has a spirit, has a name/You think the only people who are people are the people who look and think like you/But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you’ll learn things you never knew you never knew/Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon/Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned/Can you sing with all the voices of the mountain/Can you paint with all the colors of the wind/Can you paint with all the colors of the wind

Mother by Kacey Musgraves (written by D. Tashian, I. Fitchuk, K. Musgraves)

Probably the shortest track on her 2018 album Golden Hour, Musgraves radiates One vibes in Mother. She's trying to exhibit self-control, rationalism, wisdom, and justification throughout the few lyrics in this song, and it's a melancholy but still peaceful track that's pleasant to listen to.

Bursting with empathy, I’m feeling everything/The weight of the world on my shoulders/Hope my tears don’t freak you out, they’re just kinda coming out/It’s the music in me and all of the colors/Wish we didn’t live, wish we didn’t live so far from each other/I’m just sitting here, thinking ‘bout the time that’s slipping and missing my mother/Mother

For the First Time in Forever by Kristen Bell & Idina Menzel (written by K. Anderson-Lopez, R. Lopez)

Elsa, my eternal queen, is a beautiful example of a 1w2 (Advocate). She's so afraid of being seen as a monster, it makes her work even harder throughout the second film to make the right choice for the good of her people and her family over herself. I chose her verse in For the First Time in Forever from the original 2013 Frozen because I think it's a really good example of her at an unhealthy level of Oneness, when she was so paralyzed by fear that she thought one wrong move might literally shatter her.

Don’t let them in, don’t let them see/Be the good girl you always have to be/Conceal, don’t feel/Put on a show, make one wrong move and everyone will know/But it’s only for today/It’s agony to wait/Tell the guards to open up the gates

One by Sleeping At Last (written by R. O'Neal)

I learned about a month ago that Ryan O'Neal, the sole remaining member of Sleeping At Last, wrote and released an entire album dedicated to the enneagram in 2019, called Atlas: Enneagram. There's a song for each Type on the album, and what I've listened to so far is really, really good. In One, O'Neal hits on that classic One perfectionism and wanting to push forward and be better to improve life around them.

Hold on for a minute/‘Cause I believe that we can fix this over time/That every imperfection is a lie/Or at least an interruption/Now hold on, let me finish/No, I’m not saying perfect exists in this life/But we’ll only know for certain if we try/I, I wanna sing a song worth singing/I’ll write an anthem worth repeating/I, I wanna feel the transformation/A melody of reformation

What Can I Do (For You) by Susan Egan & Tom Scharpling (written by A. Tran, B. Levin, J. Liu, R. Sugar, S. Velema)

Rose Quartz, Steven's Gem mother on Steven Universe, is an emotionally controversial character if you've watched the show in its entirety, but I think she is definitely a One. Rose was very idealistic, wise, discerning, noble, and heroic, but as we slowly learn throughout the serious she could also be condemnatory and cruel similar to White Diamond. All in all, Rose believed that everything she was doing was for the betterment of others and was an undeniable advocate for change. What Can I Do (For You) is from episode S2E9 We Need to Talk and is performed by Rose Quartz and Greg Universe as they're beginning to develop feelings for each other.

What can I do for you/What can I do that no one else can do/What can I do for you/What can I do for you/Human man, you are so much fun/I hadn’t planned on finding you quite this entertaining/I like your band and I like your song/I like the way human beings play, I like playing along

All You Had To Do Was Stay by Taylor Swift (written by T. Swift, M. Martin)

Come on now, you KNEW she was going to show up one way or another. Featured on Swift's 2014 album 1989, All You Had To Do Was Stay has that classic synth pop vibe that pervades that entire era and is a fun bop laid over emotional lyrics. Swift narrates that all this other person had to do was stay with her and work through their relationship instead of seemingly sabotaging it and causing them both a lot of pain before walking away. There's definitely some finger pointing here, but those high standards familiar to Ones are apparent in that she once had high hopes for this relationship that have now been cast aside.

People like you always want back the love they gave away/And people like me wanna believe you when you say you’ve changed/The more I think about it now, the less I know/All I know is that you drove us off the road/Hey, all you had to do was stay/Had me in the palm of your hand, then why’d you have to go and lock me out when I let you in/Hey, now you say you want it back now that it’s just too late/Well, could’ve been easy, all you had to do was stay/All you had to do was stay, all you had to do was stay/All you had to do was stay, all you had to do was stay

As always, I hope you learned a little something and got some fun new music to check out from today's post. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!