If You're An Enneagram 3, This Is The Number You're Most Compatible With

If you know your Meyers-Briggs type, your zodiac sign, or your life path number, chances are you also have an idea about your Enneagram number. Like many personality tests, the Enneagram test helps us better understand ourselves and how we approach life as a whole. According to the official Enneagram Institute, "At its core, the Enneagram helps us to see ourselves at a deeper, more objective level and can be of invaluable assistance on our path to self-knowledge."

Understanding things like your zodiac sign or your Enneagram number teaches you about more than just your personality; it teaches you about your habits, your communication tendencies, and your inner emotional world. And just like getting acquainted with your sign, learning more about your Enneagram can also inform you about your relationships with other people. While each Enneagram number is different, there are definitely certain ways that each relates with other numbers.

An Enneagram three, also known as "The Achiever," is "defined by their desire to be significant and to distinguish themselves through their achievements. To others, Threes appear confident, ambitious and goal-oriented," as per Truity. With such a powerful, go-getter attitude, how does this translate into their relationships with other Enneagram numbers? 

In line with their name as "The Achiever," Enneagram Threes are intensely focused on their own success. While being ambitious and hardworking can be good things, per Bustle, people with an Enneagram type Three are often too focused on appearing successful and accomplished in order to impress others, rather than simply focusing on fulfilling themselves and their goals. According to The Enneagram Institute, Threes "can also be overly concerned with their image and what others think of them." This is why they benefit greatly from being partnered with someone who is a cheerleader for them, and shows unconditional love and support — an Enneagram Three is most compatible with an Enneagram Nine.

Enneagram Nines, also known as "The Peacemakers," "are motivated by a need to be settled and in harmony with the world and, as a result, being accommodating and accepting will be important to them," as noted by Integrative9. For someone like an Enneagram Three, who tends to put intense pressure on themselves to impress others and prove themselves as successful, a partner who acts as a cheerleader for them and accepts them wholly for who they are is key. This is why Enneagram Nines make wonderfully compatible partners with Enneagram Threes; per Mind Body Green, "The effacing Nines can support the Threes' ambitions and, most importantly, innately accept them for who they are, not what they can do. This stability allows Threes to connect to their emotions. Likewise, Threes help the happy-go-lucky Nine move toward the spotlight and find respect and value in their own personhood."

While Enneagram type Threes can be image-conscious, they are also high-energy and take initiative in a lot of areas of their lives. This makes them a great pairing with type Sevens, a.k.a. "The Enthusiasts." According to Bustle, people with an Enneagram type Seven often seek out excitement, love to stay busy, and generally have a very positive outlook on life. Type Threes can relate to the energetic nature of Sevens, as they focus heavily on their ambitions and achievements for a sense of personal fulfillment.

Per The Enneagram Institute, Threes and Sevens are a "highly complementary pair: both types are self-assertive, have high energy, and are outgoing and capable of being around people with relative ease." This makes both types a great fit for exciting social settings, as their extroverted nature makes them able to connect with others quickly. The Enneagram Institute also explains that both types are forward thinkers when it comes to their vision for the future, especially considering type Three's ambition and type Seven's optimism. Their shared energy makes them a highly magnetic couple, and incredibly fun to be around. As a pair, they both enjoy sharing in lots of plans and projects, as the ultimate goal for each of them is to attain a truly fulfilled and "good" life, according to The Enneagram Institute.