Type One Expanded Version
“In doing what we ought we deserve no praise, because it is our duty” Saint Augustine
Type Ones are responsible, independent-minded, hardworking, conscientious people who have high internal standards. They are idealistic and live with a clear sense of the way things should be. They are highly responsible and self-critical if they fall short of their own expectations.
At their best they are inspiring, caring, wise and ethical, self-disciplined, productive, discriminating and serene. They are able to celebrate and encourage excellence everywhere, from a warm and beautiful home to mankind's highest endeavours.
When they are less aware they can take life seriously, can appear irritable, intense, judgemental, controlled, self-righteous and frustrated in their compulsive drive to live up to, or to get others to live up to, their own ideals. Life can irritate them when they sense it is not as it should be.
Ones do not mark time. Their acute awareness of imperfections motivates them to improve things, and they will take responsibility for doing so even when it seems a never-ending thankless task. Even their leisure, which is infrequent, is often used for self-improvement.
Type Ones take pleasure in a job well done. "The doing itself is exciting, it's creative. Our team's integrity is high, we're known because we do the best. There's a lot of planning and thinking it through first to get it just right - and that's the real fun.”
Integrity and authenticity are important to Type Ones. The world is viewed in terms of right and wrong, with no middle ground. They tend to feel that if they work hard enough they can put anything right, and that it is down to them, as they are the only ones who will feel that responsibility.
Their standards cover every aspect of life, and are personal and different for each Type One. However, their rules are 'the' rules, and believing that 'everyone knows' the rules they hold themselves accountable to them and resent people who get away with breaking them.
No-one knows their faults and mistakes more clearly than themselves. They can take a moral perspective on life and can be zealous in supporting a cause if their sense of justice is violated. Ones are often critical of authority. They want high ethics, and clear guidelines so they can measure themselves against the correct standard
Type One are highly self-controlled particularly in regard to emotions. Type Ones are not interested in controlling other people, the control of emotion is about getting things going the way they're supposed to be going without distraction.
"my concern is if my feelings should get out they will affect the situation, or other people's reactions will affect the situation, and I may then lose control - events must be what I think they should be. “
Having put so much energy into making things go right, when anything does go wrong, they can get quite irritable. They may blame others but blame is inconsistent with taking responsibility. Moreover, when things do go wrong, they feel it must be their fault even when they know it’s not.
Ones do not seek pleasure in their lives, but there is satisfaction in, the occasional perfect moment that can be found through study or helping other people.
"I enjoy knowing things, especially high or hard things; fine art, music; those six perfect seconds; small perfect things - one flower.”
Motivational Scripts that Drive a Type One
to do things the way they should be done
to live a good life with a clear conscience
to do what I can to put things right in the world
to do everything well so I don't have to worry
to avoid ever putting myself in position where I can be held to blame
to do what I said I would do
to improve things and make them better
to channel any frustration or resentment into greater personal effort
to take responsibility for things and see they get done properly
to be a force for good in this world
to live with sincerity and integrity
to feel the serenity of knowing things are as they should be
to live with accountability for my actions
to act in service to my ideals
to live up to being person I know I can and should be