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The Wheel of Life.

A powerful self-assessment tool to visually reflect the balance in your life. It can help you clarify priorities for goal-setting, allowing you to plan so that your life is closer to your definition of balance and a Life at Your Measures.

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That is something personal and unique to each individual – what may be balance for some may be stressful or boring for others. It must be assessed over time. So, a regular check on how balanced you are, can highlight useful patterns and help you learn even more about yourselves. 

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In order to use the Wheel of Life well, we must step back and do more of a thorough assessment of all of the important components of our lives.

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For Leaders or fellow Coaches, the Wheel of Life is a great assessment tool that can be used to help your prospects understand their life balance and personal satisfaction and as a starting point for goal-setting and growth.

What is a Wheel of Life?

The Wheel of Life is not a new concept.

In Buddhism, the Bhavacakra represents the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, and it traces the origins of the Wheel of Life. 

Sera_Monastery_Lhasa_Tibet_China_西藏_拉萨_色拉寺_Attribution: Hiroki Ogawa

Sera Monastery Lhasa Tibet China 西藏 拉萨 色拉寺

Attribution: Hiroki Ogawa

How to use the Wheel of Life.

Here’s a way you can create your own Wheel of Life simply with a pen and paper, or use the downloaded version created for you, which you can also print out. It should look like the image below: a circle, divided into 8 categories. 

Wheel-of-life_Blank.png

Step 1:

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The Wheel must, when put together, create a view of a balanced life for you. Select and fill in the categories on the Wheel of Life that you want to include. You can choose any 8 areas. A list of optional areas/values of life you can see below. You can also re-label an area/value so that it is more meaningful for you. If necessary you can split categories to add in something that might be missing. The areas/values of life that you want to include in your Wheel of Life can differ from person to person. However, the areas/values of life that you choose to include in your Wheel of Life must be the areas/values that are important to you. 

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Step 2:

Review each category and rank your level of satisfaction in each area. Use a scale of 1 (dissatisfied) to 10 (very satisfied).  You can colour each section of your Wheel of Life. For example, if you gave that section a 5 then colour the first 5 lines. 

 

Step 3:

Review your completed Wheel of Life. Ask yourself the following questions​: 

  • Are there any surprises for you?

  • How do you feel about your life as you look at your Wheel?

  • ​How do you currently spend time in these areas?

  • ​How would you like to spend time in these areas?

  • ​Which of these elements would you most like to improve?

  • ​How could you make space for these changes?

  • ​Can you affect the necessary changes on your own?

  • ​What help and cooperation from others might you need?

  • ​What would make that a score of 10?

  • ​What would a score of 10 look like?

 

Take a moment to ‘live’ your ideal score for each area; Feel what it is like, visualize your ideal day, week, month, year. The more detail, the better!

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Step 4:

Add action items and steps you can take to improve your satisfaction in each area. What could you do to move up one point between your score today and your ideal? The lower the score you got in each area the more action items you will include. For example, if you got a 5 in the finance category, then you will add 5 actions items (10-5=5). You add the number of steps required to bring each category to 10. 

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Step 5:

Decide on an achievable action step to bring you one step closer to your target. Choose a few actions steps at a time to work on, put them somewhere you will see daily, fridge, bathroom mirror ect. You should make changes at your own pace.

 

Complete the Wheel of Life again in 6 months or so. Tracking this is important to see visual progression.

A Life at Your Measures!

By now, you are consciously aware / YOU know what is important for you in each area of your life, you know what is working well and what resources you already have in your toolbox. You have a clear future vision for this area and can feel what it will be like to be fulfilled and in balance. You know what you want and you have the first positive steps for change towards your vision.

 

Congratulations, you are on your way in living a Life at Your Measures!

Keep up the good work! This is a tried, tested, and much-reported method for success. 

 

Allowing yourself to be guided by your desired future is a powerful first step to getting exactly what you want. Take the Wheel of Life challenge with this in mind. Use it to shine a light on what is actually going on in all areas of your life and compare this to what you really want to be happening. Notice where the imbalance lies, visualise your ideal future, recognise areas for development and do what you need to do to bring yourself closer to your goal.

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What next?

Take Responsibility

​‘If it’s going to be, it’s up to me!’

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This ultimately means taking responsibility for your future and driving it in the direction of your vision. Responsibility is your ability to respond to your Wheel of Life insights so, while the exercise is still fresh in your mind, ask yourself the set of following questions:

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  • What do I already have in my life?

  • What do I need more of in my life?

  • What do I need less of in my life?

  • Why do I want this?

  • Who else will this affect? How?

  • What will I do about it?

  • What resources do I need?

  • Who can help me?

  • When will I do it?

  • When will I know I’m there? What concrete evidence will I experience?

  • How will I keep myself accountable & motivated?

Behold, a clearer vision of a Life at Your Measures! :-)

Why would I still need a Coach?

You can certainly work through this exercise alone, but if you really want to see awesome results a good coach will:

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  • Take you to another level of understanding.

  • Help you recognise and handle outdated, self-sabotaging beliefs and habits.

  • Help you gain greater clarity.

  • Break down daunting goals into manageable steps.

  • Ensure long-term goals remain in sight as your focus expands.

  • Help you become better prepared.

  • Support and motivate you.

  • Help you to develop positive habits.

  • Ask you the questions that you don’t (or avoid) asking yourself.

  • Challenge you to new ways of thinking.

  • Support your ongoing processes.

  • Be a sounding board for new ideas.

  • Support you past obstacles.

  • Keep you accountable and committed to your goals.

  • Celebrate your successes!

Wheel of Life - Areas of Life

The following areas are usually included in the Wheel of Life, but you can include the areas that are important to you.
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Life Purpose & Vision 

Life Purpose and Vision refers to how meaningful and purposeful your life feels. A sense that your life has meaning and impact. 

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Spirituality 

The level of satisfaction with your connection with self spiritually. How fulfilled you are at the core of your soul. Spirituality can have a positive impact on people’s mental health, helping a person tolerate stress by generating peace, purpose, and forgiveness (source).

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Health & Wellbeing

The level of satisfaction with your energy and health. The well-being of your body, mind, and soul. It includes not only our physical health but also our emotional health because it has a major impact on our physical self. To be balanced in this area, you have to take care of all things that can impact both your physical and emotional health, such as stress, diet, exercise, and mental health.

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Relationships

The different relationships in your life and their level of fulfillment. Friendships and sense of community.  

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Financial

The financial category relates to your financial situation both in the present (your budget and how you manage your budget) and in the future (financial growth, savings, pension, etc).

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Career / Business

This is your career or your business and all areas relating to your professional life.

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Recreation & Fun

This area relates to activities that people do for recreation and fun in their free time. 

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Personal Growth / Education

This area relates to personal development, long-term goals, and reaching one’s full potential. However, it could also mean enriching your education by reading and learning new skills.

 

Contribution

This includes your contribution to society, volunteer work, or donations to causes that you believe in.

 

Creativity

We are all creative beings. We were created with purpose and with our own individual qualities that make us unique, which means we are all creative in our own ways. There are endless benefits to taking time out of your day to express your creativity (source). Having a creative outlet helps you deal with anxiety and stress, gives you a sense of purpose, and helps make space to overcome obstacles. For some people, despite the benefits of creativity, this will not be a category they consider adding to their Wheel of Life. For others, creativity is something they need to live a full life. Creative people often need a creative outlet in order to feel calm and fulfilled.

Wheel of Life - Values of Life

An authentic Life at Your Measures, requires certain values, so you can replace the commonly used areas of the Wheel of Life with these values. The following are 12 values that are considered essential to expanding your heart space and allowing you to step into the fullness of your true and authentic self. 

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Integrity

Living an authentic life where you are yourself. Being true to yourself and aligning your actions with your beliefs. How true are you to yourself and to your values?

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Vulnerability

Your willingness to share emotions, thoughts, and feelings even when it is uncomfortable or embarrassing. How willing are you to share your thoughts and feelings?

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Connection

How would you rate the quality of the relationships in your life? Do you feel connected to people?

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Mindfulness / Soulfulness (Being Fully Present)

Your ability to be in the present without dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. Are you present or do you spend a lot of time dwelling in the past or worrying about the future?

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Resilience

Your ability to overcome challenges and adversity. How capable are you of overcoming challenges and adversity?

 

Compassion and Empathy

Do you show compassion and kindness to others and to yourself?

 

Forgiveness

Are you capable of forgiveness? Do you feel resentment, hold grudges or forgive and forget?

 

Renewal

How well do you take care of your physical and mental health? Do you give yourself the tools to recharge?

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Service

How much do you contribute to the world? Are you satisfied with your contribution?

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Gratitude

Do you appreciate what you have and give thanks for the small things in your life? Is gratitude something you think about on a daily basis?

 

Joy

Do you have enough happiness and joy in your life?

 

Reflection

Do you stop to reflect and examine your past and the progress you have made and decide what you want in the future?

"May you always Create and Co-Create

under Divine Grace and in Perfect Ways, 

for the Highest Good of All!

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