We all digest information in different ways, so I’m sharing all about the brilliant wheel of life exercise in writing (see below) and via this short video so you have a visual/audio version to enjoy as well.
To achieve success, we need to take an honest look at where we are at. Often it means we must rebalance our life to achieve the success we long for. We all digest information in different ways, so I’m sharing all about the brilliant wheel of life exercise in writing (see below) and via this short video, so you have a visual/audio version to enjoy as well and hopefully learn more about rebalancing your life to achieve success.
Your life is like a wheel on a bike, with eight spokes dividing the inner wheel. For the wheel on a bike to turn smoothly, each section needs to be balanced, otherwise, you end up having a very bumpy and uncomfortable ride! This is a simple but effective metaphor for how we can bring awareness to our success and balance to each section of our life.
It’s the same with your life. Each of these spokes represents a different area of your life. If each area isn’t working in harmony, then you can feel unbalanced, and life seems hard.
How the Wheel of Life Can Help You Rebalance Your Life
The Wheel of Life is a brilliant exercise that encourages you to look at each area of your life and rate how you currently feel about it. This allows you to see your life at a glance and understand where you need to put more of your focus to bring things into balance.
Take a piece of paper and a pen and draw a circle, then divide the circle into 8 sections.
Mark next to each section the following categories:
- Lifestyle and environment, home
- Money and finances
- Purpose, profession, your job
- Family, friendships, partnerships
- Health
- Vitality and fitness
- Adventure and fun
- Values, meaning, spirituality, Mindfulness
All eight categories are equally important and necessary for your wheel to rotate smoothly. If one section is not doing too well, it will affect all the other areas.
Identify any Lack of Balance in Your Life
Use a system to identify any lack of balance in your life by marking each spoke in your wheel from 1 to 10, with one near the middle and ten on the outer rim. Then, looking at each of the sections, ask yourself how you feel about them – how important is each to you? And give each one a rating on your 1-10 scale.
Once you have each section rated, it’s time to look at how you can improve those lower-scored areas to a more desired level.
Lifestyle and Environment/Home
When you walk into your home, what does it say about you? How does it make you feel? Is there clutter everywhere? Are the colors and textures inspiring – do they raise or drain your energy?
Your home is your sanctuary and even more so now if you’re working in a home office. Are you still sitting on a wobbly uncomfortable chair that you’ve been using since last March? Do you have fresh flowers in your home? Do you have essential oil diffusers lit? Does everything have a place or is your office a dumping ground?
Think about what you can do to make it more serene and calm and a place that you love and would give a 10 out of 10 to?
Rebalance Money and Finances
Do you know what’s going on with your finances? Are you keeping a budget? If you are, when did you last look at it or look in your account?
If you have debt, have you contacted your bank and asked for any help clearing it down? There are lots of people now going through difficult times because of job losses or reduced hours. Banks are generally understanding of people’s individual circumstances, so consider asking for a mortgage holiday or for a lower interest rate.
I know there’s also Government help in most countries too.
Purpose, Profession, Your Job
Are you really living your true purpose and doing what makes you happy? If not, what can you change?
If you’re looking for a job right now, have you used your networks to their fullest to help you? It’s okay to ask for help, so be bold not shy and reach out to people. So often in life it’s not what you know, but who you know!
If you have your own business, are you spending enough time in the areas that make you money? It’s so easy to get distracted with “stuff”! Making time on a Sunday for creating your to-do list and setting your goals for the week ahead is a game changer. As well as getting things down on paper, consider time blocking to ensure you get things done. Set an hour to do a task, and then, once completed, give yourself a little reward.
The most important thing here is to figure out what works for you so that by the end of the week you’ve actually moved forward in your business, and not simply gone through the motions. Remember, being busy doesn’t make you money!
Family, Friendships, and Partnerships
Our families are the practice space for the real world and how we deal with people. This is one of the hardest sections to get all the way up to a 10!
If your family is around, try to make a concerted effort to be kind and understanding with them. And prioritize making time for them. I’ve lost 3 brothers, and I miss them every single day. The reality is you can’t go back in time – all you have is right now and the future, and the future is guaranteed to no one!
Friendships always appear to me to be a lot easier to balance than family. I believe we have three types of friendships. There are those for a season, some for a reason, and others who are with us for a lifetime.
I can’t stress enough how important it is to nurture your friendships, partnerships, and family, and to cherish them and be grateful for them every day.
Balance in Your Health
We all know that a healthy body is the number one driver that moves your wheel forward. So, what number are you giving your health right now? Can you improve on your rating? What do you need to do to make it a 10?
I always find it helpful to break health down into subsections: sleep, exercise, mindfulness, nutrition, water, sunshine, and attitude.
Now look honestly at how healthy each section is…
- Are you sleeping peacefully?
- How many hours of sleep do you get?
- Are you moving and getting exercise?
- Do you do any mindfulness, gratitude, journaling, yoga and/or breathing?
- How is your diet?
- Do you drink 8-10 glasses of water per day?
- If there is no sunshine, do you supplement with extra vitamin D?
Remember, your attitude is everything and sets the tone for how you feel about your life.
Vitality and Fitness
What number are you here? There are so many people you can speak to if you feel you’re not close to the number you want to be. Can you do a bit more activity? A great motivator for doing fitness is to find a friend to do it with. Maybe go for a walk or do a yoga class together.
Adventure and Fun
How much fun and adventure are you having in your life? Can you have more? This is something that we all say we want, but so often don’t take the steps to ensure we get it.
Keep it simple. You could watch a comedy show and have a good laugh. When was the last time you really laughed? Laughter and fun and adventure are like balm for your soul.
Values, Meaning, Spirituality
How are you ranking here? Do you have a daily spiritual practice? For example, do you meditate, write down or speak about the things you’re grateful for, or journal?
If you find sitting for a time difficult because your mind wanders, try a guided meditation. Or you might like to try Deepak Chopra’s 21-day guided meditation on Grace and Gratitude.
The Wheel of Life is an exercise I have my clients do regularly because it’s a simple yet powerful way to track their progress. Give yourself the gift of completing your own and creating a roadmap for what you’re going to do to raise your numbers all the way up to 10s in each area.
If you’d like support and guidance with creating your plan, my Money Quiz is a great place to start. Once you’ve taken the quiz, book yourself into my diary for a free follow-up call, and we can start mapping your plan out together.
Take The Money Quiz
Ready to uncover the secrets of your financial personality? Take our Money Quiz today and gain valuable insights into your relationship with money. Whether you’re a driven Hero, a creative Artist, or a nurturing Martyr, understanding your Money Archetype can empower you to make smarter financial decisions and navigate your financial journey with confidence. Don’t wait to discover what makes you tick in the world of finance. Click here to take the quiz and start transforming your financial future now!