The Importance of Balance Wheel of Life In todays VUCA World

What is the wheel of life? The wheel of life, also known as the “life balance wheel,” “the coaching wheel” or the “life wheel,” is?used to assess and understand how areas in your life are currently balanced and to help achieve a work-life balance?

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The Wheel of Life categories include: Health: Your physical health and well-being (can also include your emotional health). Relationships: Includes your primary intimate relationship, family, and friends. Social: Includes religious/spiritual communities and other group activities.

The wheel of life, also known as the “life balance wheel,” “the coaching wheel” or the “life wheel,” is?used to assess and understand how areas in your life are currently balanced and to help achieve a work-life balance?.

To start, focus on one area of your life on the wheel and think about what actions you can take towards improving that area and do some goal setting for that. For example: For your health, you can improve it by losing weight, doing daily stretches, or going for a walk.

What is the wheel of life?

The wheel of life, also known as the “life balance wheel,” “the coaching wheel” or the “life wheel,” is used to assess and understand how areas in your life are currently balanced and to help achieve a work life balance. The circle resembles the spokes of a wheel and is used to present and organize the most important aspects of your life, such as family and home life, health and wellbeing and career and finances. Paul J. Meyer, one of the originators of what is now known as life coaching and the founder of the Success Motivation Institute, developed the wheel of life's modern-day version in 1960.

Introduce the Wheel of Life

• Money & Finances
• Career & Work
• Health & Fitness
• Fun & Recreation
• Environment (home/work)
• Community
• Family & Friends
• Partner & Love
• Personal Growth & Learning
• Spirituality

The Wheel of Life exercise can be repeated at regular intervals to understand progress along with potential changes in focus resulting from evolving circumstances and new priorities.

Ask the following questions to open up a discussion on life satisfaction:

• When you look at the shape of the wheel, how do you feel?
• How would you like to change the shape of the inner wheel?
• What surprises you the most?
• What would a score of ten look and feel like?
• Which category would you most like to improve?
• What category would you most like to start with?
• At present, how do you spend time in each area?
• What do you need to improve the score in each area?
• What small steps would have the most significant impact on your satisfaction?
• Could a single action improve more than one area?

Begin with areas that the client observes as being particularly interesting:

• Why does this area need attention?
• What would it take to increase your satisfaction by one score?
• How balanced do you feel in this area of your life?
• Why did you give this score?
• Is there anything missing from this area of your life that may affect your score?
• Is there anything that might add value to this area of your life and change the score?

Identify actions

• Identify an activity for each category that when completed, will change the client’s level of satisfaction.
• When the action is over a more extended period or is relatively large and complex, define a goal – ideally one that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART)
• Each action, once completed, should add to the overall goal to improve their life balance.

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?Revisit and review

Over time, revisit the wheel and re-score it to understand the changes made and the actions outstanding.

Ongoing check-ins are also helpful to understand overall patterns of behavior and any negative thoughts or emotions that are blocking the changes.

Also, remind the client that balance is rarely retained for long. Circumstances and priorities change; the aim is to continue the journey toward balance and avoid entering a fixed mindset that prevents transformation.

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Alternative uses for the Wheel of Life

Tailored wheels can be especially valuable to explore specific areas or problems within your life:

• Work:?for example, a project or promotion
• Education:?studying for a degree or certification
• Family:?strengthening a marriage or parenting children

A Take-Home Message

We all deserve balance in our lives. We need time for family and friends, motivation to learn and play, and energy to develop our careers and passions.

When we are knocked by the changing situations we face, it is vital to find a way back and seek equilibrium.

Although an imbalanced life can provide a path to excellence or mastery in a specific segment of life, it cannot persist without impacting enduring life goals and overall wellbeing.

Life coaching can restore that balance by building a bridge between where you are now and where you want to be. The Wheel of Life provides an excellent tool to visualize the gaps that require focus and attention and the changes that need to happen.

Set personal goals that take you toward your hopes and dreams and give the Wheel of Life a try by yourself, with a life coach, or with your clients. Use it to build a balanced life based on your unique and distinct desires, passions, and loves to provide a sense of completeness, satisfaction, and deep happiness.

Revisit the wheel over the months to come and update where you are and the goals you set. See it as a health check to understand the wellbeing of your life.