What is the Wheel of Life?

The Wheel of Life is a self-reflection tool designed to help you assess and balance different areas of your life. It is typically represented as a circular diagram divided into 8-10 segments, each representing a specific area of life, such as health, relationships, career, finances, personal growth, and more. You evaluate your satisfaction or progress in each area, often on a scale from 0 to 5 or 0 to 10, and visually represent this by shading or coloring in the segments.

The result is a "wheel" that shows how balanced or unevenly developed your life currently is, helping you visualize which areas are thriving and which may need more attention.

Purpose and Benefits

1. Self-Awareness
   The Wheel of Life provides a snapshot of your current life situation. It encourages you to pause and reflect on each aspect of your life, gaining a deeper understanding of what's working well and what might need improvement.

2. Clarity on Priorities
   By seeing which areas are less fulfilled, you can determine where to focus your energy and resources. This helps you align your goals with what truly matters to you.

3. Goal-Setting
   The tool is a foundation for setting meaningful and actionable goals. Once you've identified areas for improvement, you can create specific intentions to enhance those parts of your life.

4. Life Balance
   It highlights imbalances, such as overemphasis on career at the expense of relationships or health. This awareness helps you work toward a more harmonious and fulfilling life.

5. Tracking Progress
   Revisiting the Wheel of Life periodically allows you to track changes over time. It can show how your actions and goals are positively influencing your satisfaction and well-being.

How It Relates to Life Goals, Meaning, and Aspirations

The Wheel of Life connects directly to your broader aspirations by helping you:

• Identify Values and Purpose: Reflecting on satisfaction levels reveals what’s most important to you, giving clarity about your core values and what brings meaning to your life.
• Set Authentic Goals: By aligning your intentions with areas of low satisfaction, you ensure your goals resonate with your genuine desires rather than external expectations.
• Foster Growth: The tool encourages personal development in areas where you might otherwise neglect your potential or happiness.
• Maintain Perspective: It provides a holistic view of your life, helping you avoid the trap of over-focusing on one area at the expense of others.

Using the Wheel of Life for Intentions and Aspirations

To use the Wheel of Life effectively:

1. Reflect on each segment honestly and assign a satisfaction level.
2. Observe the balance—or imbalance—of your wheel.
3. Identify areas to nurture, celebrate successes, and explore potential goals.
4. Set clear, actionable intentions to bring greater fulfillment and meaning into your life.
5. Revisit periodically to track growth and realign with your aspirations.

By visualizing your current state and mapping out your goals, the Wheel of Life becomes a practical and insightful guide for creating a life you truly love.

What to do next?

Download a free PDF of the below image to map out your current life satisfaction in each of the areas. All you need to do is print it off, grab some crayons, just use the pen or pencil in front of you, and then take those levels to create your intentions for the year to come.