Wheel of Life: What it is and How it is Used to Detect Needs

Many times, people, as multidimensional beings that we are, feel that several of the aspects that make up our lives are not fully realized and we want to improve, but we do not know where to start.

That is why we are going to present in this article one of the most useful self-analysis tools, the wheel of life. Coming from the field of coaching, it allows for greater awareness of the aspects to improve in each person and begins this process of self-realization. Let’s take a closer look at what it is and how to do it.

Table of Contents

What is the wheel of life?

The wheel of life is a graphic tool from the field of coaching, which allows for greater awareness of the aspects that make up each one, what is the degree of satisfaction perceived by each of them and also begins the process of self-improvement. Visually, It allows us to know if the person’s vital needs or desires are in balance or not.

The person who developed this technique was Paul J. Meyer, one of the leaders in coaching, personal and professional development, known for being the founder of the Success Motivation Institute. Meyer took as inspiration for the development of this technique the wheel of life from the Tibetan Buddhist religion.

Usefulness of this technique

Meyer’s wheel of life is a self-analysis technique of the different areas that the person considers important in their life. Thanks to that, helps to have a better awareness of how these vital needs and desires are being satisfied or not at the current moment, in addition to allowing you to compare with past moments and see if any type of progress is being made.

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Basically, the advantages offered by this technique are the following:

How to make it: steps to follow

Although the technique itself is easy to develop, a series of steps must be followed to ensure that the self-analysis is carried out in the most satisfactory way.

1. Represent the areas in a circle

First of all, You must proceed to represent the areas considered most important of the person in a circle.

There are multiple pages on the Internet where you can download a template with the wheel of life already made, in addition to there being mobile applications that also have a virtual wheel. Another option, more common and simple, is to draw a circle on a sheet of paper and manually write the names of each area outside its circumference.

Each person is different and, therefore, may consider one or the other as outstanding areas. That is why the number of areas and their name is very variable.

However, the most common are the following: family, couple, health, friendship, work, studies, economy and personal success.

2. Rate each aspect

Once the number of areas considered fundamental in the person’s life has been selected, a score is given based on the degree of satisfaction perceived for each of them.

Usually, Scores range from 1, not at all satisfied, to 10, completely satisfied. The lower the score, the closer the point will be to the center of the circle for that specific aspect.

Scores of 8 to 10 mean that you are very satisfied in the specific area. From 5 to 7 means that, although you are not very unhappy, you should start improving. Less than 4 means that we must urgently find a way to improve them.

3. Join areas and analyze

Once values have been given to each area, We proceed to join them by drawing a line and, thus, a geometric figure is drawn.

When the values given for each aspect have been put together, you can see what the person’s life is like, broadly speaking.

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If the figure that has been drawn is more or less harmonious, similar to a circle, it means that there is a certain balance in a person’s life. On the other hand, if the figure is irregular, with ups and downs, it indicates that there are areas that are less satisfied than others.

It should be said that the fact that there is a certain harmony does not mean that the person feels satisfied. It is possible that, in fact, all aspects are so low that there is harmony in how dissatisfied she is overall with his life.

4. Start the change

Once you have identified the points where you are least satisfied, It’s time to start improving.

First of all, it is important to consider whether you have been sincere or have exaggerated your dissatisfaction with that element. If you have been honest, you can proceed to improve. You should not necessarily start with the lowest score, although it is a good starting point.

To achieve change, it is necessary to develop an improvement plan. It is very important to think in depth about how you are going to improve the selected aspect, and you must also take into account possible obstacles that may be found along the way.

Brainstorming is extremely necessary at this point, in addition to being able to consult well-known ways to find balance in the short and long term. It is quite productive to select goals to achieve in the short term, that are realistic but, at the same time, stimulating, since they will make it easier to reach the final objective and will help to stay focused and motivated.

To be aware of the progress that is being made, it is highly recommended to have a diary in which you write down everything that is being achieved, in addition to dedicating time each week to evaluate the state of the situation in general.

Also, as a follow-up, it is advisable to carry out a new wheel of life after a certain time, comparing how it was when the process began and how it is now.

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What does each plot mean?

As we have already mentioned, each person is different and, therefore, will give greater importance to different aspects compared to the rest of their peers, however, there are certain areas that tend to appear in most of the wheels of the life.

Below we will see some of them, offering example questions that can help in the analysis of satisfaction both general and particular, of the person.

1. Health

Do I usually have a cold? Do I take too many medicines? Do I exercise regularly? How many times have I been sick in the last month? Should I go to a doctor? Do I need psychological help?

2. Work

Am I satisfied with my job? Is it what you wanted to be? Is there a chance I can get promoted? Am I working from what I have studied? What job options do I have?

3. Couple

I love my couple? Do I feel satisfied in this relationship? Does it satisfy me sexually? Am I enough for him/her? It is enough for me? Is there still the same magic as at the beginning?

4. Family

Who is my family? Do my parents, brothers/sisters and other blood relatives fall within my concept of close family? Are my closest friends my real family? What are the family dynamics I am exposed to? Does my family love me? I love my family?