Many times, people, as the 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 will present in this article one of the most useful self-analysis tools, the wheel of life . Coming from the field of coaching, it allows us to have a greater awareness of the aspects to be improved of each one and to start this process of self-realization. Let’s see more in depth what it is and how to carry it out.

What is the wheel of life?

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

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

Usefulness of this technique

The Meyer wheel of life is a technique of self-analysis of the different areas that the person considers important in his life. Thanks to this, helps to have a better awareness of how these vital needs and desires are being met or not at the present time, as well as allowing you to compare with past moments and see if any progress is being made.

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

  • Identification of which areas are considered important to the person.
  • Awareness of the degree of life satisfaction.
  • It lets you know where to start to improve.
  • It stimulates the initiation of a process of change.
  • It helps to be consistent, encouraging focus on the less satisfying aspect.
  • It allows you to be aware of how much progress you are making.
  • It can be applied to both personal and professional levels.

How to make it: steps to follow

Although the technique itself is easy to develop, a number of steps need to be followed to ensure that the self-analysis is done in the most satisfactory manner.

1. Represent the areas in a circle

First, you should proceed to represent the areas considered most important of the person in a circle.

On the internet there are many pages where you can download a template with the wheel of life already made, in addition to 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, can consider as outstanding areas in their one or other. 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, they are given a score based on the degree of satisfaction perceived for each of them.

Normally, scores range from 1, not at all satisfied, to 10, fully satisfied . The lower the score the closer to the centre of the circle the point for that particular aspect will be.

Scores from 8 to 10 mean that you are very satisfied in the particular area. Scores 5-7 mean that, while you are not very unhappy, you should initiate an improvement. Below 4 means that you should urgently seek to improve.

3. Join areas and analyze

Once each area has been given values, they are joined by drawing a line and, thus, a geometric figure is drawn .

When the values given for each aspect have been brought together, it will be possible to see what the person’s life is like, in broad terms.

If the figure that has been drawn is more or less harmonic, similar to a circle, it means that there is a certain balance in the 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 terms of how dissatisfied you are in general with your life.

4. Starting the change

Once you have identified the points where you are least satisfied, it is time to start improving .

First of all, it is important to meditate on whether you have been sincere or exaggerated in your dissatisfaction with that element. If you have been sincere, you can improve. You don’t necessarily have to start with the lowest score, but it’s a good place to start.

To achieve change, an improvement plan needs to be developed. It is very important to meditate in depth how the selected aspect is going to be improved, and also to take into account possible obstacles that may be found along the way.

Brainstorming is extremely necessary at this point , as well as being able to consult well-known ways of achieving balance in the short and long term. It is quite productive to select goals to be achieved in the short term, which are realistic but at the same time stimulating, since they will facilitate reaching the final objective and will contribute to keeping you focused and motivated.

To be aware of the progress being made, it is highly recommended to keep a diary in which you write down everything you are achieving, as well as taking time each week to evaluate the state of the situation in general.

Also, as a follow-up, it is advisable to make, after some time, a new wheel of life, comparing how one was at the beginning of the process and how one is now .

What does each plot mean?

As we have already mentioned, each person is different and, therefore, will give greater importance to different aspects in comparison with the rest of their fellow human beings, however, there are certain areas that usually appear in most of the wheels of life.

We will now look at 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 get a cold? Take too much medicine? 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 work? Is it what I wanted to be? Is there a possibility of promotion? Am I working from what I have studied? What are my employment options?

3. Couple

Do I love my partner? Do I feel satisfied in this relationship? Am I enough for him/her? Is it enough for me? Is the magic still the same as in the beginning?

4. Family

Who is my family? Do my parents, brothers/sisters, and other blood relatives fit into 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? Do I love my family?

5. Friends

Do my friends satisfy me? What is a friend to me? Do I call anyone a friend? Do I feel they are really my friends?

6. Studies

Do I like what I’m studying? Am I good at what I’m studying? Am I really learning? Should I be doing something else?

7. Personal Success

Do I feel comfortable with my life? Do I think that better times are really coming? Am I someone important in something? What can I offer the world?

8. Economy

Do I earn enough? Do I spend too much? Should I save more? How can I manage my money better? Do I need help from a manager?

Bibliographic references:

  • Kübler-Ross, E. (2013). The wheel of life. Cock.
  • Zeus, P., & Skiffington, S. (2004). “Practical coaching: a complete guide to techniques and tools. McGraw-Hill, Interamericana de España.