Many people are just looking for a Wheel of Life template to fill out to complete the exercise. However, I understand why the coaching industry uses these templates. Now, to me, there are both big assumptions. Most, if not all of these templates make two assumptions:Īssumption 1: There are 8 major categories in everyone’s life.Īssumption 2: These 8 areas are the same for everyone. You’ll find a variety of existing Wheel of Life templates online. We’ll address these categories in more detail below. Most Wheel of Life templates have the following eight categories:

Standard Wheel of Life CategoriesĪlthough the labels you give these Wheel of Life categories may vary, these areas are generally the same for each of us. If you have too many categories (over ten), your Wheel of Life will become unmanageable and you (or your client) are less likely to use this tool in the future. If you have too few categories (less than six), you’ve either lumped too many areas into one category or you’re missing something important. The ideal number of categories is between six and ten. Paul Meyer’s original Wheel of Life only had six categories. The standard Wheel of Life template has eight categories. How Many Categories Are in the Wheel of Life? These categories must include the ones you currently focus on AND those you often avoid (otherwise, you’re not creating a “life balance wheel”). In my coaching practice, I referred to these categories as “Areas of Focus.” The key is to determine the categories that are most important to you. In my experience, identifying your categories is where the “art of the Wheel” comes in. How to Select Your Wheel of Life Categoriesīefore we review the step-by-step process of creating your Wheel of Life, let’s address the categories more deeply. The Wheel’s singular focus is to help keep our attention on meeting our basic and growth needs. The reason why these basic categories are important is that they address our basic human needs.Īs psychologist Abraham Maslow showed, when we aren’t meeting these basic needs, our lives fall out of balance, which leads to neurotic behaviors like anxiety, addictive tendencies, and depression.Įssentially, when we’re not meeting our basic needs, we move in the opposite direction of fulfillment. Why is this simple assessment so effective? It focuses our attention on key categories of life. I was a business coach for 25 years and I always used a variation of the Wheel of Life with my clients as part of the initial personal discovery process. Moreover, this assessment highlights the areas that need immediate attention. The client can complete their initial Wheel of Life assessment within a single session, providing a sense of accomplishment.

Simply put, it’s relatively fast and easy. The Wheel of Life assessment is a popular tool in the life coaching industry. Why Do Coaches Use the Wheel of Life Assessment? In an ideal world, the goal of the Wheel of Life is to achieve the highest level of fulfillment possible in each of the key categories. The Wheel of Life exercise brings these discrepancies to your mind so you can take action steps to improve. However, you may be horrible at living within your means, paying off your credit card debt, or saving for the future-your “Financial/Money” category). Overall, you’re conscious of what you eat, you exercise, and stay active-that is, you invest attention in your “Health” category. As a general rule, we spend more time and attention on our areas of proficiency (strength) while neglecting our blindspots (weaknesses).įor example, you might value health.

We all tend to be more proficient in certain categories than others. The principle behind the Wheel of Life assessment is that all of the fundamental categories of life are important and require our attention. The assessment’s initial purpose is to determine your current level of fulfillment or satisfaction in each of the Wheel of Life categories.Īfter completing this initial “life audit,” the Wheel becomes a coaching tool for setting goals and tracking the individual’s progress.

Meyer, an early pioneer in the personal development industry in the 1960s. The original concept of the Wheel of Life is attributed to Paul J. The Wheel of Life assessment-also called the “life balance wheel”-presents a series of categories that form the cornerstone of one’s life experience. Before Starting the Wheel of Life Exercise.7 Steps to Using the Wheel of Life Excercise.How to Select Your Wheel of Life Categories.The Goal of the Wheel of Life Assessment.

Wheel of life printable wheel