I discovered the power of the Wheel of Life exercise while studying at the Australian School of Holistic Counselling. It has become the first wellbeing tool I use with my clients as it is the perfect start to bringing awareness to what’s going on in your life right now and seeing your wellbeing from a holistic point of view.
This life balance tool originated from an ancient concept, with the wheel representing the cyclical nature of our existence and how all aspects of life are connected. Today, there are a number of variations of the Wheel of Life exercise used by therapists worldwide.
Below I explain why it’s a powerful life balance tool, how studies have shown it can benefit you and how you can embrace this exercise to start making healthy changes to your daily rituals and habits to improve your overall wellbeing.
The Origins of the Wheel of Life exercise
The Wheel of Life exercise dates back to ancient Buddhist philosophy. The original Wheel of Life, or Bhavacakra, is a symbolic representation of the cycle of life, death, and rebirth in Buddhist cosmology. It illustrates the various states of existence and the interdependence of different life realms. This symbolic wheel serves as a profound teaching tool in Buddhism, used to help individuals understand the nature of their existence and the path to enlightenment.
In the mid-20th century, this ancient concept was adapted into a practical self-assessment tool by Paul J. Meyer, a pioneer in personal development. He transformed the Wheel of Life into a modern exercise designed to help individuals evaluate their satisfaction in various aspects of their lives.
By breaking life into categories such as career, health, relationships, and personal development, the Wheel of Life exercise offers a visual framework to help people identify areas of imbalance and work towards greater harmony.
The Wheel of Life wellbeing tool I offer as a free resource so you can start using it for yourself, and maybe even share with family members or friends. It is an adaptation of the modern Wheel of Life which allows you to consider the areas that are important for your mental and physical health and overall holistic wellbeing.
Why this Life Balance Tool is a Game-Changer
So, why is the Wheel of Life exercise tool so useful? Here’s how I think it can make a big difference for you:
- Awareness of Your Current State: By taking a moment to feel into what’s going on for you right now in each area of your life, you gain clarity on where you currently stand and consider where you need to put more attention.
- Comprehensive Insight: When you rate the different parts of your life on the wheel, you get a clear picture of the balance – what’s working or not working for you. And, how all areas of your life are interconnected and affect each other.
- Encourages Self-Reflection: This tool gets you thinking about where you are now and where you want to be. It’s a great way to reflect on what’s important to you and how you can grow.
- Facilitates Goal Setting: Once you see where the imbalances are, you can set specific goals to improve those areas. Breaking down the goals into small manageable changes you can make in your life helps you track them and will keep you motivated.
- Boosts Overall Wellbeing: By working towards a life that feels more balanced and aligned with your goals and values, you’ll likely feel more satisfied and content, leading to greater overall happiness and wellbeing.
What the research says about the Wheel of Life exercise
This wellbeing tool has been included in various studies over the years with some solid research showing how effective it can be. This life balance tool:
- Assists in managing stress: Una Byrne (2005) discusses the application of the ‘Wheel of Life’ as an effective tool for stress management, providing insights into identifying and addressing life imbalances. When you address imbalances in your life, it’s easier to manage stress and improve your quality of life.
- Helps with emotional understanding: Santos et al. (2017) focussed on how this tool is great for visualising and dealing with your emotional needs in a structured way.
- Boosts self-awareness, self-esteem, and motivation: Ammentorp et al. (2013) did a systematic review which examined whether life coaching can improve health outcomes, highlighting the potential benefits of interventions like the wheel of life enhancing self-efficacy and self-empowerment.
Awareness is the key to change and improving your wellbeing
The Wheel of Life exercise is a simple timeless tool that is more than just a visual aid. This life balance tool is a way to start to really understand yourself and listen in to what you want in your life.
By taking some time to reflect on each area of your life and how it effects your physical and mental health, you can set meaningful goals that will move you towards a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Why not begin reflecting on your life today. DOWNLOAD the Wheel of Life exercise HERE.
This downloadable resource outlines the areas in your life you will be rating, offers tips on setting small achievable goals for greater success, and includes print outs of the Wheel of Life exercise, reflection worksheets and questions to consider in order to start your own self-discovery journey today. And, this isn’t an exercise to just do once. Revisit it regularly. It will always be changing just like life!
If you do the Wheel of Life exercise I would love you to share with me your experience and let me know how it has helped you to focus on moving towards the best version of yourself? DM me in Instagram or Facebook or contact me here.
Want to delve deeper into making lasting change for better wellbeing? Let me guide you to understanding yourself better through individual counselling sessions focussed on self-development, self-healing and empowerment. Discover my packages HERE.
