Podcast: From Queens Guardsman and Savage State of Mind to Aspiring others through recovery

Embarking on a journey of personal growth and self-improvement requires a clear understanding of your current life, being real with yourself about where you are, looking at your satisfaction levels, and working out which areas need attention. The Wheel of Life is a powerful coaching tool that provides a visual representation of your life’s various elements, enabling you to identify imbalances and take action towards a more fulfilling life. It is used by life coaches with their clients – but you can also use it on your own. Here’s how to use this tool properly. The Wheel of Life consists of a circle divided into segments, each representing a dimension such as career, health, relationships, finances, personal development and more. You name your own segments. The height of the bar in each segment corresponds to the level of satisfaction or fulfilment you feel in that area. By evaluating each segment, you gain valuable insights into which areas are thriving and which require attention. As a minimum use: Relationships – with your significant other, children, wider family, and friends. Personal Development – such as education, spiritual (as you understand this), stopping negative self-talk, having a morning routine, keeping a journal. Health – including exercise, weights, Yoga, running or walking, nutrition, water intake. Fun/Recreation – association time, pool table … what do you enjoy? Do more, get better, maybe start a discussion group on personal development with like-minded individuals. Assessing your life Once you’ve drawn your Wheel of Life, take a moment to reflect on each element and rate your level of satisfaction on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being the worst it can be, 10 being the best it could ever be). Be honest and consider how content you are with each aspect of your life. Outline your ratings by drawing a line within each segment, creating a visual representation of your current life balance. No one has it perfect. Add up all the scores, and divide by the number of sections. In the example shown, there are 7 sections and the scores add up to 41. Divide 41 by 7 and you get 5.85. Round this up to the nearest whole number, which is 6 – and this is your average score, which goes in the middle of the wheel. Simples! Identifying imbalances Once you’ve plotted your ratings, take a step back and examine the wheel as a whole. Notice any unevenness or gaps. Imbalances may arise when certain areas are neglected or receive excessive focus at the expense of others. For instance, you may find that your personal development is flourishing, but your health or relationships are suffering. Identifying these imbalances helps you pinpoint areas that require your attention… straightforward but effective. Goal-setting and action-planning With a clear understanding of imbalances, it is time to set meaningful goals and develop an action plan. Select a specific aspect of your life that you wish to improve, and set measurable and realistic goals accordingly. Break down these goals into actionable steps, and create a timeline for achieving them. By focusing on one or two dimensions at a time, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed and increase your chances of success. Coach tip: Personally, I work backwards. First I set the goal then I create stepping stones backwards from my goal which will lead to my first step. Monitoring progress and reassessment Regularly review your progress and reassess your Wheel of Life (my suggestion is fortnightly or monthly). As you make changes and act, adjust your ratings and observe how the scores change over time. Celebrate your achievements, and adjust your goals as needed. By regularly reassessing and adjusting, you can cultivate a harmonious balance that aligns with your values and aspirations, leading to personal growth and happiness. Remember, personal growth is an ongoing daily process, and the Wheel of Life serves as a compass, guiding you towards a more balanced, purposeful and fulfilling life. Give it a try, you never know – you might surprise yourself! Military planning teaches us that no initial plan stands up to the first attack. So, if you find that you fall at the first hurdle upon your release from prison, then it makes good sense to have a ‘Plan B’. If you decide to use the Wheel of Life, don’t be too hard on yourself, as it is only a guide. But used well, it can help. Remember my saying: ‘What gets measured gets managed’.