How is your life balance?
We hear a lot about the importance of having a life in balance. An unbalanced life means that we are too reliant on one or two life areas for our happiness and fulfilment. A balanced life means that we are fulfilled in many ways.
Print this page and complete the circle below. The notes underneath the wheel will explain more about each section. First mark in each segment your assessment of how fulfilled you are in each life area, with no fulfilment being in the centre of the wheel and total fulfilment being on the outer rim. Then join the marks.
When you have finished you may see a bumpy wheel. Some things you are probably handling well, others you need to work on. Your long term aim is to have a rounded wheel, as large (fulfilled) as possible. Your assessment will show you the areas that perhaps need more attention, and remember, very often changes in one area spill over into the others, changing your life on many, many levels.
![[circular graph of life elements]](./images/life-balance-graph.gif)
Relationships: what is the overall state of your relationships? With your partner, kids, family, friends, colleagues etc? Make an honest assessment and, while you're thinking about it, make a note of any relationships that may warrant special attention to make improvements
Social: How is your social life? This may sound a little like relationships, but its about what you do as well as who you do it with. Do you have interests outside of work? Do you have places you enjoy that you regularly go to? Do you have shared hobbies?
Health: How is your health? Are you fit and energetic? Do you feel good? Do you have habits that affect your health? Do you have illnesses? Rate the overall state of your health
Finances: How are your finances? Do you earn more than you spend? Do you have enough for all your needs and reasonable wants, with some left over to invest in the future? What about affording your dreams? Or are you in debt and not sure where the next payment is coming from? Rate your finances, with the outer rim representing all the money you could ever reasonably want, and the centre being bankruptcy
Career: How is your career? Are you in a dull job, wishing the days away? Or in a job you really love? Or somewhere in between? Or are you in business for yourself and doing really well, could do better or struggling? Or are you unemployed? Do you have a dream career and how close are you to achieving it?
Self expression: We all have many different ways of expressing ourselves. Some of our message may come through our work, some through our relationships. We may feel we have the right to express ourselves, or we may doubt we have that right. We may express ourselves through our hobbies. How is your self expression? Do you have something to express, and are you doing it? Do you feel that your thoughts and opinions can be shared without risking relationships?
Inner state: We are all much more than what we do or what we call ourselves. We have an inner state, a combination of our self-esteem, confidence, optimism, happiness, and many other things. How is your inner state? Are you generally happy and fulfilled, or are you afraid, lacking in self confidence, fearful of the future?
Spiritual: The spiritual part of us can be described as our connection with the eternal. For some this will be expressed through formal religion, for others in a less structured manner, and some will be surprised or even indignant at the thought of having a spiritual part. How would you rate yourself?
