Most of us have a desire to keep expanding and aligning with our authentic self in all aspects of our life. Continual improvement begins with mindful self-reflection. How satisfied are you in various aspects of your life? Which areas feel expansive and give you energy? Which areas feel out of synch and deplete you? Taking time to honestly assess your current experience without judgement is a self-care gift you can give yourself. Here is a tool to help you get started.

The eight sections in the Wheel of Life represent different aspects of your life. Change one or more areas so each closely represents what is important to you. Then, take a moment to reflect on each section. For example:

• Health: How strong and balanced are your physical, emotional and mental wellbeing?
• Finance: Do you have a sense of abundance and ease in your finances?
• Friends and Family: Do you have meaningful, supportive and nurturing relationships?
• Significant Other: Are you delighted with your partner and the intimacy you share?
• Fun and Recreation: Do you regularly make time for relaxing, creativity and play?
• Career and Business: Are you contributing to your work or your community in a way that feels productive and impactful?
• Personal Growth: What opportunities and practices do you engage in that develop you emotionally, mentally and spiritually?
• Physical Environment: Do your home and work spaces energize and support you?

With the center of the wheel as 0 (not satisfied) and the outer edges as 10 (highly satisfied), rank your level of satisfaction in each section. Then, connect all your lines to create a new outer edge. This new perimeter represents the wheel of your life. If this were a real wheel, how bumpy would the ride be? Once completed, create a few goals to support the changes you desire. Which area would you improve first? Write down three action steps to move you closer to living a life you love.

Here are examples from my own life to give you some ideas. A few years ago, I was diagnosed with prediabetes. After a self-assessment in my health area, I chose to change to an anti-inflammatory diet by increasing healthy fats and greens. Today, my lab values are normal and the soreness in my joints is greatly reduced. Professionally, I went through a big shift as well. Examining my career, I determined that parts of my work utilized my strengths and passions and other parts of the job did not. I thrive guiding people and organizations as we create self-directed strategies to implement the changes desired and optimize potential. In 2005 I dedicated myself full time to my holistic coaching practice where I support clients as they balance their mind-body-heart and express their passions into the world. I have never looked back.

There is profound freedom when you make choices every day that support living a life you love. Improving one area of your life begins to enhance your underlying sense of wellbeing. Through mindful living, you more often notice what is occurring without judgment. You increase your capacity to direct your attention, live in the present moment and clarify your intentions. This improves your ability to achieve goals, be creative and remain calm and focused. You become more confident, optimistic and fulfilled.

Michele Rae provides holistic coaching for personal, professional and organizational transformation and is the founder of The Center Within, LLC. Rae’s clients become more confident and engaged as they enhance their gifts, talents, wisdom and passions and expose and unblock limiting beliefs, stuck patterns and fears. Rae is the author of Living from the Center Within: Co-Creating Who You are Becoming. She offers workshops, events and classes throughout the Twin Cities designed to support your personal and professional development. For more information, call 612-465-9775, email [email protected] or visit CenterWithin.com.