In order to make basic decisions about our lives; it's helpful to have a planning model. A goal setting planning wheel will help you to visualize the balance between life's major areas. Each wedge represents a different area and the completed chart graphically represents your whole life.

Design a planning wheel by drawing a pie chart. Label each section of the planning wheel (pie chart) to represent each category that makes up your life. Your labels might include: Personal, Career, Family, Self-Development, Social, Health, Financial, Spiritual and Community.

One by one make a general, intuitive assessment of each category. How do you feel right now about each part of your life? What is your level of satisfaction in each area? Shade in each section of the wheel based on your relative satisfaction with that particular area.

Is there a substantial dent in the shape of your wheel? Is your wheel fairly round? Is your wheel very small? What is the general "shape" of your life? How balanced is your wheel?

As you plan for the future, plan for more balanced living. Set goals around areas that are important to you.