Lesson 7: My Life Wheel

My Life, 5 Years from Today

Name: Erica Kovarik
Date: 07/08/2020

Step 1: My Life Wheel

Figure 1. The Life Wheel (from sales guru, Zig Ziglar)

Balance in life is achieved when we are satisfied that we are addressing all areas of the
life wheel; if one or more areas of the wheel “go flat,” we feel out of balance.

Rank order the seven areas of the wheel, 1 being the area you are most satisfied with your
overall performance/ability/efficacy today, 7 being the area you feel needs the most
attention.

1. FAMILY
2. SOCIAL
3. INTELLECTUAL
4. PHYSICAL
 5. SPIRITUAL
6. CAREER
7. FINANCIAL

Step 2: Descriptive Explanation

Put #5, 6, and 7 from the life wheel rank order list above in the table below, as the areas
of your life wheel that you feel need the most attention.

Describe each area as it is now and how you envision it to be in the future, 5 years from
today. Be complete and write both your NOW and VISION in the PRESENT TENSE.
Below is an example of one student’s PHYSICAL VISION for the future. She wrote it in
present tense to make sure she could envision herself truly being like this:

PHYSICAL VISION: I am very careful about what I eat. I prefer healthy food
and I eat balanced meals and snacks and the calorie intake that is proportionate to
my desired weight. I drink plenty of liquids to keep me hydrated. I eat my herbs
every day to help my body stay in tune and to help maintain my weight at 135
pounds. At this weight I look good in a swimsuit, even a two-piece.

I exercise 4 or more times a week for cardio and strength. Often, I exercise out of
doors. I like to exercise alone because it allows me to think. I also like exercising
with friends for the social connection and accountability to get out and do it, and I
often initiate fun activities with my friends, especially on the weekends. I have
maintained my strength and body size for quite some time now. Because of my
strength, endurance, and great flexibility, I am not afraid to try most any
recreational activity, knowing I will be able to participate at some level.

As you fill in the table, be comprehensive, clear, and realistic but visionary. 100+ words
per cell is expected.

LIFE WHEEL NOW VISION

AREAS that I want Describe this area of your life, as Describe how you would like this area to
to attend to the most it is today. be 5 years from today.
5. Spiritual I was never raised to be very
spiritual in my life. To this day,
I am still not very spiritual at
all. The last time I went to
church was for my cousin's
wedding. I have not just gone to
church or did anything
spiritual because I wanted to. It
is always because I had to. I do
not attend church weekly or
even monthly. I am not
spiritual at all and I feel that
isn’t one of my number one
priority in life. I never was one
to be very interested or pursuit
with indulging more into my
spiritual views or religion
views. It was always what I was
taught and raised to believe.
Today, I only believe what I
believe spiritually because that
is what I was taught.
6. Career I am certainly not at my
position in my career yet that I
feel satisfied and accomplished.
I am still completing my
bachelor’s and work full time. I
work full time in the Business
Office at our local Hospital and
I know that this is not the job I
want to stay at forever. I want
to become a manager or my
dream would be to become a
CEO or CFO of a company.
Right now, I am not there yet
and I hope to continue on and
achieve my goal. That is why I
have less than a year left of my
schooling and I will also have 5
years of experience working in
the Business field.
7. Financial As most 23-year old’s, I
struggle with my finances. My
parents do not help me out at
all. I work and earn all my
money. I also pay for
My religion and spiritual beliefs are a
big part of my daily routine. Every
week, I take time to go on Sunday and
attend church services. I also take time
out of my daily life and say a prayer
before I go to bed. I have learned the
true value and beliefs I have spiritually
and they have helped guide me in my
journey of life with my family. My
husband and I share a common
spiritual belief and want our family to
be a part of it. As a family, we all share
our spiritual beliefs together and
cherish them. As a family, we take time
together to all sit down and pray at the
supper table before we eat. My spiritual
values and beliefs make up a big part of
who I am today.
I work hard every day in my position. I
currently am a manager for a well-
known company that I enjoy very
much. I have been in my position for
over a year now. I am still working
every day to still reach my goal of
becoming the CFO of the company. I
hope to be in that position when it
becomes available. I am a strong,
motivated, and encouraging leader. I
come to work every day with a smile on
my face and give it my all. I am so
passionate about leading my team and
doing the best I can do!
I am very invested in how my money is
spent. I do not spend my money on
things I do not need. I have a pretty
steady income and so does my husband.
We try to save some of our paychecks a
 everything that I have. I work
paycheck to paycheck but am
able to save some each month
as well. I am currently not
paying on my student loans, but
I do own a house with my fiancé
and we split the payments on
that. I also have a car loan that
I have to pay as well.
Financially, I am not in a state
that I want to be in. I wish I
made more money and could
save more each paycheck but I
struggle. I feel that I am not in
a stable position that I want to
be in and thank my fiancé for
being able to help and support
me in order for us to make it. If
it wasn’t for him, I feel my
situation would be a lot worse.
month and put it aside for savings. We
live comfortable and not have to worry
about living paycheck to paycheck. We
still do have school loans that I am
paying off, but I am almost finished
paying them off in the next year or so.
We have our house loan and car loans.
We make sure not to get greedy with
our money and make big purchases
without sitting down and discussing it
and making sure it is needed. We really
value and focus on money because we
work hard for it and deserve it.

Step 3: Your Visions

Thinking about your visions from the right column in the table above, respond to
each question with a detailed explanation.

✓ Are your goals all visionary? Explain why or why not?

I feel that all my goals are very visionary and that I can obtain them in my future. I
feel this because this is something I vision and want to see happen. I want to stay
motivated and follow my dreams. These goals are my dreams and what I predict in
my future and I want to make happen. I also feel that they are not crazy goals that
could not be obtained. If I work hard and really put in the effort, I can obtain all
these goals if I set my mind to it.

✓ Are my visions morally right and fair to all involved? Explain why or why not?
My visions are morally right and fair to all involved. I feel that all my visuals are
right and fair to everyone. All my goals do not infringe on anyone else’s personal
liberties, do direct harm to anyone, or take away anything from others. All my goals
are aimed to improve myself and are fair to others. It does not impact others in any
harmful or unfair ways.

✓ Are all visions consistent with one another? Do they align or interconnect where
there is a fit? Explain why or why not?
I feel that all my visions are consistent with one another because they are all
something I want and need to improve on. I want to make and see a difference in 5
years in a big way. I feel that each vision really shows a completely different vision
as the present day in a good way. I have set high expectations for my visions and I
feel that it is really consistent because I am improving myself as a person and really
changing what I want in my life and goals.

✓ Can you emotionally commit yourself to these visions? Explain why or why not?
I believe that I can emotionally myself to these visions because I have come this far
in my life. I had never thought I would have made it this far in my life when I was
younger. I have achieved so much of the impossible, that I feel that when I set my
mind to things, I can achieve it. Just like this vision, I set my mind to it, I will
achieve it. All of my goals wrap up and play a part of my larger vision in life and
that is to have a self-fulfilled life. Emotionally Committing myself to this vision leads
me one step closer to my larger vision of happiness.

✓ Can you see yourself actually reaching or achieving your visions? Explain why or
why not?

This is something I struggle with. But I know I can do it. I do see myself reaching
and achieving this vision, but I also tend to second guess myself as well. I am still
shocked at how far I have come and accomplished at 23 years old. I feel that at first,
I am scared to take on my goals and vision, but I can do it if I set my mind to it. I
feel that if I really set my mind to it and go for my vision, I can achieve it. After
seeing how far I have become, I can see myself reaching my vision because of what I
have already accomplished and proved to myself.

Step 4: Applying 5 Theories of Motivation to your

Vision
This step in the goal-setting process involves applying the theories you have
studied in this course to one of the goals you identified in Step 1 of this mini-
project.

Background information: Given the three life wheel areas you analyzed in Step
2, select one to develop fully. Ideally, this should be the one where establishing a
plan for motivation will make the largest impact to your life’s path, where getting
motivated and staying motivated would assure "success" five years from now, in
a very large way. Think big!

My goal: Is to not have to work paycheck to paycheck. Be able to save

money and not buy things that are not necessary. I do not want to have to
worry about running out of money and not having enough money for bills
each month.

Explain how each of the theory groups might support your motivation so your
goal actually becomes a reality. Cite sources in APA format.

1. Define Trait theory in detail and explain how the theory will help you get
motivated and/or stay motivated. If you don’t think it will help you, give
your reasoning in detail.

The trait theory states that a trait is a relatively stable characteristic

that causes an individual to behave in a certain way. This theory is
focused on exploring how some key traits can be used to understand
why what motivates you may be different from what motivates others
around you (Lesson 2 Presentation). Motivation can vary based upon
your traits or your own personality. This theory can help me stay
motivated because one of my best traits is responsibility and
trustworthiness. I am the type of person that when I set my mind to
something, I go for it and do not want to give up. I keep myself strict,
so that this trait theory really will keep me motivated to reach this
goal because I am so disciplined with myself. It will allow me to be
responsible and trust myself that I will stay on track and not give in
to useless things I do not need.

2. Define Humanist Theory in detail and explain how the theory will help
you get motivated and/or stay motivated. If you don’t think it will help you,
give your reasoning in detail.

The humanist view of motivation is based on the idea that people

have strong cognitive reasons to perform various actions. It is
subjective and it assumes that individuals are capable of
understanding their behavior, that humans have Free Will and that
they innately good. Abraham Maslow’s views humanist by a
hierarchy of needs, which presents motivation at different levels
(Lesson 3 Presentation). The main goal of humanist theory is to
achieve self-actualization. Self-actualization refers to the desire to
become more and more what one is capable of becoming (Lesson 3
Presentation). Humanist theory also really focuses on becoming a
“fully functioning” person. According to Carl Rogers, a fully
functioning person is one who is in touch with his or her deepest
and innermost feelings and desires. These individuals understand
their own emotions and place a deep trust in their own instincts and
 urges (Lesson 3 Presentation). I feel that this theory helps keep me
motivated and in course with my goal because it is all about
believing in yourself. The theory addresses that you need to
understand your emotions and your trust that you will do the right
thing. I feel that this is very important and true for myself and my
understanding my emotions and trust of myself. I trust myself that I
am going to stay motivated for this goal. I want to reach this goal of
not working paycheck to paycheck. To be able to be financially
stable. This goal allows me to be able to have a fully functioning life
and know that this goal will help me reach that, allows me to stay
motivated to reach this goal. This really shows me the benefits and
why I can’t give up on reaching my goal.

3. Define Behaviorist Theory in detail and explain how the theory will help
you get motivated and/or stay motivated. If you don’t think it will help you,
give your reasoning in detail.

Behaviorist theory is based on extrinsic motivation. It is triggered by

external forces. This theory is that your motivation is about meeting
minimal expectations. You are focused on the “what’s in it for me”
attitude and rely on rewards and punishments. It is also based on the
belief that behavior can be measured, trained, and changed (Lesson
4 Presentation). With the theory of behaviorism, there are two types
of conditioning to it. They are classical and operant conditioning.
Classical conditioning is stimulus and response. Operant condition
is that behavior is strengthened by reinforcement and lessened by
punishment and behavior is extinguished when it no longer occurs
(Lesson 4 Presentation). I feel that this theory really can help me the
most when it comes to staying motivated towards my goal. My goal
is all about saving money and being able to provide for all my bills.
That includes saving and not spending money on things that I just
want. But with this theory it allows me to reward myself for staying
on track and punishing myself when I fall off track. One way I can
use this theory is that after half a year, if I have been saving up
enough money and been not struggling with paying my bills, I can
take some extra money out and get me a “reward” or present for
staying on track. That also means that if I feel off track, that I would
have to take something away. I feel that this theory is the best way to
keep me motivated and accountable.
4. Define Cognitive Theory in detail and explain how the theory will help
you get motivated and/or stay motivated. If you don’t think it will help you,
give your reasoning in detail.

Per the reading and text, the theory of cognitive stresses that human
behavior is influenced by the way people think about themselves and
their environment (Lesson 5 Presentation). Cognitive theory believes
that an individual's motivation is triggered by a person’s thoughts,
expectations, and goals. This theory will keep me motivated because
I am the type of person that does not like others to look at me bad. I
always want other people to have approval of me and to not judge
me. I want to be able to give my best and not be looked down upon.
This theory keeps me motivated because it allows me to not want to
fail and have to live paycheck to paycheck. I do not want to be
judged and looked upon as a person that cannot pay for my bills.
This allows me to stay motivated and keep my goal of saving money
and being able to have a stable financial future. I want others to
really look upon me as a responsible person and a role model when
it comes to my financial situation and not have me depend on them
for money.

5. Define Social Cognitive Theory in detail and explain how the theory will
help you get motivated and/or stay motivated. If you don’t think it will help
you, give your reasoning in detail.

This theory focuses on the effects that others have on our behavior.
Per the reading and lectures in lesson 6, Albert Bandura believed
that when people see someone else awarded for behavior, they tend
to behave the exact same way to attain that same exact award.
People are also more likely to imitate those whom they identify
(Lesson 6 Presentation). This theory helps me get motivated about
my goal because I want to follow along just like my parents and my
sister when it comes to my finances. I have always looked up to my
parents and my sister because they have worked hard and stuck with
a budget. In the end, they are rewarded with stable income that
makes them not have to worry about living paycheck to paycheck
and am able to enjoy life and not stress about money. After looking
up to them and seeing what they have, it makes me become
motivated to reach my goal of becoming a financial stable and being
able to budget and not live paycheck to paycheck. I feel that this
theory really helps me stay on track because I want to follow in my
 parents and sisters’ footsteps and that is exactly what this theory is
all about. It is about watching someone and seeing them being
rewarded and then you do the exact same thing to get that same
reward.

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