The Circle of Life: A Holistic Approach to True Wellness

If you’ve ever felt like you were doing “all the right things”—eating clean, exercising, staying hydrated—but still felt unfulfilled, depleted, or disconnected, you’re not alone.

That’s because true health isn’t just about the food on your plate.

At the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN), where I received my holistic health coaching certification, we learn a powerful framework that changed everything for me and the clients I now serve: The Circle of Life.

This tool invites us to look at health as multidimensional—because we are.

🌿 What Is the Circle of Life?

The Circle of Life is a visual representation of 12 key areas that impact your wellbeing, beyond nutrition. It reminds us that what we eat is only one piece of the puzzle. Real nourishment comes from many places—your relationships, your purpose, your movement, your joy.

Each section of the wheel represents one aspect of your life:

  1. Home Environment

  2. Relationships

  3. Social Life

  4. Joy

  5. Spirituality

  6. Creativity

  7. Finances

  8. Career

  9. Education

  10. Health

  11. Physical Activity

  12. Home Cooking

We explore how balanced or fulfilled we feel in each category—and how a shift in one area can impact the others.

🌸 My Journey with the circle of life

When I first started using this tool, I was shocked. My diet was clean, I moved daily, and yet my wheel was out of alignment.

I realized:

  • I was in a relationship that didn’t support my growth

  • I felt good at my job, but stressed and run ragged

  • I had lost touch with my creativity and spirituality

  • My lack of time with my child was slowly eating away at me.

Looking at my life through this lens gave me permission to be honest. Slowly, as I nourished those neglected areas—spiritually, emotionally, and practically—my health transformed.

I moved to a new state. I got clarity on my purpose. I deepened my connection with God and created a business that reflects my soul’s calling.

All of this stemmed from checking in with my wheel.

🧘🏽‍♀️ How to Use the Circle of Life

  1. Print or Draw the Circle of Life Wheel Label each section.

  2. Rate Your Satisfaction
    Place a dot in each wedge that reflects your current level of satisfaction (1 = low, 10 = high).

  3. Connect the Dots
    See where your wheel feels full and where it dips.

  4. Choose One Area to Focus On
    Start small. Maybe it’s bringing more joy into your day or reconnecting with a friend.

  5. Create Nourishing Action Steps
    What’s one small shift you can make in that category this week?

💫 Why It Matters

You are a whole person—not just a body, not just a mind. Every part of your life feeds you. The Circle of Life reminds us that healing and thriving come from alignment.

When we address health through this integrative lens, we:

  • Make sustainable change

  • Feel more energized and alive

  • Build deeper self-awareness and compassion

  • Create lives that feel nourishing, not just busy

✨ Final Thoughts

Your life doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Your version of health is unique. But when you take the time to examine each area of your life, you’ll find clear paths forward.

The Circle of Life isn’t about perfection—it’s a practice. A tool for checking in, course correcting, and showing yourself radical care.

If you want support walking through your own wheel and identifying the areas that need love, I’d be honored to help. This is the heart of my coaching work.

You are worthy of balance. You are worthy of joy. You are worthy of a full, vibrant life.

With love and light,
Danielle
Certified Holistic Health Coach | Yoga + Pilates Instructor | Mama on a Mission

Danielle AriasComment