September has always felt like a quiet reset — a fresh chapter without the pressure of New Year’s resolutions. And it has a new beginning vibe: school starts again, summer is coming to a close and as a result, we start a new routine.
That’s why I do a self-check-in this time every year using The Life Pie — it helps me step back, see what’s working, and gently shift what’s not.
This idea was originated in the 1960’s by Paul Meyer and is still used by coaches and in personal development today because it’s very effective and really simple.
If you feel like you’re running in too many directions, or feel stuck, or just need a little extra push, you are going to love this!
So without further adieu, here is ‘The Life Pie’: what it is, how it helps you, and the step by step instructions for you to complete it when you have time.
What is The Life Pie?
The Life Pie is a self-assessment tool that gives you feedback across all areas of your life. One completed, it shows you what area(s) of your life need more of your time and attention and where your life is going well. You simply rate your satisfaction in each category (on a 1–10 scale), connect the dots, and instantly visualize where your life feels balanced or “lopsided.”
- The categories:
- finances/money
- love/romance
- family & friends
- career
- spirituality
- health & well-being
- fun & hobbies
- personal growth
How to Start: Rate Your Satisfaction
- Download ‘The Life Pie’ Chart here and get ready to jot some thoughts and notes down.
- Rate Your Satisfaction on a scale from 1-10 in each category.
- Plot the Wheel – Starting from the center of the circle, mark your rating as a dot within each area on the circle graph. Connect the dots to form a shape.
At this point, your graph will form a unique shape — it might resemble a star, a circle, or even a squiggly amoeba. There’s no right or wrong result — this is just a visual for you to quickly assess the balance and/or imbalance in your life right now.
When I do this exercise, I typically see half of the categories pretty full (8 or greater) and half pretty empty (under 4).
No judgment. Please answer truthfully. It’s the only way you will be able to make the necessary adjustments to create a more balanced, happy, and fulfilled life.
Reflect on What Matters:
4. In your notebook, app, or iPad, write 2 goals or improvements you’d like to make in each category.
Example: Finances/Money: 1) Save 10% of my income each month for retirement 2) Get a financial planner and make an appointment by 9/30/25.
Do this for each category: finances/money, love/romance, family & friends, career, spirituality, health & well-being, fun & hobbies, personal growth
Some ideas: Maybe you need more date nights with your partner? Or more ‘me time’ in the morning for yoga and meditation? Or pick up the hobby you used to enjoy but haven’t made the time for over the past several years? Or take that vacation you’ve been dreaming of? Get creative. Get personal. And get excited that it’s about to happen!
Prioritize Your Focus:
5. Now I’d like you to rank each category on a scale from 1-8. 1 is the most important and 8 the least. (keeping in mind the 2 goals/improvements you’ve written for each)
Note: I know many of these categories are important….but please rank them anyway. You will be able to get through them all, but we need to start somewhere. So dig deep and be honest with yourself. What needs your attention now more than anything else? What category is causing you to not feel happy or fulfilled? Start there.
6. Focus in on your #1 and #2 categories. Re-read the goals and improvements you’ve listed. Still agree with them? Now is the time to make any tweaks.
Take Action Now:
7. Write down the top 2 goals/improvements and make a list of ‘to do’s’ to accomplish them. Anchor it with time — give each action a clear target date so your goals don’t stay in limbo. There’s tons of research stating that goals that are trackable and measurable are more likely to be met than those that are not.
Example: Money/Finances –
- Call Fidelity Investments on Monday at 10am to set an appointment with a financial advisor.
- Set up a new savings account at Chase Bank by next pay date, to automatically deposit 10% of my check each payment period.
In this example, both items can be completed pretty quickly. You may find that your goals are much larger, have multiple steps, and therefore will take a lot longer to complete. The ‘take action’ section is your opportunity to break down the goals into smaller steps so you can see the pathway to completion….even if it takes a few months or even a year!
And once you complete your category #1, move to category #2 and so on.
You’ve just created a life improvement plan for yourself!
You can repeat this exercise periodically to monitor progress and recalibrate focus.
I hope this exercise helps you to easily see where you can make quick and meaningful changes that will improve your life. If you have any questions or are getting stuck on the process, please just reach out! I’m happy to help.
In my experience, I’ve found this to be one of the most effective tools to create action and life balance, so give it a try!
Let’s make this September the month of Transformation!
You can Emerge Positive!
Positively,
deanne
