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Nolan’s Life Coaching Self-Assessment

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Life Coaching Self-Assessment (in process…but I wanted to share the draft with anybody who wanted this information…)

–Dr. James Michael Nolan

   Life Coaching can focus on one specific dimension of life (“Career”, for example), but I find it useful to do a brief audit or survey of other dimensions of life as well. Sometimes one area can hold us back in others, or conversely, strength in one or more areas can help us leverage or create success in others.

This is a holistic view of Coaching. All the dimensions of our life affect the others. You know this stuff already, yet it helps to be reminded. For example:

  • Our new business plan can be impacted and impeded by both relationship problems and health problems
  • Feeling fit, connected, and loved can put us in a better position to find success in our work, and persevere through hard times
  • Feeling that our own work and life are meaningful, and that we are making the world a better place can help us tolerate financial setbacks, or living/working in a less than ideal environment
  • Living in your ideal environment (Honolulu, St. Pete, near the ocean, wherever) can inspire us to greater fitness, vitality, and motivation to find career success
  • Honoring our hobbies and passions by carving out time for them makes us more satisfied with life, overall, and more available in relationships, less resentful of our work, less burned out, more grounded and balanced

And on and on. Everything is connected. As Dr. Henry Leland, one of my professors at The Ohio State University used to say: “If you take a pee in the Panama Canal, the water rises at Coney Island.” Everything is connected in your life.

“Any Coaching Goals you want to pursue will be more achievable more quickly if the other dimensions of your life are going well.”

–Jim Nolan

A Thoughtful Overview of Your Life

I have identified the following major dimensions of life:

  • Relational
    • Romantic
    • Other Intimate
  • Financial
    • Current
    • Future
    • Prospects
  • Health/Fitness
    • Medical
    • Fitness/Good Shape
    • Exercise Regimens/Routines/Hobbies
  • Career/Job
  • Environmental/Geographical/Home/Space
    • Where you live (Country, state, city)
    • Mobility (ability to travel as much as you would like)
    • Home Environment
    • Work Environment
  • Sexual
  • Spiritual/Meaning/Religious/Existential
  • Social/Networking/Social Media Connections
  • Hobbies/Passions


 Nolan Self-Reflection Questionnaire

Below you will find some questions regarding each of the “Life Dimensions.” When answered honestly (and that may not be as easy as it sounds, since many people answer according to how they wish things were, or are in denial about how things actually are), they will help you get a sense of your level of satisfaction in each area. For each of the questions, without thinking too hard about it, assign a number from 1-10, with 1 being “Really Awful” and 10 being “Probably couldn’t be better.” (Feel free to write comments in addition to the number–that can be very helpful information for both of us…)

Relational

  1. If you have a primary romantic partner, how would you rate that relationship? _____
  2. If you have multiple romantic partners, how is that working for you? ______
  3. If you are not currently in a romantic relationship, how do you feel about that at this time? _____
  4. How do you feel about the number and quality of friendships in your life? ______
  5. How about the level of intimacy in those friendships? (Do you have people you can REALLY talk to about great things and not so great things in your life? Your hopes and fears? Do they really know you?) _____
  6. How are you feeling about your Family Relationships? _______
  7. If they are not so great, is that OK with you at this point in your life? _____
  8. How would you rate your overall network of connections (Intimate, casual, business, hobby-related, etc.)? _____

Comments about your responses to any of the “Relational” questions:

Financial

  1. Overall, how are you feeling about your financial situation? _____
  2. What is your level of confidence that you are, or can be in control of your financial fate, goals, aspirations? _____
  3. How do you feel about your short term _________, intermediate (next 2-3 years) _______and longer term financial goals? _________
  4. If you do not really have such financial plans or goals, will it be important for you to develop some? _____
  5. How do you feel about your current debt situation? _____
  6. How are you feeling about your financial situation related to “retirement”? _____

Comments about your responses to any of the “Financial” questions:

Spiritual/Meaning of Life/Life Satisfaction

  1. How do you feel about the role spirituality or religion play in your life at the current time? _____
  2. Do you have a philosophical belief and action system (Catholicism, Existentialism, Agnosticism, Hinduism, Law of Attraction, Shamanism, Judaism, etc) that works for you at this time in your life? _________
  3. How about the “level of meaning” in your life at the present time? (Do you feel like you are here to make a special contribution, or like you have a personal mission, or like you are part of something bigger than yourself?) _____
  4. How do you feel about your current level of creativity and creative expression? _____

Comments about your responses to any of the “Spiritual/Meaning of Life/Life Satisfaction” questions:

Health & Fitness

  1. How do you feel about your overall health? _____
  2. How do you feel about your physical fitness and activity level? _____
  3. How convinced are you that you have, or could develop, significant influence/control over your fitness and health? How’s that feel? _____
  4. How do you feel about your relationship with alcohol & drugs? _____

Sexual

  1. How do you feel about your current level of sexual activity? _____
  2. How do you feel about your ability to be a satisfying sexual partner? _____

Career/Job

  1. How do you feel about your current job(s)? _____
  2. How do you feel about your general occupational field? _____
  3. If you are unsatisfied with your job or the trajectory of your career, how do you feel about your READINESS to take action about it? _____

Social

  1. How do you feel about your overall network of social connections? _____
  2. Business connections (if applicable)? _____
  3. How do you feel about your network of connections and your current level of activity in social media? _____

Environmental

  1. This has several levels: How do you feel about your
    1. Office or work space? _____
    2. Living space? _____
    3. Neighborhood/town/state? _____
    4. Geographical location in general? _____
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