The Six Components of Optimal Living…It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

But what exactly does it mean to live optimally?

The simplest definition of optimal living is to live your life to the fullest in every aspect of your life. And believe it or not, you have the power to live optimally!

This can be done, but you must first take some time for quiet introspection – look deeper into your soul and search for your real well-being.

We recognize this may be challenging for many, so in this article we discuss what CCF identifies as the six crucial components for every person’s happiness.

These six crucial components are:

1. Financial
2. Emotional
3. Physical
4. Spiritual
5. Professional &
6. Relationships

We are here to share insights on simple coaching methods to use while keeping these six components in mind. But before we get into that, let’s emphasize the universality of these six components, because no matter if you are a life coach, a business coach, or not even a coach at all, these six components will apply to you and your clients.

When you think about the Six Components of Optimal Living, imagine a wheel divided by six spokes. This is a foundational tool created by the CCF and used regularly by coaches certified with us, and we call it the CCF Wellness Wheel.

The CCF Wellness Wheel

Used by our coaches, and coaches certified by the CCF, the Wellness Wheel is a simple but effective tool when implemented correctly to understand and create goals with your clients.

Learning how to use this tool properly is taught in the CCF’s Certified Coach Practitioner training program.

Look at each spoke – or component – separately with your client. Your job is to guide your client, helping them rate themselves on where they believe they are now, and encouraging them to set expectations of where they would like to be within that specific component. Using a scale from 1 to 10 to rank each component, ask your client:

Why did you rate yourself that?

This question not only empowers your client but is crucial for understanding where your client views themselves currently within the Six Components of Optimal Living.

We, as coaches, must think about the universality of this. Let’s say you are a Business Coach – working with clients to navigate the intricacies of the corporate ladder or excelling in a new business endeavour. You’re probably thinking your clients won’t resonate with each and every component and on first glance, you may question the relevancy of some of the components.

But when you look deeper, perhaps your client is also going through a divorce, or is struggling to find their purpose, or maybe experiencing a transitional period in their life. Think about how these major events may influence his or her working and business capacity.

The six components of optimal living are universal for every being on this earth! Now that you understand that, no matter where your client is on their path – whether it be personally or professionally – all six components influence one another – and your client.

So, let’s dive deeper into using each of the six components in action!

Financial

Think about the main parts of this component – income and expenses. Your clients should know how much money is coming in and how much money is going out of the household. Without this information, the financial component is hard to grasp!

This information is important to know so you can map out an image of your clients’ financial landscape. Find out this information by asking inquisitive and curated questions. Remember – not everyone is comfortable talking about finances openly, so you must be patient.

After finding out, make sure to ask: how do you feel about that? This question will empower your client. This is the crucial question of the Six Components of Optimal Living. Maybe they rank themselves an eight or nine, even if they do not have savings, and that’s perfectly fine. Maybe they have an annual income of $1 million but they rank themselves at a two in the financial component. The ranking is not about using a dollar amount, rather it is getting to know your client and asking them about how they feel about their financial component, and why.

Emotional

When it comes to the Emotional component of the CCF’s Wellness Wheel, we are referring to self-awareness, understanding of others, and refilling your energy. This is an interesting component because you will likely get a variety of ratings based on the kinds of questions you ask your client.

As their coach, you must also ask the question: how are you going to refill your energy? This may include asking your client about their hobbies, if they enjoy nature or spending time with friends, or if she spends her time reading a good book. No matter what the answer is, it is important to acknowledge the ways your client will replenish their emotions.

Physical

What activities are your client doing to be in the shape that she wants to be in? Maybe your client is comfortable with their physique and rates themselves at a ten. Or perhaps your client is physically fit and athletic, but they rate themselves at a three. Whatever the answer, ask your clients why they rate themselves that way.

It is vital to consider overall health and account for potential diseases in the Physical component of the Wellness Wheel. Your client’s health is important!

What do they do to ensure they are prioritizing their health? Do they eat a clean diet? Do they exercise regularly? How healthy is their sleeping schedule? Are there other factors influencing your client’s physical component?

After asking questions like these, remember to reflect on their responses, and always ask: why.

Finding answers to these questions is the first step in setting up realistic expectations!

Spiritual

In a broad sense, spirituality refers to our sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves. It is not specific to religion or faith, or meditation. Rather it is all-encompassing. Spirituality can refer to your client’s connection to nature, or a higher sense of purpose, and each person’s spirituality can change based on life experiences.

If your client believes in God, ask them how they would rate their relationship with their faith. If they are an atheist, ask them how they connect themselves with a spiritual component. Does your client meditate? Do they believe in tarot? What is it that they do (or not do) to connect to their spirituality?

Maybe they don’t know much about their spiritual side. Make sure to ask: how do you rate your spiritual component: and follow that question up with another: what are your expectations and why?

Professional

Work takes up so much of our daily lives. We strive to be better, to make more money, to change lives through our work.

What is your client doing to align her personal life with her professional environment? How do they feel about their pay-cheque? Is it truly reflecting their skill? Do they feel as if they are growing in their career path, as a specialist in their field, or do they feel stuck in the same spot they were in two years ago?

If they are the manager of a great company but have been thinking about becoming an entrepreneur, they may rate their Professional component at a three, because the person really does not like her current professional state. Someone may be completely satisfied with their professional path but struggle with work-life balance, which may result in a lower rating.

These questions will help your clients find out more about themselves in their professional relationship. As always, the key question is: how do you feel about it?

Relationships

The Relationships component refers not only to intimate relationships, but those that are platonic, like professional acquaintanceships, friendships, and family relationships. Be sure to ask questions about how your client gets along with their family, or if they have a close group of friends, ask: how would you rate your relationships within every aspect of your life? 

Be a detective. What makes your client happy? What makes them sad? How do they feel about their relationships as a whole? Are they proud of how they coexist with others?

Make sure your client transmogrifies every bad aspect of her life. Sadness is energy. Happiness is energy. Be sure you turn sadness and negativity into positive energy that can be invested back into their relationships, their work, their emotional life, and even their financial component – every aspect of life.

When it comes to building a solid foundation and creating lasting rapport with you and your clients, understanding these Six Components of Optimal Living is the very first step!

Take care of your clients – they are the most important part of your business!

The CCF Wellness Wheel tool focuses on the Six Components of Optimal Living and how to use this tool in theory and in application – with your clients – is something our trainers teach in depth during our coach training programs.