With a short internet search, you could find a myriad of self-assessment questionnaires that would help you rate the different dimensions of wellness and give you a picture of how balanced you are, and what your strengths and weaknesses are.  I’m going to show you how to figure this out for yourself, without taking a single quiz.

First, complete these “stretching” exercises for each Purpose (remember, this is an area of yourself that put together forms the complete you):

Physical Purpose

Take a deep breath and stretch your body.  Remember to take ten minute stretch breaks every hour of seated activity.

Inner Purpose

The Inner Purpose stays mostly below the surface - it's subconscious and instinctual. To stretch it, we'll do a familiar activity you might not have done since elementary school. Get a blank piece of paper and colorful drawing pens, crayons, markers, or pencils. Now get ready to put a favorite song of yours on your stereo or headphones. Set yourself up somewhere you won't be distracted or interrupted for the length of the song. Listen to the song, and while it's playing, draw how the song sounds to you, but do not think! Not at all!

Take a look at your drawing. Can you "see" the different emotions that the song evoked for you?

Analytical Purpose

Curiosity is the key to a balanced Analytical Purpose - questioning our basic assumptions. I'm going to give you a phrase you would probably never question. Look at the phrase, and then question it. How do I know this? Can I really know it? What would the world be like if this wasn't true?

Here's the phrase: Gravity keeps us tied to the Earth.

What kinds of discoveries did you make questioning this? Was it easy, hard, confusing?

Relational Purpose

Do you love yourself? We're going to work on that now. It really is true that you have to love yourself first. Think of something you did today that you'd like to do-over or take back. Let's start with a small thing (we're just stretching now, after all). Now forgive yourself. Say, "I forgive myself for (...)" Keep saying it until you believe it.

How many times did you have to say it? What was stopping you from believing it?

External Purpose

Exercising gratitude helps keep things in perspective and keeps us on track of fulfilling pursuits.

Think of three things about a group you interact with that you are grateful for. Who can you share this with? Send them an email, IM, phone call and let them know. It can be very simple "Thank you for listening." or "Thank you for helping." or even just "Thank you."

Higher Purpose

The Higher Purpose asks the Big questions like "Why am I here?" and "What is my purpose?" Some people find it more comfortable to ask these questions and get answers in the arena of an organized religion or spirituality. It's okay if you do that, or if you search on your own.

To stretch the Higher Purpose, try to just be with yourself for a few minutes. This can be very difficult as our other Purposes like to be heard. Find a comfortable quiet spot, where you won't be interrupted. You can close your eyes, or focus on a single point, whichever works best for you. As other thoughts, feelings or sensations come into your awareness, notice and acknowledge them, but don't give more attention to them. They will still be there later and you can attend to them then.

How long were you able to spend just with yourself? Did you have many racing thoughts? How did you feel after?

Reflective Purpose

The Reflective Purpose is our tool for self-discovery. You may already have a practice for this if you have ever kept a journal. Tomorrow morning on waking, write for five to ten minutes (writing by hand is more effective than typing). You can write whatever you like; summaries of your dreams, nonsense poetry, even a to-do list. The point is to develop a habit of starting the day with a cleansing purge.

Now that you’ve completed these stretching exercises, take a moment to reflect on which ones you liked best, which were uncomfortable, and which you’d rather not do again. You’ve just made your own wellness assessment! The Purposes that are awkward or unpleasant are the areas that need nurturing and development.