This article is about finding the thing you love to do using a technique called the element wheel. I can’t really justify giving advice in this area, so take it as you please. The idea is simple; you think back to when you really enjoyed something you were doing, and pick out the characteristics that made it special. These characteristics eventually form the element wheel. Anything you do (or could do) that fulfils most of the features on your element wheel is a strong candidate for being your element.
This is inspired by the work of Dr Heidi Mack.
Step One – Finding the Characteristics
Think of a something you’ve done in the past that felt good. Maybe it’s something where you found flow easily, or was a task where you felt you had a natural talent or knack for. Write a short title for it in the middle of your page and draw a circle around it. Now try to think about the characteristics that made it so enjoyable. It’s important to identify characteristics that caused you to feel good rather than the feelings themselves. For each one, draw a line from the circle and write down a short description. Here’s a generic example;
When you’re done, go to a fresh page and start again with another event from the past. Draw a diagram in the same way that you did with the first, and repeat this process for as many different events you can think of – but only as many as you can clearly remember. This could take you ten minutes, or it could take you days of reflection. The most important thing is to be honest with yourself.
Step Two – Sorting the Characteristics
Now go through each diagram and list out the characteristics on a new page. If something gets repeated, put a tally next to it so you can keep track of how many times it came up. Once the first list is written, write a second one but this time be selective. Bundle together characteristics that are very similar or follow the same theme under a new decription, and ignore characteristics that don’t appear often. Keep the descriptions concise, summarising it in one or two words if possible. This second list is the one you need for step three.
Step Three – Drawing the Element Wheel
Now on a new page, draw a circle. Arrange the characteristics from step three evenly around the outside of the circle like numbers on a clock face separated by straight lines. Limit yourself to eight maximum. Your wheel might look something like this;
This is your element wheel. Hobbies, habits or jobs that could go in the centre of the wheel (they must fulfil most of the characteristics on the outside) are strong candidates for being your element. Spend some time thinking of options, trying to be unbiased as possible – the thing you love to do might have no clear link to your qualifications or educational history. What should become obvious from doing this is that there is no one perfect career, but a whole range of options.