The Finish Line Exercise

-By James W. Falcon, MSOL, CLSSBB

Original: February 23, 2023, 10:57am, EST | Updated May 3, 2023, 6:05am, EST

     Recently, I’ve provided some additional support to a few of my clients by way of a very simple but powerful visualization exercise that I call “The Finish Line.”  Generally speaking, I take time to carefully craft the overall goals with clients  very early in the coaching process.  Typically in the very first session.  It is a collaborative process.  A meticulous question & answer session that invites the client to share everything on their hearts & minds regarding the goal they’d like to pursue.  I get the answers to all the important questions about their goal.  From that session I convert that information into a roadmap that both the client and I will follow to reach the goal.  To really hammer the point home, I have the client complete the finish line exercise.  during the very first session.  This way we know the when, the where, the what, the how and the why.  In subsequent sessions I will collaborate with the client to flesh out milestone goals  as well as contingencies to ensure the client’s attainment success.

The Finish Line exercise invites clients to visualize themselves reaching their goal as if they have a photo finish snapshot of themselves breaking the tape like a track & field athlete might.  Except I dial up the experience considerably by asking the client to describe the “tape breaking” using each of their 5 senses. 

James W. Falcon, 2023

The Finish Line exercise invites clients to visualize themselves reaching their goal as if they have a photo finish snapshot of themselves breaking the tape like a track & field athlete might.  Except I dial up the experience considerably by asking the client to describe the “tape breaking” using each of their 5 senses.  The idea is allow the client to fully embrace the moment of victory through the use of detailed descriptive imagery.  These sessions tend to be extremely encouraging for clients because they not only embrace the possibility of actually accomplishing their goal, but they also literally craft their own outcome.  Again, this is a simple but powerful exercise that I developed after being exposed to the teaching of famed guru, author, speaker, Dr. Joe Dispenza.  It was the well of content of a discussion Dr. Dispenza had with YouTube channel host, life Coach Specialist, Russ Kyle in 2000 from which I drew  from to develop “the finish line exercise”.  In that exchange Dr. Dispenza made an extraordinarily powerful statement.  He said, “the best way to predict your future is to create it.  Not from the known but from the unknown”(Russ Kyle, 2000). 

…the best way to predict your future is to create it.  Not from the known but from the unknown.

The Life Coach Specialist Russ Kyle, 2020

As a coach, I help clients to attain their goals.  Connecting clients’ present states to their aspirations is a coach’s specialty as well as my passion.  In the exchange, Dr. Dispenza offers valuable, practical insight on how to control outcomes.  He outlined the process by asking “What thoughts do you want to fire and wire in your brain?  What behaviors do you want to demonstrate in one day? The act of rehearsing them mentally.  Closing your eyes and rehearsing the action [is vital]”(Russ Kyle, 2000).  Whatever the outcomes are that we hope to achieve, we can do so by creating a mental picture of the outcome and by revisiting that picture often. 

What behaviors do you want to demonstrate in one day? The act of rehearsing them mentally.  Closing your eyes and rehearsing the action[is vital]

The Life Coach Specialist Russ Kyle, 2020.

But nestled in Dr. Dispenza’s explanation is very powerful key to the process, and if you are not alert you might overlook this incredibly valuable gem.  Dr. Dispenza tells us that it is important that we are “present” during the process.  Being “present” is an aspect of a favorite practice and a very effective approach known as mindfulness.  Mindfulness invites us to anchor ourselves in the present though the information we absorb through our five senses. In order to anchor ourselves in any moment, we make a conscious decision to not be anxiety ridden about the future.  Nor be held captive by any aspect of our past so that we can fully engage & enjoy the moment we are in.  I acquired a certification in Mindfulness about a year and a half ago and I have to say, of all of the certifications I hold, it has been the most beneficial for me personally as well as professionally for my clients.  So combining the principles of mindfulness with rehearsing the imagine outcome are the core components of Dr. Dispenza’s “create your future process” as well as the basis for my “finish line exercise.”  In summary, we have so much more control over the future than we even realize. Be sure to involve all of your senses and rehearse the intended outcome often.  The coup de gras…

If you are truly present, the brain does not know the difference between what you are imagining and what you are experiencing in the 3D world.  So then you begin to install the neurological hardware in your brain to look like the event has already occurred.  Now your brain is no longer of record of the past, it’s a map to the future.  And if you keep doing it, priming it that way the hardware becomes a software program.

The Life Coach Specialist Russ Kyle, 2020

If you are truly present, the brain does not know the difference between what you are imagining and what you are experiencing in the 3D world.  So then you begin to install the neurological hardware in your brain to look like the event has already occurred.  Now your brain is no longer of record of the past, it’s a map to the future.  And if you keep doing it, priming it that way the hardware becomes a software program.”(Russ Kyle, 2000)

According to Dr. Dispenza combining these elements tricks the brain into processing the information as an experience rather than just as an aspiration.  In essence, we can create a mental impression on our brains that our bodies can’t help but to prefer much like plants lean toward the light in phototropism thereby exponentially increasing our goal attainment possibilities.

The Life Coach Specialist Russ Kyle, 2020.

     According to Dr. Dispenza combining these elements tricks the brain into processing the information as an experience rather than just as an aspiration.  In essence, we can create a mental impression on our brains that our bodies can’t help but to prefer much like plants lean toward the light in phototropism thereby exponentially increasing our goal attainment possibilities.

For more information on this topic or on any other coaching related topics use the contact information below to contact us today and/or to make an appointment.  Don’t forget to ask about our free 20-minute consultations.  Hope to hear from you soon.

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James W. Falcon is Certified Master Life Coach and holds certifications in 15 different areas, including a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt  He is also the founder & principal life coach of a New Horizon Life Coaching Products & Virtual Services a 5-Star coaching practice that provides coaching support for life, relationships, business and career related goal pursuits.  The practice is a subsidiary of his helps network, Encouragement Is Key, 2023.

Contact info:

James W. Falcon, MSOL, CLSSBB

email: Encouragementbydesign2020@gmail.com

Website: https://wp.me/P8RK91-2

Phone: 855.962.6324

References:

Dispenza, Dr. J. (2020). Life Coach Specialist Russ Kyle. Retrieved from YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeYwlXZiJyI&t=326s