How to Realistically Live in the End

Summary

Tim Grimes argues that “living in the end”—mentally experiencing a desired outcome as already real—can be difficult to sustain in everyday life. A brief visualization may create the feeling of having what you want, but doubts and practical problems can return. Rather than forcing yourself to stay positive or treating unwanted feelings as failure, Grimes recommends using the desired feeling as a starting point for curious, compassionate self-inquiry.

Drawing on Eugene Gendlin’s Focusing, Grimes describes a body-centered approach: notice how an imagined outcome feels physically, then pay attention to what arises when that feeling doesn’t last. Fear, doubt, or discomfort may reveal what feels unresolved or is getting in the way. Recognizing those feelings can itself bring a shift and help you find a more workable next step. Grimes also notes that visualization alone may not be enough; taking practical action toward a goal can help you move closer to it.

Strategies and Techniques

• Imagine the desired outcome and notice your body: Picture a situation in which the problem is resolved, then observe any physical changes, such as relaxing, exhaling, sitting taller, or feeling more energized.
• Use imagery to explore a feeling: Let an image form in your mind, then ask what it makes you feel. The image may help clarify a bodily “felt sense.”
• When a positive state fades, welcome what comes up: Instead of pushing away doubts or discomfort, keep your attention on them and ask what they feel like and what they may be telling you.
• Ask what it would feel like if the difficulty were resolved: Wait briefly for your body’s response. Notice the feeling and give yourself time to experience it.
• Work backward from the desired state: Treat the feeling you want as an answer, then ask, “What’s in the way of feeling this way?” Stay curious about whatever emerges.
• Avoid turning the practice into a demand: Grimes cautions against deciding that you must remain in a positive state at all times. A difficult feeling isn’t proof that you’re doing something wrong; it can be useful information.
• Pair imagination with practical steps: Grimes says that, for many people, taking action alongside visualization is more effective than relying on imagination alone.

Presenters and Sources

• Presenter: Tim Grimes
• Sources discussed: Eugene Gendlin, Focusing; Neville Goddard; Maxwell Maltz, Psycho-Cybernetics