Happy New Year!
This time of year is full of resolutions, goals, and good intentions, but how often has a New Year’s resolution been truly life-changing? How often has a goal filled the void we are trying to fill or led us to lasting fulfillment? I do not have the exact statistics on this, but they are not very high.
I am not anti-goal or anti-resolution. I actually like this time of year because it is a great reset and an opportunity to shift our focus. It is a reminder that no matter how bad the previous year was, we have an opportunity for a new one.
So how do we approach changing or developing ourselves in a way that actually lasts?
Many people set transactional goals. I want to run a 5K. I want to have this amount of followers. I want to have this amount of money in my bank account. I want to weigh this much or lift this much. None of these are inherently wrong or bad, but they are limiting and ultimately not fulfilling even if we achieve them.
Instead, we should focus on transformational goals. This is where identity comes into play. You want to transform yourself in a positive way that lasts. Instead of saying I want to run a 5K, it becomes I want to become a runner. Instead of wanting a certain amount of money, it becomes I want to become financially responsible and an investor. Instead of chasing random targets you may or may not reach, you become the type of person who naturally reaches them.
On December 31st, 2025 you were achieving the exact results you designed yourself to produce. A runner who runs a 5K in 21 minutes has trained hard enough to do that on that day. Now apply the same concept to your bank account, your relationships, your intellect, and your faith. Through your habits, discipline, and ambition you are exactly where you are. Whether that is good or bad is up to you.
If you are setting goals for a better 2026, the goal must be to transform yourself so you get different results. Essentially, transactional goals that do not come from true transformation will eventually take you right back to the previous December 31st. An example could be that you sacrifice and penny-pinch to hit a number in your bank account and then return to old spending and saving habits, nothing really changes and you end up back where you started. Real change flows from who you become.
In Faith
I recently finished a podcast with a good friend of mine who said his focus for 2026 is transformation. Ironically, I already had this topic planned for this newsletter so he unknowingly helped me finish and formulate it. He quoted Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” He goes into much more depth on the topic and you can find his content on TikTok at IdentityInChirstDaily.
This Bible verse goes much deeper but on the surface it tells us that transformation begins in the mind by changing the way we think and what we focus on. That is really all the mind can do. We choose our focus. We can focus on the person who cut us off in traffic and let it ruin our day because of how mad we got or we can be grateful there was not a wreck and pray they are okay and not in an emergency. We can choose to consume meaningless content or choose books, podcasts, and quality time with family. These things start with the mind.
In the Biblical context that Paul was writing in Romans, it means renewing your mind to focus on Jesus, the cross, and God’s purpose for us. This is the real transformation Paul is talking about. When we chase money, power, sex, fame, or comfort, we do not change. This is a transactional mindset of thinking that obtaining these worldly things will give us peace or joy. When we pursue a relationship with God, we are transformed which produces peace and joy.
Galatians 5:22 says that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. Second Timothy 1:7 says God gives us a spirit not of fear but of power, love, and self-control.
Before I renewed my focus on Jesus, the fruit of Camron (or the world) was anger, anxiety, depression, no self control, fear, insecurity, arrogance, and pride. Through the slow and painful process of renewing my mind, those fruits began to change. I am far from where I want to be in terms of faith, but I know I would not be who I am today without it.
Practical Application
Sometimes the Jesus/religious talk can seem vague or abstract but here is the the best advice I would give to anyone seeking transformation by renewing their mind. Start journaling. This is the one intentional transformational habit that helped me shift my mindset.
I have a journal by my bed and would write on these 3 things every night before falling asleep.
Grateful (what are you grateful for?) Write it out. It can be family in your life, you had a great meal, the weather was great, you talked to an old friend, you didi’t punch anyone at work this week. Anything. This is because you cant be grateful and miserable at the same time. You cant be grateful and resentful at the same time. You cant be grateful and angry at the same time.
Prayerful- What do you need to pray about? What are you specifically struggling with? What is on your mind that you cant seem to get out of your head? Pray that God acts on it. (but don't forget to think transformationally) Pray that God gives you the wisdom to know what to do about it, the courage to act on it, and the discipline to keep doing it. These are all biblical transformational traits that many people specifically pray for.
Focus- What is in your sphere of influence, meaning something you have power to change or focus on starting in the morning. Example Health. I would right I am focusing on my health so I am going to not drink any more sodas or swiich to zero sugar sodas. Or I am focusing on my relationship with my daughter I am going to spend some more time this week talking to her. Just by writing it down you have a much higher percent chance of actually doing it.
It sounds kind of weird and too simple but it truly worked for me.
Note* I don't like talking about myself too much in these but I also don't want to just write random thoughts on topics that I don’t believe in or applying in my life. This worked for me and took a long time but it truly lead to transformation. I do recommend other things like studying the Word, seeking mentors, consuming positive content on these topics but journaling made me much more intentional with my mind.
Wishing you a transformational 2026,
Cam