Change Starts When You Decide It Does

Welcome back to Mind by Fire- As the year comes to a close, it’s natural to think about goals — what we set, what we reached, and what fell short.

Most conversations around goal setting focus on outcomes. Numbers. Milestones. Financial targets. Those things matter, but they only tell part of the story.

This year wasn’t only about what you achieved.
It was about how you responded.

How you handled pressure.
How you carried yourself through uncertainty.
How you showed up when progress wasn’t obvious.

Before rushing into a new year, this is a moment to take inventory.

Not to judge.
Not to declare resolutions.
Just to notice the systems you’ve been operating from — and whether they’re supporting the life you’re trying to build.

Brain-Based Insight

Goal setting is often framed as financial targets or external achievements. But goals don’t have to be transactional. They can be internal systems — how you respond under pressure, how quickly you recover, the energy you carry into difficult moments.

From a neurological perspective, goals are less about the outcome and more about the process your brain rehearses.

When someone believes they “can’t change,” the brain often stops searching. This isn’t a character flaw — it’s efficiency. The brain conserves energy by shutting down exploration when it predicts failure. No problem-solving. No opportunity scanning. Just avoidance.

When attention shifts from the problem to the solution, learning circuits stay active. Each time you choose a different response, regulate your energy, or pause before defaulting to an old pattern, you reinforce a new pathway.

That’s neuroplasticity in action!

Goals rooted in systems — not just results — teach the brain to seek solutions instead of confirming limitations. Over time, that repeated focus rewires what feels possible.

People don’t stay the same because they can’t change.
They stay the same because their brain stopped looking for another way.

Reset Ritual

As the year closes, take ten quiet minutes and do a simple inventory:

• Where did you respond differently than you would have in the past?
• What situations pulled you into the same reaction repeatedly?
• What energy did you carry most often — calm, rushed, guarded, intentional?

You’re not fixing anything yet.
You’re identifying what you’ve been practicing.

Awareness is the first lever of change.

Grounded Reflection

I’m not a believer in New Year’s resolutions.

A resolution is usually a goal set in advance, tied to a date on the calendar, and hoped into existence. That approach fails more often than we admit because change doesn’t start when the year changes — it starts when you decide it does.

If you have a goal, write it down. But don’t stop there.

Goals require systems. Systems require practice.

Saying “I want to get to work earlier” isn’t a plan. A system might look like going to bed earlier, waking up earlier, and eliminating the snooze button. Without those behaviors in place, the goal stays theoretical.

This is why goals fail more often than we realize — we’re not practicing the behaviors that make them achievable.

Real change happens when you focus on the process, not the declaration. When you build systems that support the person you’re trying to become, change stops relying on motivation and starts showing up consistently.

If this way of thinking resonates, I highly recommend Atomic Habits by James Clear. But don’t let it be another read. Put the ideas into practice.

Time will pass either way.
When you focus on change through systems, you live with intention.
And when you show up for yourself consistently, you improve how you show up in every area of your life.

Closing Note

Thank you for being part of this Mind by Fire journey.

I’ll continue learning about the nervous system and how it shows up in everyday life, and I’ll keep sharing what I learn as I apply it myself.

Mind by Fire returns on January 2nd with a Mind by Fire Friday recipe edition. The weekly newsletter resumes on January 4th.

I wish you a happy holiday. Be safe, take care of yourself, and come back ready to build with intention in the new year.

Mind by Fire will continue to grow next year with eBook releases, recipe projects, and branded seasonings — all in support of the Ignite Recovery mission and the sober living work behind it.

Thank you for being here.
We’ll pick the fire back up soon.

Disclaimer: This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.