Choose Renewal Over Resolutions in 2026

Welcome to Beyond the Crucible, I’m Warwick Fairfax, the founder of Beyond the Crucible. When we talk about the new year, we talk about renewal and restoration, it’s so important. Goals and objectives are fine but start with who do I authentically want to be, how do I want to show up in the world, how do I want to make a difference at home or at work.

Gary Schneeberger:

Renewal and restoration, those are the things to focus on not resolutions as a new year begins. That’s what we discuss this week as we take a deep dive into Warwick’s latest blog at beyondthecrucible.com The key to arriving at this more helpful destination to recharge our lives in 2026 involves such strategic actions as asking yourself if anything is holding you back, considering your beliefs and values and then, and only then, adding specific goals and objectives, that’s what will fuel your journey to a life of significance. Welcome, friends, to this episode of Beyond the Crucible. This is, I’m going to add this in here, it begins the wind down, the kickdown, the clock’s ticking, the ball’s dropping to our 300th episode, we’re not there yet but it’s coming soon and you’re going to like it. I think you’re going to like it, that milestone 300th episode. But this episode is another one of those that we do where Warwick and I discuss his most recent blog at https://www.google.com/search?q=beyondecrucible.com. And this blog, you might say, allowed you to really dial into renewal as we begin 2026, right?

Warwick Fairfax:

Absolutely, Gary. And the reason I focused on renewal and restoration as opposed to resolutions—and they’re fine, there’s nothing wrong with them—but often we start with the “what” and the “how.” “I’m going to run five miles a day,” “I’m going to eat less sugar,” “I’m going to work harder to get that promotion.” All fine, but they’re often external. What I find is that if we don’t start with the “who”—who are we, what do we value, what is our purpose—then those resolutions often fail because they’re not grounded in anything substantive. Renewal is about looking at the foundation. Is the foundation cracked? Does it need some work? Restoration is bringing back what was intended to be there in the first place. It’s a much more profound way to start a year than just a checklist of things to do.

Gary Schneeberger:

And you talk in the blog about three strategic actions, three reflection points. The first one you mentioned is asking yourself if anything is holding you back. This isn’t just about physical habits; it’s about the internal landscape, isn’t it? It’s about those crucibles that might still be casting a shadow or those limiting beliefs we carry around.

Warwick Fairfax:

Exactly. We all carry baggage. Some of it is from recent crucibles, some of it is from childhood. If you don’t acknowledge what’s holding you back—be it fear, a lack of forgiveness, or a belief that you’re not “enough”—then no amount of goal-setting is going to fix that. You have to clear the ground before you can build something new. That’s the first step of renewal: what do I need to let go of? What weights am I carrying that are preventing me from running the race I’m meant to run?

Gary Schneeberger:

The second point you make is considering your beliefs and values. This is the “who” you were talking about. In the blog, you emphasize that these aren’t just words on a page; they’re the compass for your life. If your goals aren’t aligned with your values, you’ll feel a sense of friction even if you’re “successful” by the world’s standards.

Warwick Fairfax:

That friction is a clear sign of a lack of alignment. If I value family but my goals are all about working 80 hours a week to get a title, I’m going to be miserable. Part of renewal is checking that compass. Are my values still what I think they are? Have I drifted? To live a life of significance, your actions must be an extension of your core beliefs. When they are, you have a natural energy and peace because you’re living authentically.

Gary Schneeberger:

And then the third point, which you summarized as “just do it,” but with a twist. It’s not just blind action; it’s action focused on who you want to become. You mentioned celebrating small wins. Why is that small-win mentality so important in this journey of restoration?

Warwick Fairfax:

Because restoration is a process, not an event. If you’re restoring an old house or a classic car, you don’t do it in an afternoon. You celebrate when the engine starts, or when the first room is painted. It’s the same with our lives. If you want to become a more patient person, or a more present leader, celebrate the one conversation where you actually listened instead of interrupting. Those small wins build momentum. They prove to you that change is possible and that you are becoming more of who you were always intended to be. That’s a great place to put a bow on the package that is this episode of Beyond the Crucible.

Gary Schneeberger:

Folks, we will be back with you next week with more stories of folks who have gone through crucibles, bounced back from crucibles and are now living that great destination we love talking about and that is a life of significance.

Warwick Fairfax:

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