Choose Renewal Over Resolutions to Live with Significance in 2026
by Warwick Fairfax
January 23, 2026
At the beginning of a new year, we often think of goals and objectives we want to accomplish in the 12 months ahead. They could be work objectives, health or relationship objectives. Goals and objectives can be helpful. But just focusing on specific targets or things we want to accomplish may lead us to overlook deeper questions. Who do we want to become? How do we want to show up?
As the year begins, we have the opportunity to ask ourselves some thought-provoking questions. Who do we want to be? What is important to us? What do we want to let go of? What do we want to do more of? What beliefs and values do we want to embrace more and live out more?
This is what renewal is. Shedding what does not serve us and holds us back and embracing that which helps us move forward and become more of who we were intended to be.
So let’s talk about how we become more authentically who we want to be, and in that sense experience renewal.
1. Put aside for now defining specific goals and objectives for the year. That may come later. Let’s first look at the deeper issues before getting into metrics, focusing more on who you want to become. Without doing some soul work first, there will be a tendency to have goals and objectives that continue the path you are on.
2. Ask yourself whether anything is holding you back. It could be resentment and anger over past relationships. It could be about failure or things that were done to you. You might have a hard time moving forward, because you find yourself often dwelling on the pain, anger and resentments of the past.
3. Forgive and move on. As has been said, that which does not serve you, you should consider letting go. Forgive past hurts, either forgiving yourself or forgiving others (which does not mean condoning). The past is in the rear-view mirror. Focus forward, and stop ruminating and regretting past mistakes and failures.
4. Consider your beliefs and values. What would your life look like if you were fully living in light of them? How would that affect your career and vocational path? How would that affect your relationships and family? How would that affect how you show up in the world?
5. Evaluate how far away you are from living a life that is fully in line with your beliefs and values. Be honest. Ask friends and family what they think. Ask them to be honest.
6. Do something about it. We have one life to live, one legacy to leave. Let’s make our life count and leave a legacy that our family and friends will be proud of. Maybe that means changing your career path. Maybe that means staying in your current career, but showing up very differently, treating those you work with and for differently than before. Maybe that means paying more attention to your family and friends and your close relationships. This might mean prioritizing your family, which could have career- limiting consequences. So be it, if that’s what is important to you. To do otherwise is not living a life in line with your beliefs and values.
7. Now you are ready to set goals and objectives. But these may well be different than before. They will focus on measuring how you are becoming more of who you feel called to be. So, for instance, if you want to prioritize family more, start measuring how many sports games and other activities you were present at in a given week or month. What is the pattern? Were you present for your family, or were you traveling for work most of the month, just like you did the month before?
Life is more about becoming than about doing. Joy and fulfillment come from fully living a life in light of your beliefs and values, and becoming the person you were always intended to be and were called to be. Achieving specific career and monetary objectives may give you pleasure for a time, but it does not last. That kind of joy fades and we fall into the illusion that the next promotion or the next monetary level will make us happy. It never does, not in the lasting sense.
Joy and fulfillment come more from living in light of your values and beliefs. At Beyond The Crucible we believe joy and fulfillment come from living a life of significance, a life on purpose dedicated to serving others. It comes from seeing someone you work with grow and achieve their dreams. It comes from loving and supporting our family members. It comes from making an impact for good in the world, no matter how large or small. It comes from laying your head down at night and saying to yourself that today was a good day. I helped someone. I encouraged someone. I made a difference.
That is where true joy and fulfillment comes from. It comes from immense gratitude for the journey of helping others and fully living who you want to be. Some days will be easier than others. Some days we will feel like we really made a difference. Some days we will think we did not do much to help anyone or have an impact. But overall we will feel that we are doing our utmost to live in light of our values and beliefs and in some way to make the world a better place. That is enough. We can be immensely grateful for the journey we are on, and for those who are spiritual or look to a higher power, we feel grateful to God or however we see eternity for the journey we are on.
This is what a life of significance is all about.
Reflection
1. Ask yourself who you want to become. If you were fully living in light of your values and beliefs, what would that look like?
2. What do you need to do less of, and be less of; and what do you need to do more of and be more like to live a legacy that your friends and family would be proud of?
3. Just do it! Set some goals and targets that focus more on who you want to become in your career and vocation and in your family and relationships. Celebrate each small win as you become more of who you were always intended to be.
Are you ready to move from trials to triumphs? Then join us on the journey today. Take our free Beyond the Crucible Trials-to-Triumphs Self-Assessment.
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