Set Your Mindset for Your Mission with BRAIN Goals
Self-Brain Surgery™ to get your mind right for next year
We’re getting close to the end of the year. We’ll be talking about Christmas in next week’s letter, but since most of us will start thinking about how 2024 played out and what we’re looking for in 2025, I wanted to give you a framework for how to achieve a higher level of satisfaction, performance, and success for whatever you feel called to next year.
The truth is that most of us do not fail to achieve our dreams or goals because of outside resistance or calamity. If we’re honest, the biggest reason for the gap between where we are and where we want to be comes down to our habits and discipline. Here’s an Instagram post from a few months ago where I talked about this idea.
So how do we close the gap? We’ll be learning the neuroscience and self-brain surgery techniques each week here and on the podcast to develop better habits and improve our discipline. But setting the right kinds of goals is crucial too.
As we approach the end of this year, it’s time to set our sights on something bigger. I’m not talking about vague resolutions we’ll forget by February. This is about crafting goals that matter—goals that have the power to change your life and ripple out to impact others in meaningful ways. If next year is going to be your breakthrough, it starts now, with BRAIN goals: Bold, Relevant, Actionable, Important, and Nurturing.
Bold: Breakthroughs don’t come from playing it safe. The human brain thrives on challenge and novelty, which means your goals need to stretch you. As Ephesians 3:20 reminds us, God is able to do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”
Ask yourself, “What would excite me to the point that I can’t wait to start?” Maybe it’s training for that 5K you’ve always dreamed of, writing the book you’ve been putting off, or starting a business that scares and excites you in equal measure. Bold doesn’t mean reckless; it means daring to dream beyond your comfort zone, trusting that God’s strength will guide you and your mind and brain will come through for you.
Relevant: Your goals should align with your values, priorities, and purpose. When your goals are relevant to what truly matters to you, you’ll stay motivated to achieve them. Neuroscience tells us that meaningful goals are more likely to engage our attention and commitment.
Reflect: Does this goal serve the person I want to become? Does it align with my calling, mission, and values? Proverbs 16:3 reminds us, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
Actionable: Goals without action plans are just wishes, and goals that are so impossible as to be inactionable will just frustrate you. Your BRAIN goals need clear, specific steps. This is where you break it down. Don’t just say, “I want to get healthy.” Instead, decide: “I will walk for 30 minutes five times a week, cut out soda, and prioritize sleep.” Specificity activates the brain’s reward system, turning intentions into momentum. Each small win builds toward your larger breakthrough. James 2:17 reminds us that “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Action is where transformation begins.
Journaling is a helpful tool to specifically lay out your BRAIN goals, the action steps you need to reach them, and keep track of your progress. I use this PRODUCTIVE WEEKS planner* to map out my projects, podcasts, and books. I used it every day in 2024 as I sketched out and wrote my upcoming book, The Self-Brain Surgery Handbook.
I’ve created a free BRAIN Goals™ Guide for you! It will help you align your mindset to your mission and set goals to make 2025 your best year yet!
Important: Not all goals are created equal. Some matter more than others. The most powerful goals align with your core values and address what’s truly important in your life. What’s going to make the biggest impact for your health, relationships, or purpose? Focus on what matters most, not what looks impressive on social media. Matthew 6:33 advises us to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Align your goals with God’s priorities for your life.
Nurturing: The best goals aren’t just about you; they’re about adding value to the world around you. When we improve ourselves, we become more effective for others—as leaders, friends, parents, spouses, and servants of God. What if your goal wasn’t just to grow yourself but to grow others? Maybe you’ll volunteer, mentor, or start that nonprofit like our friend Tommy Walker did.
Self-improvement enhances your capacity to bless others and fulfill your purpose in God’s kingdom and the world. Neuroscience shows that acts of kindness and service boost our own well-being through the release of oxytocin and serotonin. As Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
The beauty of BRAIN goals is how they activate the mind’s incredible design. Boldness sparks creativity. Relevance keeps us on mission. Action drives results. Importance fuels commitment. And nurturing connects us to something bigger than ourselves. These principles align perfectly with God’s call for us to live abundant, purpose-driven lives.
So, as you look toward the new year, take a moment to reflect. What bold, realistic, actionable, important, and nurturing goals can you set for yourself? Write them down. Share them with someone who can hold you accountable. Then start today with that first small step.
Next year can be your breakthrough—not because you hope it will be, but because you’re ready to make it so, trusting in God’s power to guide you every step of the way.
Try this self-brain surgery operation of setting BRAIN goals for 2025, and let us know how what you’re focusing on by leaving a comment below.
You can also share your self-brain surgery story with us to inspire others on their journey to a happier, healthier holiday season.
Your story can inspire someone else to take the first step toward transformation. If self-brain surgery has impacted you, please share your testimonial with us. Together, we can spread hope and healing.
Share this message with someone who needs encouragement this holiday season, and let’s spread the joy and wonder of Christmas together.
We’re going all in on believing that we have the tools to change our minds and change our lives. Living from a mind-down perspective changes everything, and it helps us harness the transforming changes to our lives that the Bible promises in Romans 12.
And the good news is, you can start today.
Be sure to check out last week’s letter if you missed it!
If you need a treatment plan to help you overcome any kind of trauma, tragedy, or massive thing in your life, check out my latest book, Hope Is the First Dose. And if you’re looking for something else to read, here’s a list of some of the best books I read this year*.
Lisa and I are praying for you.
Dum spiro spero (While I breathe, I hope),
Lee
Psalm 71:14 ("As for me, I will always have hope.")
From the banks of the North Platte river on Moon River Ranch in Nebraska, USA
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This week’s newsletter is sponsored by Adapt Naturals.
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