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New beginnings spark joy in both the brain and the heart.
Fresh starts aren’t just about change—they’re about discovering joy along the way. Whether marked by a new year, a life transition or a quiet internal shift, beginnings stir something hopeful. Science helps explain why. Faith reveals what that hope is for.
Researchers describe the “fresh start effect,” noting that temporal landmarks—like a new year, a birthday or even the start of a new week—help people mentally separate from past setbacks and re-engage with optimism and motivation. Novelty and goal-setting activate the brain’s reward system, making change feel motivating and achievable rather than overwhelming. In short, beginning again is not only emotional or symbolic—it is something the brain is wired to respond to.
New beginnings can prompt an honest look at habits—what may need to be released and what new rhythms could generate joy. Neuroscience shows this process is both possible and beneficial.
Neuroeducator Dr. Bonnie Robb explains, “New beginnings spark joy because they activate the brain’s reward system. They trigger the release of feel-good chemicals like dopamine—motivation and reward; serotonin—mood balance; and endorphins—pleasure. Trying something new also engages the brain’s curiosity and novelty circuits, which helps the brain rewire itself in positive ways.”
Thus, letting go of old habits and practicing new ones strengthens fresh neural pathways, while calming, life-giving practices help regulate the nervous system and support lasting change.
What science describes as rewiring and regulation, faith recognizes as renewal—an invitation to begin again with joy and hope. Scripture consistently frames new beginnings as God’s initiative rather than human effort.
“If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come,” Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17, pointing to transformation that reaches beyond behavior into identity. This renewal does not depend on perfect habits or flawless resolve, but on grace that restores, forgives and redirects life’s course. In Christ, starting again becomes more than a seasonal reset; it becomes a reorientation toward hope, purpose and joy rooted in God’s love.
Five gentle ways to practice beginning again
Renewal often takes shape through small, ordinary practices rather than dramatic change. As a new year unfolds, a few simple experiments may help create space for joy, rest and growth.
1. Spend time outdoors, without an agenda.
Time in nature has been shown to calm the nervous system and reduce stress, supporting both mental and physical well-being. A short walk, time near water, or simply noticing the natural world can offer a quiet reset amid busy routines.
2. Choose a word for the year.
Rather than setting resolutions, some find it helpful to hold a single word—such as “rest,” “trust” or “joy”—as a guiding focus. A word can offer direction without pressure. Sometimes the word will seemingly suggest itself, appearing spontaneously.
3. Engage Scripture in a manageable way.
Reading through the Bible in a year can feel daunting. Listening to a Bible-in-a-year podcast or focusing on one book at a time may offer a more sustainable rhythm.
4. Revisit a movement practice left behind.
Many exercise or movement routines fall away during the busy holiday season. Revisiting yoga, stretching, walking or another form of movement can enhance physical health and emotional regulation.
5. Try one new, nourishing habit each week.
Preparing a healthy recipe, adjusting a daily rhythm—like a morning routine—or experimenting with a new practice once a week keeps change rooted in curiosity rather than perfection. Neuroscience suggests novelty itself supports learning and motivation.
This call to begin again is not only personal, but communal, as Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, World President of Women’s Ministries, expressed in her 2026 New Year’s letter.
“We must cast off behaviors that don’t serve us or others well, and instead clothe ourselves in compassion, humility, patience and love,” she said, reflecting on Paul’s words in Colossians 3:9–17. “This is more than a personal choice or a kind gesture; this is the hard work of becoming a Jesus-centered community.”
She reminded readers that faith is lived out through everyday acts—“a text message to a struggling friend, a prayerful conversation over Bible study, or the faithful rhythms of care and service”—and that such contributions, though often quiet, are deeply valued and transformative. Renewal, then, is sustained not by individual resolve alone, but by encouragement shared and lived out together.
As 2026 unfolds, new beginnings need not arrive with pressure or sweeping resolutions. Change often starts quietly—with letting go of what no longer serves and practicing what brings life. Neuroscience affirms that small, repeated actions shape the brain over time, while faith reminds us that renewal unfolds through trust in God. Together, they point to a hopeful truth: beginning again is not a demand to become someone new overnight, but an invitation to grow—steadily, faithfully and with joy.
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