Everyone is talking about goals right now. New habits. New plans. New resolutions.

But what if the most important thing to design for the New Year is not your goals, but your brain?

In this episode, Dr. Christopher K. Bray introduces a different way to think about the year ahead. Instead of focusing on what you want to accomplish in 2026, he explores how your daily pace, stress, attention, and recovery are quietly shaping the brain you will live with all year long. And why that matters more than most people realize.

Drawing on neuroscience and real-world examples from high performers, this conversation breaks down how small, often invisible choices train your brain for urgency, clarity, motivation, or exhaustion. You will learn why most people struggle, not because they lack discipline, but because they are designing the wrong conditions for their brain.

If you want a year where you feel more present, resilient, energized, and capable of pursuing what truly matters, this episode offers a powerful place to start. Not with another goal list, but with a simple shift in designing a brain for your success, happiness, and motivation in 2026.

Quotes by Dr. Bray

"Before you design your goals for 2026, design the brain you're going to live with all year."

"The question is not whether your brain will change next year—the question is whether you're shaping it on purpose."

"You're not just planning a year; you're shaping the brain that will live through it."

"A brain that lives in constant urgency struggles to connect deeply, even during happy moments."