Discover why lasting transformation begins with identity—not willpower. In this powerful Episode 27 blog, Brenda unpacks the biblical and neuroscience-backed truth that your habits flow from the identity you believe about yourself. Learn how unhealed identity wounds shape your thoughts, emotions, and behavior patterns, and explore how God designed your brain to renew itself through truth. This article breaks down the spiritual principles behind mind renewal, reveals the role of the Reticular Activating System (RAS) in habit formation, and introduces The Identity Inventory™—a guided tool that helps you uncover lies, rewrite your God-given identity, and build habits that last. If you’re ready to step into 2026 with clarity, confidence, and a renewed mind, this blog will give you the hope and direction you need.

Why do we start the new year full of motivation, only to lose momentum a few weeks later? In this foundational post from Episode 26 of The Day One of Sobriety Podcast, discover the real reason New Year’s resolutions fail — and how neuroscience and biblical mind renewal work together to create lasting transformation. You’ll learn how fear, perfectionism, and old habit wiring shape your decisions, why your brain resists change, and how the Holy Spirit empowers you to renew your thinking from the inside out. If you’re ready to break old patterns, strengthen your identity in Christ, and step into 2026 with clarity and confidence, this guide will show you where to begin.

Excerpt for Blog Settings:  Discover how biblical gratitude rewires your brain, reduces anxiety, and restores emotional health using faith-based neuroscience and mind renewal tools.

In Part 2 of the People-Pleasing & Approval Addiction series, Brenda Kennison teaches how to establish healthy boundaries that protect your peace, honor your purpose, and retrain your brain for safety and freedom. You’ll discover the biblical foundations for boundary-setting, what neuroscience says about guilt and emotional regulation, and practical steps to communicate limits with love. This post  equips you to stop rescuing, start resting, and live from the identity God designed—free from approval-based living.

Are you constantly trying to make everyone happy — only to end up anxious, drained, and disconnected from your peace? In this powerful Day One of Sobriety blog, People-Pleasing & Approval Addiction: Break Free by Renewing Your Mind, you’ll discover the deeper reason behind approval addiction and how to break free from it through Scripture and neuroscience. Learn how to use the Catch–Shift–Thank–Release tool from 2 Corinthians 10:5 to take your thoughts captive, renew your mind, and rewire destructive thought loops. It’s time to stop chasing peace and start receiving it — because your worth was already settled by God.

Have you ever found yourself replaying a failure over and over, wondering why you can’t seem to get past it? Maybe you’ve whispered the words, “If only I hadn’t messed up…” Failure has a way of trying to define us—but what if God wants to refine us through it instead?

The truth is, our failures are not the end of the story—they’re often the beginning of transformation. Every mistake, setback, and regret can become an opportunity for growth when surrendered to God.

Break free from fear, conformity, and people-pleasing by learning how to live for God’s Kingdom with a renewed mind. Discover how Scripture and neuroscience work together to help you stand firm in your identity and shine your light in a dark world.

Have you ever been hurt by someone in church — a pastor, friend, or small group that didn’t show up when you needed them most? When that happens, it can shake your trust and make you wonder if community is even worth it. But what if healing from church hurt isn’t about walking away from people — it’s about allowing God to restore your heart and teach you how to trust again?

When was the last time you truly laughed—like belly-laughed until your sides hurt and tears filled your eyes? We often underestimate how powerful laughter really is. God designed it as both a release and a remedy, and science now confirms what Scripture declared thousands of years ago: “A merry heart does good like medicine.” (Proverbs 17:22)

In this post, we’ll explore how laughter heals your body, renews your mind, and restores your spirit. You’ll discover the science behind joy, the biblical foundation for emotional renewal, and practical ways to make laughter a daily part of your healing journey.

Learn how to renew your mind and discover your true identity in Christ. Explore the R.I.S.E. Method to overcome shame, self-doubt, and negative thinking.

Do you ever find yourself hurting so deeply that hope feels out of reach? Maybe the weight of rejection, loss, or fear makes it hard to believe things could ever change. Friend, I’ve been there. And what I discovered in that dark season is this: hope isn’t found in perfect circumstances. Hope is found in the Presence of God.

In this post, Brenda unpacks why worry feels so heavy and how both neuroscience and Scripture provide hope for freedom. You’ll learn what’s happening in your brain during a worry spiral, why your need for control fuels anxiety, and how God’s Word calls us to release fear into His hands. Most importantly, you’ll discover a four-step process to retrain your brain, redirect your thoughts, and receive God’s peace.

Do you ever find yourself standing in front of the pantry, not truly hungry but searching for comfort? Maybe it’s cookies, chips, or ice cream — not because your body needs fuel, but because your soul feels empty. You’re not alone. Stress eating is one of the most common ways people numb emotions. But friend, food can never fix what only God can fill.

The good news? There is freedom. By understanding the science of cravings and anchoring yourself in God’s Word, you can rewire your mind and heal the patterns that keep you stuck.

Have you ever caught yourself scrolling through social media and suddenly felt that knot in your chest? You see someone else’s highlight reel — their family, their career, their body — and suddenly your joy is gone. That’s the power of comparison. And here’s the truth: comparison doesn’t just steal your joy. It breeds anxiety, and when left unchecked, it gives the enemy a foothold in your mind and body.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the nation. Anxiety is the curse of the modern era — but unfortunately, it’s not a new trend. God knew we’d need help in this area, and that’s why His instruction manual for humanity, the Bible, includes hundreds, if not thousands, of verses that speak directly to stress, worry, and anxiety through commands, promises, warnings, and reminders of His care and provision.

The first day of fall is right around the corner. As the lazy days of summer fade, can you feel it? Life is already speeding up. Kids are back in school, calendars are filling fast, and the holiday season is only a few months away. The pace quickens—and if we’re not careful, so does our stress.

That’s why today’s post is all about rest—physical rest, soul rest, and spiritual rest. Here at Day One of Sobriety, we’re all about Mind Renewal Solutions that Break Destructive Habits. And rest is one of the most powerful solutions God has given us.

Have you ever wondered, “If I really have the Holy Spirit inside me, why don’t I feel it?”  

If so, you’re not alone. So many believers wrestle with that tension between what they’ve been taught and what they actually feel day to day. And here’s the good news: you don’t have to stay stuck in uncertainty. Today, I want to show you a foolproof way to renew your mind, anchor your heart, and walk in confidence with the Holy Spirit. It all comes down to three little words: Facts, Faith, and Feelings. 

Have you ever thought you were the teacher, only to realize God was actually teaching you? That’s exactly what happened to me in the passenger seat while teaching my teenage son to drive. I thought we were working on road safety, mirrors, and turn signals — but God was working on my trust issues.

Not all health risks are linked to your DNA or inherited from your parents.  In fact, a good number of health factors can be attributed to the quality of our thought life.  It’s true that “you are what you eat” – but the phrase “You are what you think” is taking center stage in today’s podcast.

Did you know that negative thinking can trigger physical symptoms like headaches, fatigue, digestive issues, muscle pain, and increase cardiovascular risk; and can fuel  emotional symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Addressing these thought patterns is crucial for maintaining both physical and mental health.

You control your mind, it doesn’t control you!  This means, you're also in the driver’s seat to direct a life of sickness or health.

We’re digging into what it means to have sobriety, which in its purest definition means a sound and well-balanced  mind.  You see, sobriety actually comes from the Greek word “sophron,” which refers to an unhurried and calm mind; a mind that has self-control.  That’s why sobriety is all about thinking and not drinking! 

Do you sometimes feel stuck as a Christian?  Is the “Sweet Life” with Jesus more sour than you’d like to admit? Do you look at believers with “unshakable faith” from a vantage point of shaking in your boots, wondering what they have that you don’t?  

I walked in those shaky boots for two decades before I discovered a consistent, unchanging, and unshakable God.  He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever.  I went from being ruled by my emotions to living a life fueled by faith.