When your inner narrator says, “Nothing ever goes right for me,” it can feel honest—but that doesn’t mean it’s true. In this Core Convictions article, Christian counselor Adam Hoover unpacks common cognitive distortions (like overgeneralization, mental filtering, catastrophizing, personalization, “should” statements, and limiting beliefs) and how they grow from past wounds, family patterns, and core beliefs about yourself, others, and God. You’ll discover how your brain’s Reticular Activating System acts like a filter, why distorted thoughts feel so convincing, and a practical, Christ‑centered path—Stop, See, Sit With It, Sort It Out, Say It, Surrender It—to retrain your thoughts in light of a truer story

The Story We Live In

How narrative shapes our lives.

Core Beliefs Become the Theology of Our Hearts: Uncover hidden Core Beliefs shaping your emotions, choices, and faith.