The Spiritual Root of Your Self-Doubt (And a Science-Backed Way to Fight Back)
Have you ever felt like you're living with a constant, low-grade hum of self-doubt? It's not a loud noise, but a persistent feeling that makes you second-guess every decision. You have a conversation, and for hours—or even days—you replay it, analyzing every word.
It’s that exhausting feeling that you can't quite trust your own judgment. You have years of experience and intuition, but a voice still whispers, “But are you sure?”
If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Welcome to NOGTs—where we use the evidence of science to confirm the promises of Scripture. I’m Keji, and today we’re going to build our very own ‘Distortion Detector’ to find a clearer signal.
The Ancient Question Behind Your Modern Anxiety
To understand this pattern, we have to go back to the very beginning. The first weapon ever deployed against human peace wasn't a sword; it was a simple, disarming question.
In the book of Genesis, the serpent didn't challenge God's power. It challenged God's Word.
The serpent came and asked, “Did God really say...?”
— Genesis 3:1
Think about the profound strategy here. The goal wasn't to overwhelm, but to introduce a seed of doubt. To make someone question the reality they had known. This was the original gaslighting—a subtle poisoning of perception designed to make you feel unstable and unsure.
That constant second-guessing you feel isn't a flaw in your personality. It’s the echo of an age-old tactic designed to disconnect you from your own conviction.
The Audit: How to Catch the Question
This ancient echo shows up in our modern lives as that familiar hum of anxiety. It's the free-floating worry we can't always trace back to a specific cause. But it almost always begins with a modern version of that same, ancient question.
When you’re up late worrying about finances, the question is, “Did God really say you’ll be provided for?”
When you’re consumed by social anxiety, the whisper is, “Did God really say you are worthy of belonging?”
When you fear the future, the question is, “Did God really say you have a hope and a purpose?”
The enemy's strategy has never changed. The absolute key is this: you have to catch the question before it becomes a belief. A question is light and fleeting. A belief is heavy; it takes root. Our work is to intervene in that critical space.
A Practical Framework: Collecting NOGTs
So, how do we practically perform this mental audit? We can implement a powerful daily practice: collecting NOGTs (your News of Good Things).
This isn't about pretending problems don't exist. It's about making a conscious choice not to let the distorted news of fear be the only news you consume.
When the question of your competence arises at work, you intentionally bring a NOGT to mind. This ‘nugget of truth’ could be a past success, a compliment from a colleague, or a skill you know you've mastered. You are presenting evidence to counter the doubt.
This practice rewires your attention and trains your mind to seek and validate the truth.
Your Tool for the Journey
Hearing this concept is one thing, but putting it into practice is another. I’ve created a free resource to help you do just that.
The Distortion Detector Starter Kit is a Notion template that includes a 3-step Audit Worksheet and a 7-Day NOGTs Kickstart Journal. It’s a private, practical space to start this transformative work.
The Science of a Clearer Signal: Faith and Neuroscience Agree
This process of catching questions and focusing on the good isn't just wishful thinking; it's grounded in decades of solid psychological research.
The entire framework is a practical way of applying the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which teaches that our feelings are driven by our thoughts. The negative whispers we hear are what researchers call cognitive distortions. When we learn to spot them, we take back our power.
Furthermore, the practice of collecting NOGTs does something remarkable inside your brain through a process called neuroplasticity. This means your brain is not fixed. Every time you consciously dismiss a distorted thought and focus on a NOGT, you are physically strengthening the neural pathways associated with peace and confidence.
You are literally carving a new, healthier mental trail.
Ready to Go Deeper?
This practice helps you win the daily battles. But what if you could build a core identity so rooted in truth that these questions have nothing to latch onto?
That is the entire mission of my upcoming book, Designed for Good.
This book is the deep dive into the overwhelming theological and scientific evidence that your existence is a deliberate, powerful design. It's the ultimate answer to that ancient question, "Did God really say...?"
➡️ Click here to get Chapter 1 for FREE and join the exclusive waitlist!
Your Path to Clarity
That cycle of overthinking and self-doubt is not your identity. It is simply a well-worn strategy being used against your peace. But you are not powerless.
This isn't just a spiritual exercise; it's a mental one, backed by sound science. The next time you feel that wave of anxiety, pause and ask yourself: What is the question being whispered to me right now?
Once you’ve identified it, gently introduce a NOGT. Find one piece of good news to hold in your mind. Know that as you do, you are actively participating in the renewal of your own mind.
Your mind is a garden; tend it with care.
And that is your NOGTs, your News of Good Things! Remember, God’s word is the truth, and the truth is a foundation. Now, go and build something beautiful on it.
