Ep. 146 - David Consiglio - Remember When

[00:00:09] Welcome to Mental Toughness with Dr. Rob Bell. Each week, Dr. Rob sits down with athletes, executives and expert coaches to talk about mental toughness and their hinge moment. Here's your host, Dr. Rob. Again, I can sympathize with the professional athlete or any athlete out there in the

[00:00:45] sense of like how much you love. I hesitate to say the word love, but if you love the sport or if you love your job, I highly suggest you push the brakes, hit the pause button and really figure out what you love about it.

[00:01:03] You know, is it the fact that you bring God along with you, that you make him a part of your daily process? Is it because you can see him working in your life or do you love it because you love sports? You love competition. You love championships.

[00:01:20] Dr. Rob Bell Our guest today on the Mental Toughness Podcast, he played football. He was a linebacker at University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. He's been a strength coach for many years and he was a strength coach in no particular order here, but he was at Grambling State.

[00:02:27] He was at Arizona State, Upper Iowa. We spent time at Western Kentucky University, Western Illinois, UAB and then most recently Missouri State. Our guest today is a father of three, Kayla Cameron and Jaden, wife is Kelsey. He has a podcast. It's called Powerless Yet Unstoppable.

[00:02:52] It's also the name of his book and our guest today excited about this is Coach David Consiglio. David, my man, thanks for joining us, bud. Yes, sir. I appreciate you having me. It's been a blessing to get to know you.

[00:03:06] We had you on our podcast a couple of weeks ago and love what you guys are all about and just any opportunity we have to tell others about Christ and what he's done in our lives and just build this kingdom. That's what we're all about sharing God's story.

[00:03:20] So I appreciate you having me on. I really do. Dr. Rob Bell Now you're on the other side of the mic though, Coach. Dr. David Consiglio Right. Well, but that's the thing.

[00:03:29] You were on the other side a couple of weeks ago and even coming into this, you and I were sitting down kind of logistics and we're like, what are we talking about, man? Let's just hit record and see what happens.

[00:03:40] So yeah, man, it's awesome when you get to especially when you get to podcast hosts that come together. It just kind of works magical. It's it's fine music put together if you know what I mean with let's talk about

[00:03:55] strength coach part first because I do want to talk about that. I mean, all the different stops. So what is one thing about being a strength coach at all these different places that the majority of people just wouldn't understand or they just kind of wouldn't get?

[00:04:09] Dr. David Consiglio It's got to be the relationships. Hands down it's got to be the relationships. I think, you know, for me, I just, you know, my why in the strength coach, I dropped out of high school a little bit.

[00:04:23] Long story short had a couple of D2 offers on my senior year, but I had confessions didn't play in my final football game of the playoffs semi finals of state. That crushed me and the offers were pulled off the table.

[00:04:36] So I'm like, skip them just gonna go work for my brother, join the military. And I had a coach Jim Catalano. He was my science teacher also my db coach. And about two months into me dropping out, he called me on the phone

[00:04:49] and I let it go to voicemail because I saw him the caller ID was him. And I knew he said, David, get your butt back up here. I'm coming to get you.

[00:04:58] And I met with him and so he got me on a path so I could get to tech school, transfer in, get my grades back up and then transfer into Oshkosh and play four years because he knew I wanted to play football and I wanted to coach.

[00:05:11] And I knew leaving that meeting that it just sparked something in me that I wanted to do what he did for me for someone else. And maybe not in that exact context of, you know, but just pointing them

[00:05:24] in the right direction, giving them some mentorship, being a shoulder to lean on. Someone to rely on. I mean, he was like, he was like an extended father or brother or friend all in one. And I really, I just cherish that relationship.

[00:05:40] So I would say that it's definitely the relationships. I'm a very competitive person. I love sports in general. I love competing. It's almost a it's a blessing, but it can also become a curse of mind because I love winning so much.

[00:05:57] But when you boil it down, it's definitely the relationships. Every place I've been just building those relationships with the student athletes, the coaches, the trainers, parents. I mean, that's why God put us on this earth together. It's to be in community.

[00:06:14] And for me, you know, you hear coaches talk about like, you know, football and sports being being a developer of culture, of of habits, of details, of all the intangibles that sports do. But if you've never been involved in a sport, you really don't understand

[00:06:34] the family aspect of it. And I mean, especially in college, you know, you've got kids coming from all over the country to one specific spot. And for all the places I've been, I mean, I've met some tremendous people and it would hands down be the relationships.

[00:06:53] It's it's one thing, you know, even when I was done playing in college in high school, I missed the team. I missed the camaraderie. And, you know, it's one of those things I'm spoiled when you're a coach. Sometimes we tend to take those things for granted.

[00:07:07] But I'll be honest, I've been on the sidelines for the past couple months. And it's really open my eyes to appreciate being a part of a family, that family atmosphere, the common bond between a team. And that's definitely hands down what makes it special.

[00:07:25] Yeah. So you alluded to it and I was going to be one of my questions coming up. But I mean, you dropped out of high school for six months. Talk to us about that experience and what was going on in your life at the time

[00:07:36] and the emotional part with it. Yeah, no doubt. It's like I said, I was I mean, I'm so my parents got divorced when they separately got divorced when I was two. So I've always kind of battled a little bit of depression and sadness

[00:07:51] when, you know, you visit dad and then have to say goodbye and then go. How far apart were they? Like, but it was about an hour and a half. OK, so that's enough. Yeah. Yeah. So it was it was Appleton, Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

[00:08:07] And it was it was I'll never forget those Friday. Friday evenings getting picked up was like the next best thing. And then Sundays come and it's just, you know, I just hated that tug back and forth.

[00:08:19] So I say, I've always I've always kind of had a little sadness in my heart. But like at the end of the football season, when when this is the other thing you asked about what's special about coaching, people don't understand it unless you're in it.

[00:08:32] But at the end of a season, there's there's a lull. There's a there's a loneliness. There's kind of, you know, here in professional sports with athletes that when they retire, they struggle with what to do. It's because they've had a schedule. They've had a routine.

[00:08:48] They've had things to do. So I say that in high school, you know, I had these plants that will play college football. I had a couple of the two offers. I was excited and then I got hurt, had concussions, couldn't play in my final season, final game.

[00:09:03] And it just kind of all imploded on me. And then at the end, it was like, that's it. I'll never be able to play high school football again. And there was a void and I was trying to fill that void with, OK, let's just go to work.

[00:09:18] Let's get our mind off of it and stay busy. Anybody that knows me, I do better when I just stay busy. It doesn't matter what it is, but if I have too much downtime, I go crazy. I overthink things, overanalyze things.

[00:09:31] And I just I wanted to get life going. So I was like, I'm done with school, done with it. I'm going to move on. You know, I was pretty bitter and, you know, pissed off at the world. Question.

[00:09:44] So take us back to that moment because again, that was it wasn't God's voice saying, hey, man, you should drop out. Like what what was the ultimate part of saying? Yeah, man, that's it. I'm out. I honestly, I mean, one, it was selfish, but two, it was,

[00:10:02] you know, again, just being bitter, being pissed off, being frustrated. You know, I had always got it. What were you pissed off at exactly? You know, just not having that extra opportunity. I think being, like I said, loving sports, right?

[00:10:16] Football, high school played football, loved football, loved sports. And then it just violently comes to an end and abrupt end. And instead of me, you know, looking at the issue or relying on my faith. Here's the other thing. I had my faith.

[00:10:33] I was saved, but I wasn't truly relying on God to see me through. I saw this big obstacle in my way and I said, OK, I'm just going to take the first way out, which instead of trying to look around it or find other

[00:10:48] opportunities, well, my brother's got a construction job. I can make great money right away or I can join the military. I'm tough. I'm rough. I can do this. And you know, my coach said he's like with all due respect, he's like, I think you've got some different gifts.

[00:11:04] Like, you know, you you you can do something different with your life. You don't have to go the military route or just settle for construction. He's like, let's get you back in here down the right path.

[00:11:16] So again, for me, it was honestly, it was a little pity party. It was kind of skip it. I don't need a high school diploma. I can do this thing on my own. I was never a big fan of school. Even going to college, I'll be honest.

[00:11:32] I didn't go to college school. I went to college to play football and I woke up one day and the good Lord led me half a semester away from graduating. And that's when it finally clicked. But yeah, I mean, going back to that time, it was, you know,

[00:11:47] just just some of the reminders of, you know, family dysfunction and just the heartache of saying goodbye. And again, I can sympathize with the professional athlete or any athlete out there and sense of like how much you love.

[00:12:02] And I hesitate to say the word love, but if you love a sport or if you love your job, I highly suggest you push the brakes, hit the pause button and really figure out what you love about it.

[00:12:19] You know, is it the fact that you bring God along with you, that you make him a part of your daily process? Is it because you can see him working in your life? Or do you love it because you love sports? You love competition. You love championships.

[00:12:36] You know, and that's where my mind and my heart warms all. It was all jacked up. And, and, and, you know, you alluded to doing the Bible, the Bible study podcast and look, I just take confidence and comfort knowing that I mess things up every day.

[00:12:53] But even if I take the wrong step, if I allow the good Lord to give me back on the right path, he'll make my wrong into a fight. And, and that's exactly what it was for me there.

[00:13:06] You know, my dad even told me, he said, hey, look, I got your back. He said, I'm not going to force you to do anything. He said, you're you're trying to figure out how to be a young grown man.

[00:13:15] He said, if this is what you think you need to do, then do it. But you're going to have to lay in the bed that you may. And so I appreciated that. And here's the other thing too.

[00:13:25] It's nothing against my dad, but, you know, I'm sure you and your wife have similar things too. She tells you something it doesn't register. A friend tells you the same exact thing and it finally clicks and registers. It's the same thing with me.

[00:13:40] You know, my dad was telling me all the same things. My coach was telling me, but I needed my coach to tell me. I needed a different voice to help pull me back in and set me back on the right path.

[00:13:52] And again, I would I would just encourage anybody out there to, you know, just people coming with advice and bringing things your way. Don't arch your back. Don't don't get too prideful because there's an ounce of truth in everything

[00:14:07] and the good Lord uses many people to to keep you on the straight and narrow. Yeah, I mean, you. When I got to when I got to college. You take that test, that English test on you can test out of English 101, right? Like you score high enough.

[00:14:26] You test out English 101 to get into 102 or whatever, 201. And I was so bad, man. I took English 010. Like that's how bad I was at like writing, you know, and I was smart, man. I was intelligent, but I didn't know really how to write or study at all.

[00:14:45] And, you know, fast forward many, many years. I mean, I've written eight books on Mount Tuffins. I've written a dissertation, a master's thesis, which is the hardest one to write. You know, so I've become pretty proficient writing.

[00:14:57] I would hold the light, the candle, I guess up to anybody else when it comes to that. But, you know, and same thing, you've you failed speech class twice, man. And now you've got a podcast host and a platform that you share. Talk about talk about that, man.

[00:15:15] No doubt, I appreciate the I appreciate you leading into that because it's a again, it's just a it's not by my own doing. It's by the grace of God. And that's that's where my faith is matured over time. And again, not that I'm perfect in it.

[00:15:29] I'll be honest, I'm in a kind of a season and a storm right now. But, you know, just I honestly can't walk, talk or chew bubble gum without God's blessing. And I genuinely mean that. Like, yeah, I have my moments where I might be frustrated and, you know,

[00:15:45] hey, I don't really want to talk today. But I know God, he's right there. Like I can't get rid of him. Thank God. But I say that because, you know, again, down when we were in Missouri State,

[00:15:54] we started powerless, unstoppable, a bunch of God stories mixed in there. Check out our book, powerless, unstoppable. It's got them all in there. But it's just it's been it's been great to see what the good Lord can do through you when you allow him to work in you.

[00:16:11] And throughout the process, I've come to learn and I'm a circle back to the speech class and all that. I've come to learn everybody has a God giving gift that comes naturally. You can be a mathematician, a scientist, whatever it might be, an athlete.

[00:16:27] It comes so natural to us that you can take credit for saying, look at me, look what I've done. Might be financial, whatever it is. But that's a blessing from God. Everything that we get is a blessing from God, the air we're breathing right now.

[00:16:42] We're seeing what we're tasting, what we smell. This opportunity is all a blessing from God. I genuinely believe everybody has a hidden passion that only God can unlock. And for me, that's public speaking, it's podcast, Bible study, it's writing a book.

[00:17:00] It's all these things that again, I'll be honest, I don't like school. I didn't like school. I went to school. I played football, which made me go to school. Failed speech class twice.

[00:17:11] I literally, I wouldn't go to class or I just wouldn't get up in front of everybody and give a speech. I couldn't do it. I was a nervous wreck. I'd shake my heart would beat out of my chest and I tried everything in my own power

[00:17:22] to try to get over it and I couldn't do it. And it was it was a disaster every time I got up in front of people. And, you know, again, I don't necessarily like reading. I don't like writing.

[00:17:34] Like those aren't my gifts, but fast forward, you know, 39 years later, if you would have said we'd have a podcast book, a ministry, all this stuff. That makes no sense because I'm a coward. Like I don't have I don't have those qualities by myself.

[00:17:53] I'm a nervous wreck in front of cameras. I'm very self conscious, very, very self conscious. I don't like reading and I'm not a good writer. So all of this just makes no sense at all, other than the fact that God's hands been all over it.

[00:18:10] And and that's how I would encourage anybody out there to, you know, that's part of our book, The Faithfield Leadership. You know, I think some people I'm just not a leader. Now, you are. I mean, we're all created in God's image. That's the greatest leader ever.

[00:18:23] The Bible is the best leadership book ever. So if we're creating God's image, we all have his qualities of leadership. For some of us, it comes natural, natural born leaders. Others, maybe you have to be a little more encouraged.

[00:18:36] You have to work at it to develop your skills to sharpen your skills. But, you know, leading doesn't mean you have to be out in front of 100,000 people on a stadium and pack arena. You know, just lead yourself, lead the people around you, lead your house.

[00:18:51] And those are all qualities. Again, that God has given all of us. So, you know, again, the long-winded answer to that is it's only by the grace of God. And I'll leave it at this with that story.

[00:19:04] I got to the point where, you know, the good Lord put on my heart just to start a podcast. We had done a Bible study in Missouri State, you know, due to class schedules, some kids could come in and come out and do kind of hit or miss.

[00:19:16] And I'm like, well, if we started a podcast, we could just take a watch whenever they want. So then it ballooned up and went into podcast season one, two, three. You know, like I said, Bible study book. And again, I'm just humbled.

[00:19:29] I'm humbled to see what the good Lord can and will do through somebody who is inadequate and unqualified. Because again, like I said, I say it all the time on my show, but I'm a stuttering, mumbling idiot without God's blessing.

[00:19:46] And as we did before we came on here, I appreciate you praying over this over us. Because again, I just I'm a walking, living, breathing testimony that you're a skeleton of who God created you to be if you don't invite him in.

[00:20:02] So coach, you spoke about before like before your time at Upper Iowa as a strength coach there, Kayla and Cameron Cameron is about eight months old. You know, when you were then at Upper Iowa, but before that, I mean,

[00:20:16] you you talked about you had six months of daddy daycare time and that brought a lot of perspective into your life. And what I'm wondering here is if you could kind of relate that to the season that you're going through now, because there's there's two types of coaches.

[00:20:33] Those that have been fired and those are going to be fired. Right. Let go transition, whatever it is, right? Like all my athletes never say, hey, I'm firing you. They always say we're going in a different direction. And that's hey, that's that's that happens. Right. You're fired.

[00:20:51] Yeah. I hope there's enough fodder there that you can take that and kind of run with us, but talk about one that experienced with it and you being a very driven individual, obviously trusting God in this in this season, but the experience of being let go on.

[00:21:15] Talk to us about that and where you're at currently. Absolutely. Though the key word there, I think is experience and with experience comes reminders and I think if for anybody out there listening, whatever you're going through, I can promise you you've been in a similar situation before.

[00:21:36] And it's in those moments where, you know, God's Word and Scripture reminds us to remember when, remember when God pulled you through that last time. Remember when you were in a similar situation and you lost a little bit of faith, but your faith was shaken.

[00:21:54] Remember when remember when just I can't say it enough, but remember when the crazy part about it is my current situation now is very similar to Western Kentucky. When I was at Western Kentucky, I was let go by a former

[00:22:13] mentor of mine, a very close friend of mine, someone I looked up to. And shortly after that, it was what three weeks, four weeks after Tamron was born. So it was like even tougher. It's like, I understand this is a business, but, you know, really, wow, pretty cutthroat.

[00:22:31] So I just remember working out one day in the fitness facility and bitter and pissed off and frustrated. And I've literally heard God say, if you want to be mad at somebody, be mad at me.

[00:22:42] And at first I was like, we talked about like you didn't do it. But then the more and more it sank in, I was like, well, you might not have done it, but he checked off on it.

[00:22:52] Meaning everything that comes to me has to be checked off by my heavenly father. He's not going to let anything come my way or come to me, come in front of me, be an obstacle in my way. Unless he's like, you know what, this can make him better.

[00:23:08] And that's where faith comes in for me to trust. So I was let go six months, didn't find another job until, like I said, that that July when it was up, right? And the blessing inside this story was I remember up, right?

[00:23:24] Well, posted the job back in January. So I was like going December and posted for head strength coach in January, February or something like that. I didn't apply to it because in my mind, I said, I can do better. I'm better than that place.

[00:23:38] Well, God said, all right, you think you're better than that place. We'll put you on a time out for six months and see how bad you want it. And then they ended up hiring someone that didn't work out, posted again.

[00:23:49] And when that job posted and I saw it, I applied to get applied for the first time. And at that point I was just on fire. I said, do the Lord please just give me a shot.

[00:23:57] Give me a chance to get back in the game because I don't know if I'd ever coach again. So by the grace of God, he said, hey, OK, you didn't get it the first time, but now you've got it. You're hungry. Let's go.

[00:24:09] So it was a great opportunity. But again, had I applied and been offered that job back in January, I wouldn't accept it because I was too proudful. I was high on my horse thinking I deserved better. And the good Lord had to put me on a time out.

[00:24:23] And that's exactly what I needed. So fast forward six years later, where we are currently again, the parallels, this is all for book number two someday, but the parallels between the situations are unbelievable. Coach Beard at Missouri State, I love him to death as a brother in Christ.

[00:24:43] We're cool. I did no animosity. We're cool. Love him to death. Again, friend mentor of mine, end of season comes around and he just says, hey, you want to go in a different direction? And it hurt.

[00:24:57] But I knew going into that meeting, the Lord put on my heart, just you know, tell him how you feel, but I want you to pray with him out the door. And so that was the one thing I just made sure we prayed out the door.

[00:25:08] Again, pretty unconventional, I think, if in the world's eyes of being let go, but knowing his heart, knowing my heart, I just want I didn't want to lose that relationship. You know, again, because a big part of me, I'm human.

[00:25:23] So the human in me wants to be bitter, angry, frustrated. I've had moments, but that's not who God created me to be. And that's not the relationship that Coach Beard and I have. I love him dearly. So I say that because now I've had job interviews, had opportunities.

[00:25:43] It looks like it's heaven sent all the way from, you know, Christian universities where I can be who I want to be to other opportunities. And it just like you get to that last step and they go in a different direction

[00:25:56] or it doesn't work for some reason or a location isn't right for me and my family. So had a couple of high school offers. I've been dabbling in that a little bit. Honestly, my heart's in the college setting. But yeah, it's I don't know, man.

[00:26:13] They said this is like Western Kentucky, let go 2.0 all over again. And that's where I want to encourage everybody out there. Remember what? So I'm in a season right now where I don't see it. I'll be honest with you. I'm frustrated.

[00:26:29] I'm struggling to see God's plan, but I got to practice what I preach. And I know I know in my heart that God knows what's best for me. I'm talking about it in the book. We know as humans what we want. God knows what we need.

[00:26:45] And that's a big difference. And I'm just praying and hoping that, you know, I saw it in my heart, my mind to be wrapped around what God wants for me and my family, not what David wants. So yeah, it's just just adding to the fake stories.

[00:27:14] Hey, good looking. If you like this podcast and are already a bad ass, but it's all way too complicated, then visit our website, drrobbell.com and schedule a call with us to help capture your very own hinge moment. I love that, man. Thanks for sharing with that, man.

[00:27:43] The there's always a point in the podcast where we title the podcast too. Right? I don't think of it before. But remember when that's going to be the title of this podcast, man. So I appreciate that. Absolutely. You were.

[00:27:57] Incorrectly if I'm wrong on this, but I think you were at Missouri State and you always had a practice of praying before lifts. And you had one of those dates that we all have, you had a bad day

[00:28:09] and you didn't pray before one of the athletes comes up afterwards and says, Coach, we didn't pray. And you kind of replied, you know, if it's important to you, you do go ahead and pray. And. That story stuck out to me

[00:28:23] because I think we've all kind of been there. And and then you really. Made it a point that that was a foundation about how you wanted to operate, but share with us that experience and how it impacted you. Yeah, no doubt it was.

[00:28:41] It was a very humbling moment to say the least. And again, I put that in the book. Honestly, I'm embarrassed by it. But yeah, so we would I got to the point where, you know, I'd get up three thirty in the morning, three o'clock,

[00:28:58] being the gym by three thirty, say my prayers, just set the tone, listen to my worship music. And regardless of the team or not, I just I felt like we needed to bring God's presence into the weight room and be about what we are.

[00:29:11] Just knowing Coach Petrino and knowing Coach Beard, their hearts. I got to the point where I was like, hey, why don't we pray that for every workout? Just the very first one of the week, not to be acknowledged as with it.

[00:29:24] I know not everybody has the same beliefs, but for me, it was important. And if anybody has an issue, no big deal, just address it. All the players seem to embrace it. So we have been praying, you know, it was Monday

[00:29:37] before six o'clock group, eight o'clock group and ten o'clock group. And yeah, you said it. I was having a day and I think just the pressure is a work and everything is again, mad at the world and frustrated.

[00:29:50] We didn't pray before a lift group, and I probably honestly just forgot. And then one of the players was I told you we didn't pray. And yeah, I've responded and I'm embarrassed to say that it's that important to you. Why don't you say it?

[00:30:04] And I say that because I lean on that heavily to remind me to never go back there again. I can still I can still feel it. I can taste it as weird as weird as that sounds. I can put myself in that exact spot, exact moment

[00:30:20] and feel the shame, feel the embarrassment on my part that I would let my bad attitude say something that that nonchalant about prayer, which is so powerful. And again, I lean on it to never go back there again.

[00:30:40] And and I say this from that day forward, there wasn't a Monday. We didn't pray in the weight room or whatever the first lift of the week was. And I was just a motivating force for me in a sense that in a reminder

[00:30:55] to that, you know, again, we all have our struggles and sometimes I get pigeonholed into my own problems. But there's a lot of young men looking up at me and seeing how I'm responding. And it's kind of like that water off a duck's back.

[00:31:12] Yeah, things are going to happen, you know, it's life. Nothing's going to go as planned and it's not perfect. If you hold on to those things, now I'm preaching to myself. If you hold on to those things, it's going to last longer. It's going to drag you down.

[00:31:26] It's going to weigh you down just like the duck. But that's why God made water roll off a duck's back so it doesn't weigh him down. It's the same thing with the stuff we're carrying. You know, it says in Matthew, I forget the exact verse,

[00:31:38] but you know, lay your burdens down, give them back to God. His yoke is easy and his burdens light. Let him do all the work. And yeah, so that was just a big, a big moment for me,

[00:31:51] a humbling moment, you know, in a sense that the young man taught me something that day and it was through the Holy Spirit. But yeah, it's one thing I encourage everybody. Don't just don't just find God at Sunday Church and leave them there and come back on Sunday.

[00:32:09] But bring them with you everywhere and everywhere you go. Coach, it's not about the setback. It's about the comeback. Is there a. And that was just sort of a transition into this part. Is there a character in the Bible that you that you relate to

[00:32:26] or light the most? Yeah, I mean, I think. I think honestly, it's David. I mean, I know my name is David, but I think it's David. And I think, you know, a lot of people go, a lot of people go back to David and go live

[00:32:45] and how he conquered and how all this stuff. But I go back further than that. Like I'm I am I am a poor little shepherd. Like I'm just that's who I am. But, you know, every blessing that I have comes from from God.

[00:33:03] And I know that David made a lot of mistakes in the Bible. I think sometimes we hold David on kind of a pedestal, which is right and wrong to a certain extent. He had a lot of failures, but he always knew where to go.

[00:33:19] And that's that's what I rely on, too. Like he failed numerous times, right? Committing adultery, murdering and just like he's done a lot of things throughout his life. But he always knew at the end of the day where his source was and where to go.

[00:33:34] And that's why I love Psalm, just the entire book. It's just a written hymn of praises to God and just finding your strength in just a little shepherd boy. I mean, again, I joke with people all the time when I have a coaching voice, it's all raspy

[00:33:50] and you can barely hear what I'm saying. And if you only hear the podcast, you think, well, this guy's probably 300 pounds, can bench 600 and squat 800 big burly dude. No, that's not me. I guess not. It's I'm a small Italian man that just every muscle fiber I had,

[00:34:11] I had to work my tail off to get. But the confidence and courage that I have and the purpose I have comes from God. And I know that. So that's that's kind of the thing, too. It's like being in the strength and conditioning world.

[00:34:26] People didn't know me and they just heard me. They would think and assume one thing. But then when they saw me, they'd honestly probably be a little disappointed. And I'm OK with that. Because again, when I'm weak, he is strong.

[00:34:39] And and again, I just it's that fine line, too. I struggle with you make mistakes. You don't want to beat yourself up and chastise yourself. But you don't want to just go through life taking grace and mercy, forgiveness for granted. And and I think David in the Bible

[00:34:58] is a prime example of of how many times you can fail. Like you can never fail too many times for God to still use you in your story and and for God to take a man like that who was after his own heart, but still was distracted,

[00:35:16] still was swayed, you know, other way elsewhere. But to use a man like that and then even like Saul, I mean, there's a whole different story that Saul in Nepal. It's like just encourage everybody out there.

[00:35:29] You can never fail enough for God to be like I can't use you because honestly, the more we fail, the more glory God gets because that's where his grace and mercy comes in. Want to listen to your favorite music,

[00:35:45] but you're sick of all the commercial interruptions and negative news today. Tune into KUKO radio dot com music for your mindset. We're a commercial free online radio station playing nothing but hits. Our free iOS and Android apps are available for download at KUKO radio dot com.

[00:36:09] When you were when the first things you do with your athletes is you do a slot analysis, the strength, weaknesses, opportunities, threats and and you'd have the faith piece on there as well. If you can think. Currently in your life,

[00:36:25] like when do you and understand rely on God for everything? And I can always share like my part where I think God comes into play. But like I don't pray or help to brush my teeth. You know what I mean?

[00:36:40] That's one of the situations for me that I'm I'm really not cognizant of the Lord like when I brush my teeth now, because I do that now I am kind of aware of it. But I express gratitude when I go to get ice

[00:36:53] in the morning because I realize that there are a lot of people on this earth that just don't have access to ice. You know what I mean? I take it for granted every day. I lay that question out because I I pray the most

[00:37:06] because the part where I need God the most is in relationships and every relationship I'm going to have. When do you specifically feel like God's presence, the most like in your life in terms of a really need and help?

[00:37:23] Yes, definitely in the in the hustle and bustle of the strength and conditioning world. And I would I would I would challenge going back to brushing your teeth. I'm with you. I don't pray for God's help,

[00:37:34] but I think we've all had that moment where you either take the toothbrush back a little too far or it slips and you bang a tooth. So I'm humbled and reminded him in those moments in those moments like, hey, yeah, it's a pretty relatively easy task.

[00:37:52] But if you're not careful with what you're doing, you can cause some damage. So but I'm right there with the I just, you know, for me, honestly, and I know these seasons, but for some reason, I still get lulled into them.

[00:38:05] When I'm when I'm when I'm in the heart of a season and it's early morning workouts and 12 hour days, practices and travel. I know where my power comes from and I know my source. I got to get up. I got to pray.

[00:38:19] I got to worship and work out. I got to pray some more. I'm in it. I need it. That's the only way I can do it. When I get to a spring break or the month of May,

[00:38:29] where we have some downtime or the 4th of July or Christmas break, that's when it's almost like I take a deep breath and I'm like, oh, OK, I can do this. And I'm like, no, no, don't try to do this on your own.

[00:38:45] Like why don't you stay the courts? And I'm being honest, that's something I always struggle with. When I have a quote unquote easy day ahead of me, that's when it's easier for me to just say a quick prayer. Go ahead.

[00:39:00] When I know I have a tall day ahead of me, it forces me to hit my knees just a little bit longer. It forces me to say some more prayers in the office throughout the day. And that's where, and honestly, for me,

[00:39:13] I think this is finally opening some light for me. The downtime I've had the last five months for me. I think part of it is trying to teach me. What am I going to do with my time when I'm done coaching?

[00:39:28] I know I can't coach without God's blessing, and I've never been closer to God the last four years in coaching at Missouri State. But I think he's challenging me with when football and competition and coaching is removed. Where are you going to go?

[00:39:46] You know, what's going to fill the void? Yeah, football is a good catalyst and coaching is a good catalyst to draw me closer to God. But and it's finally dawning on me now that that is a big read.

[00:39:59] Like what am I going to do when no one wants me to coach anymore? When I'm not invited, when I'm too old, when I'm too slow, and I can't move or when I just don't have the heart for it.

[00:40:11] And for me, I'll be honest, I've failed a lot the last five months and just just not being as fruitful with my time as I do. And and there's a lesson to be learned in everything, you know, trying so hard to get back in the game.

[00:40:27] But the bigger lesson for me, I think is God's trying to open my eyes like you're not always going to have football and coaching to draw draw near to me. So if that passion is taken away, what's going to draw you near to me?

[00:40:42] And the answer to that should be just God's presence period. You know, we talk, you talk about feeling God's presence. I mean, I just we just had a podcast this past week talking about the power of music.

[00:40:57] And and all I listened to 99 percent of the time was worship music. And last season, I challenged our football team and I just said, Hey, let's have worship wins. And they embraced it as we're in there dancing to Lecrae and Kirkland, Frank Kirk Kirkland.

[00:41:16] All these other artists that I haven't even heard of before, gospel worship singers. It's like they were bebopping more than that than they were the rap stuff. And I said, we should do this more often.

[00:41:27] And side side story side note, I had always prayed that we turn the weight room into a house that works. And I felt in that moment that we're doing this warm up, doing some tea, some high wise, some high lows, worse.

[00:41:40] That music is playing and I felt like the good Lord wrapped his arms around me and said, you realize we just turned this weight room into a house. And again, I say that because I just I would encourage everybody out there

[00:41:54] and spend some time in some worship music, whether it's working out or just walking or just listening. But I've never felt closer to God in those moments where I'm in the weight room and I just crank the worst music up and I let it speak to me.

[00:42:10] I've been in the middle of a workout and it forces me to go hit my knees and I'll just ball like a baby. And I had moments where I'm like, can I never leave this spot? Because this is just the best feeling in the world.

[00:42:23] And there's nothing like it. Yeah, yeah, that's awesome, man. I can picture that too, you know, and I'm doing those those exercises, man. And yeah, that's that's cool, man. I appreciate you sharing that. Um, side note, and then I've got one more question to ask.

[00:42:40] But have you seen have you seen the movie Unsung Hero? I haven't. Oh, OK. Jerry Paul Mary, he he sends out a daily scripture and then he sent me a side note afterwards. And sometimes he does send me a text message

[00:42:56] but he sent me one and he was just kind of saying, hey, Unsung Hero, man, like check the movie out. And I was kind of like, OK, you know, because throughout the day, right? Like sometimes you're really tuned to it. Sometimes I'm busy.

[00:43:07] And then it was, hey, we had like an open evening and that's very rare, right, with the kids. And and then it was like, oh, man, that's right. That popped my head Unsung Hero. It's a fantastic movie, man, a highly recommended. And even like these,

[00:43:29] because you mentioned like the worship music and it kind of. You know, focuses on. You know, Rebecca St. James and God and Kingdom, like how their story was kind of growing up. But highly recommended. I think it really dig that movie. Absolutely. Yeah.

[00:43:49] The the one question I got to ask that coach and what about I just decide note to that is. I don't personally watch a lot of movies in our household because in the daily grind, my wife, it's hilarious. But we'll sit down.

[00:44:04] So turn on a movie with kids. We'll sit down. The credits will start playing at the beginning and my head from this. I'll start nodding off and so kick me and be like, are you serious? The movie hasn't even started. No, I guess.

[00:44:20] Because, you know, again, in the hustle and bustle in daily grind, it's hard to keep my attention and eyes open. But now I definitely I definitely check it out. Yeah. That was another reason why I love like the chosen is because it's

[00:44:36] man, it sure did illuminate and it bring to life a lot of those stories that, you know, we've read. But then when you kind of see it and it plays out, it's like very impactful, man. Right. Well, and I'll give you one side.

[00:44:50] One side note to that that I love that the chosen, the one that really spoke to me just being a strength coach and being passionate about what we do when they went in the boat. I think they went across to see Galilee over to Samaria

[00:45:04] and a couple of the people walked by, they were spitting and talking. And and James and John told Jesus, they said, you should strike them dead. You know, just show your power in your might. And I love how Jesus has all these solid one liners,

[00:45:18] just cool collective and he's like, hey, passion is good, but you need to use it for righteousness, not self-righteousness. And that always stuck with me. He's like, I'm going to call you guys the sons of thunder. And I'm just like, I was dying and laugh.

[00:45:36] And just I just anybody out there, check out the chosen. Absolutely you have it. It's just amazing. Yeah. And he I'd like to help when he defused that situation too. Like really, you want me to strike them down right now?

[00:45:49] And like it's kind of funny and very humorous, man. Coach, what what question shall be asked and I'm not asking? Oh, I don't know if it's a question, but I'd love to give just a little bit more of my testimony and maybe where does my passion come from?

[00:46:22] How about that? So if you ask me where my passion comes from, that is that is my God-given gift. That is definitely something that he's just blessed me with energy, enthusiasm, passion, joy, confidence, courage comes from him. But I say that because a big part of my testimony

[00:46:42] is at one point in my coaching career, I was probably up to drinking the equivalent about 10 cups of coffee and I don't drink coffee because I just it smells good, but I think it tastes terrible. But it would be energy drinks and pre-workout

[00:46:58] and more energy drinks on a Saturday. I just crack a bang and drink a bang just for the heck of it. Well, I got to the point where I knew I had to make a change and at least cut back.

[00:47:10] So one of our churches did a prayer in fast, a 21 day prayer in fast. So January 4th, 2021, I gave up caffeine for those three weeks. And the first couple of days, I had massive headaches just with draws coming out of it.

[00:47:26] Made it two weeks, which was relatively easy because we weren't in workouts yet. Workouts didn't start until the end of January. That first week we had early workouts. I'm up early and I was just drawn. Every time I got tired or wanted caffeine, I prayed.

[00:47:43] So substitute your craving for prayer. Substitute what you're yearning for and spend time with God in prayer. So made it that first week. And then the following week at church, just the pastor had said, and I just want to caution everybody about getting off your fast.

[00:48:03] Because he said, once you get off your fast, it's so easy to go right back where you started. And for me, I knew how much I enjoyed even just the caffeinated beverage. I knew it was kind of like social drinking. Just nothing crazy, but Saturday afternoon,

[00:48:18] let's have a drink. And I didn't want to go back there. So I just felt like God was asking me, give me one more day. Give me one more day. So I made it one more day and then one more day and then one more day.

[00:48:32] And then my wife was like, so how long do you want to do this? And I said, honestly, I don't ever want to have caffeine again. And so from that moment on, I made a covenant with God that in all my power,

[00:48:46] I will not drink a caffeinated beverage ever again. And I don't brag on what the Holy Spirit's been able to do through me, in me to sustain me. Here's the other thing about our gifts. I thought my natural gift was enhanced through caffeine and energy drinks. It wasn't.

[00:49:07] My natural passion and energy and gift is enhanced through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. So for me, my purpose is to glorify God every day. My passion comes from the Holy Spirit and my production is to fill God's kingdom. Not by what I do,

[00:49:25] but watering seeds and letting him work. And I go back to that moment, again, for me, it's to the point I've had dreams. I've had dreams where I drink a drink of bang or I have a soda with caffeine in it

[00:49:41] and I wake up and I'm like sick to my stomach and I'm like, did that really happen? And then I feel like a presence like, no, no, no. You're good, just relax. But to me it's on that level. Sometimes my family get on me a little bit

[00:49:56] because everything I drink, I look and I make sure there's no green tea extract, no, if it doesn't say caffeine, but it's green tea, I don't wanna take a chance. And some people are like, well, to me, that's the covenant and the agreement between me and God

[00:50:16] that when I crave caffeine and I'm tired and I need something, I don't need caffeine, I need you. And I need more of him. And that's, so yeah, it's just, I encourage anybody out there and just if you're struggling with any sort

[00:50:33] of addiction to something or, you know, whatever it might be, just movies, internet, whatever, social media, if you crave it, just spend time in prayer. And not that it's gonna be easy, but the good Lord is gonna see you through it

[00:50:48] and you make it one day, you're gonna wanna make it two and if you make it two, you're gonna wanna make it a week and then a week turns into a month. Yeah. Boy, what a good story, man. I love that bud.

[00:51:00] That's really my major one vice too, man. And maybe the title of this one is substitute, you're craving with prayer, man. But that is, yeah, man, that's righteous stuff, man. Really love that one. You know, I think God always answers our prayers.

[00:51:18] I think the three types of prayers are one, God helped me, right? We've all done that one. God give me, right? Grant me. And then the most powerful one is God used me. And I see, man, the Lord, you know, obviously in work there,

[00:51:35] but that was powerful, man. And then I always think as well, that God answers all of our prayers with ask me again tomorrow. Right, amen. Amen. No doubt. So, hey, and again, I would encourage anybody out there listening to this. You know, again, it doesn't matter your platform

[00:51:57] or your place, I guess. It is the platform that matters. It's the place that God has you at currently. You know, again, I think sometimes people look at, and I'm guilty of it, you know, having a ministry, you look online and see views and all this other stuff.

[00:52:14] I'm humbled and reminded that, you know, God did more with 12 disciples than you or I will ever do with 12 billion followers or anybody else. And that's where the faith comes in and just try to encourage everybody like, you know, again, you could be

[00:52:30] the wealthiest person in the world, but if you don't have God in the mix, think about this for one quick second. I'm not throwing stones at anybody. You could be the most successful person in the world, in the world's eyes,

[00:52:43] but if you don't have God in the mix, you're not even scratching the surface of what he can do through you in this world. And to me that's mind blowing because, you know, then a reverse of that is said too, let's say in the world's eyes,

[00:52:59] you're in the down and out or you're on the opposite end of the spectrum. If you've got God and you've got Jesus in your life, he fills in all the cracks. He's gonna sustain you. He's gonna get you. You're gonna do more things than open more eyes

[00:53:15] through him in the power of the Holy Spirit than this well off person on Wall Street who doesn't give God the time of day. Yeah, that's good, man. Yeah, I appreciate it. I think the cracks are how the light get in. Amen. Absolutely. Hey, Coach.

[00:53:34] Really appreciate you, man. We're gonna put the links to your podcast, obviously on the notes. Do a great job, man. I'm so glad I was able to come across you and yeah. Thanks brother. You bet I appreciate it, Dr. Bell. God bless. Thanks for listening to Mental Toughness

[00:53:59] with Dr. Rob Bell. To find out more about Dr. Rob, visit his website at drrobbell.com or follow him on Twitter at Dr. Rob Bell and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform to get the next episode of Mental Toughness as soon as it's available.

[00:54:17] Thanks for listening and we'll see you next time.