My Daily Lift with Kevin Ilich

Tune in to my conversation with Kylen Bailey out of Austin, Texas! We talk about his journey of adoption, and reconnecting with his birth mother and brother. We talk about his struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts and so much more. Like, Share, and Follow! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

I have this strange fascination with the way ancient people lived. I have no clue why… but the whole idea of relying on your instincts… and working for your food… and discovering better and more efficient ways to do things… It almost seems like the more into the future we go, the more we might be losing the understanding of what is essential for being human. Think obesity… most people in the US at least struggle with this almost new disease… could it be because of how readily available our food is? (Plus it's all deep fried and processed). Lately, I heard someone in the mindfulness world talk a a 3-fold challenge that I have felt super challenged by that I want to share with you… Watch the sun rise in the morning Walk outside barefoot everyday Watch the sun set in the evening I know I know, ultra-caveman stuff… I have done this for a bit now and it is slowly and steadily changing the course of my days. You might be someone who is contained to a cubicle everyday…. Maybe you run kids around all day… maybe you stare at your computer screen all day and your phone all night. This 3-fold challenge can be a great opportunity to flip the script for you… To put you in a position where you can follow the earth's cues to our bodies instead of instagrams… So I'd encourage you… try this barbaric challenge and watch the change happen in you! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“What Inspires You?” My working hypotheses is that humanity is under-inspired. Over-saturated with comparison and maybe even lust to live the lives of others… but under inspired. Envy is not inspiration… stalking someones instagram account or Facebook page or TikTok can totally be what inspires you, but I would encourage you to even challenge that inclination inside of you. Inspiration is something that you take in that brings life to something inside of you. Definition ; the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. Definition 2 ; the drawing in of breath; inhalation. I love these beautifully intertwining definitions. “What are you breathing in that is bringing something great out of you?” --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

In this episode, Pastor of X Church, Tim Moore, discusses his upcoming series "Origins" where he works through questions of Science and how it relates to the Bible. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

"Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier." Mother Teresa Is this how people describe time spent around you? Today I want to talk about your Aura… or the vibe you give off when others interact with you. No - you are not completely responsible for the way others receive you… but I would argue that it's important to pay attention to this because… many of us don't very often! I am so guilty of being so self-centered in my thought process that I completely ignore how others could be receiving me. I have to pay attention to my RBF… Or for those of you that are unfamiliar with what I am talking about for some reason… “Resting B***** Face” Isn't that horrible? That we can be so consumed on the inside with ourselves that we are completely off-putting on our exterior. So consumed with our problems, our work, our issues, our family dilemmas, that we sacrifice the meaningfulness of our interaction… I never want my life to be about that… I assume that the very fact you are listening to this podcast is evidence that you don't want this to be your story either. So let me share a few things I keep in mind entering every interaction these days… Curious Ear 1 - Obviously having a curious ear would imply you are listening. I love talking to people and feel great afterwards when they genuinely had interest in what I was saying. Loving Eyes What are you communicating with your eyes? It's said that the eyes are a window to the soul… and when people look into my eyes I want them to see love. Open Heart I struggle with being defensive for no reason. Approach each conversation in a way that your defenses are down. A Curious Ear, Loving Eyes, and an Open Heart! I promise, keeping these things in mind will improve your interactions, and make people leave feeling better and happier. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

"Trust is hard-earned, and easily lost.” How easy is it for you to trust people? I hate to over-generalize… but I glean that most people either over-trust or don't trust at all. Like either you're naive or cynical when it comes to trusting others. I think our quote today is important because no matter which of these two camps we fall into… It doesn't effect our desire for others to have trust in us. We all want to be trustworthy. Talk about a noble attribute. One with great esteem… To be the person that is trusted in a pinch… The one those close to you can count on when life throws a curveball… Today, I want to challenge you with a question… what are you actively doing in your life to become a trustworthy person? Because if we are not proactive about becoming this person, I'm afraid we might be actually moving in the other direction unintentionally. So today, pasture yourself with this goal in mind… to be more trustworthy! Perform your daily tasks with excellence. Communicate as best you can. Check-in on someone. Day by Day you can make a statement to the people around you with your behavior. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“Grant that we may not so much seek to be understood as to understand.” - St. Francis of Assisi Have you ever felt the yearning to be understood? For people to just “get” you… Maybe you feel like the people that you have interacted with in your life for whatever reason don't seem to understand you. Maybe you have a hard time connecting… maybe you feel people's motives are bad. Maybe you feel like you confuse people because you just can't seem to articulate the way you feel, how you are thinking…. What you meant when you did that thing…. Feeling misunderstood is one of the most frustrating things any of us can experience in this life. But at the same time… feeling misunderstood is something that we ALL will experience. Guaranteed. Try praying this prayer from St. Francis today. That we would seek to understand first. Why is this profound? Because this can be you doing the very thing you desire others to do for you. If you have been feeling wholly misunderstood lately… try this. Try intentionally understanding someone around you… Let's get more specific. Think about someone you are in conflict with right now, or have been recently. Think a friend, your spouse, your significant other… and how can you initiate a conversation to begin to understand their point of view? It might look something like this… “Hey, do you remember that argument?” I was in the heat of the moment and I wasn't in the headspace to understand where you were coming from. What was going through your mind/heart? What did you want me to hear that I wasn't hearing?” This is not easy… you may have to swallow your pride… What you will begin to realize as you initiate these types of conversations is that just the gesture of caring enough to try to re-understand means the world to the people around you! So St. Francis' prayer is my prayer for you today. That the yearning of your heart would be less to be understood, and more to understand. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“Rather than the strength it takes to not lose, it's the strength to stand back up after a loss that is sometimes more valuable.” ― Kyo Shirodaira “All I do is win, win, win, no matter what” -DJ Khaled I think it would be hard to trace our culture's obsession with “winning” back to its origination. Whether it's dominating a kingdom against another kingdom, whether it's Donald Trump's self-proclaimed obsession with winning. Believe Me… there is something inside of Humanity that yearns to win. Even my wife, who acts like she could care less if she wins at anything… has a sneaky competitive streak… Trust me, I have played UNO with her. The inevitable happens to all of us eventually… when the win is out of reach. When we make mistakes, when we lose. Defeat. So let me ask the question of you. What kind of loser are you? Are you a gracious loser? Are you a sore loser? Here is the thing… Even the people who have the most disdain for losing still get passed up for the job, still miss the chance to date the girl, still lose a house to a higher bid, still lose a sale every once in a while. My encouragement for you today is this… When you lose in life, (because you will), don't take on the persona of a loser… but do lose graciously. Life is humbling you, teaching you, disciplining you… and the sooner you can delight in that truth the sooner you can stand back up on your feet! Don't live life defeated, or arrogant, or timid, or cocky… let life teach you what you need to be taught. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“The chief beauty about time is that you cannot waste it in advance. The next year, the next day, the next hour are lying ready for you, as perfect, as unspoiled, as if you had never wasted or misapplied a single moment in all your life. You can turn over a new leaf every hour if you choose.” ― Arnold Bennett Are you a morning person? I don't know how I got to be this way, but I am in love with the mornings. Especially cool mornings where you can see your breath, and the steam of coffee goes crazy in the morning air. It's a little uncomfortable to be outside, you don't know what temperature to put your car on… I love mornings… The older I get and the crazier life gets… the more life humbles me… I realize what a gift it is to see a new day. When you realize that there are things that are true about your morning that won't always be true… I will abstain from getting too morbid, but what a humbling thought. Wow… I have the ability to walk this morning. I have healthy kids this morning. Nothing is wrong right now. These all might not be true for you… but I don't know if it's gratitude or presence or what it is… I think there is a new treasure God wants to give us about life every time the sun rises. Think about it this way. No human knows exactly what will happen in advance. That's why today's quote is so profound. You can't waste time that hasn't yet passed. I hope that is encouraging to your soul today. I realize that you may find yourself in a place where you dread what is ahead of you. While maybe it hasn't happened yet… you are an intelligent person and you understand that if the pattern of your life simply continues… today doesn't seem like it is going to be the best day. I want to challenge your today. Scripture says that the Lord's mercies are new every morning. You have the opportunity to turn a new leaf today. Whether that's entering your day with a new perspective… holding your relationships differently… entering conversations in a different headspace… a new leaf when it comes to parenting. Today has the opportunity to hold something new and better for your life! Let every morning be a reminder that there is hope for you… new mercies for you… and that God has put another day in front of you. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“People would rather follow a leader that is always real, than a leader that's always right.” -Craig Groeschel Today I want to talk about the areas in life where you are a leader. Some of us own that term more than others. I know many people who are more humble than me probably deflect the term. But here is what I believe to be true. You are more of a leader than you think you are. Whether your title says so or not… the amount of direct reports you have… or the stage of life you find yourself in… I would argue that you are more of a leader than you say you are. Because leadership isn't a title, an aura, or a paycheck… leadership is influence. I bet that you have more of that than you realize. People are watching you… mirroring your behavior… learning from your successes and failures. So many people feel that in order to be a leader they have to act a certain way… which I guess is not a completely inaccurate statement. However, where we get into hot water (and you know this if you have been around a leader like this) is when leader's try to be something that they are not. We are all guilty of doing this at some point. Who knows why this is… maybe because we are insecure with our lack of experience, knowledge, and ability? If you have ever felt insecure in your leadership… whether you are a parent, a sibling, the owner of a company, a supervisor… I want to re-iterate today's quote. “People would rather follow a leader that is always real, than a leader that's always right.” -Craig Groeschel The power of your leadership comes from your vulnerability, your relatability… not your ability to get everything right. Don't feel like you have to be perfect… Because if you do, you will spend the rest of your time trying to cover up your mistakes… Be Real, Be Authentic, Say Sorry for the things you screw up… Listen to the people around you… show humility often… The world needs the authentic leadership inside of you! So be real, honest, and don't feel like you have to live into anything that you are not. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

Have you ever found yourself wishing that all of the people around you would just…. Change? Ruminating on how much easier life would be if others could just get the picture! Get it together! I think we all know that life doesn't work that way… It's not your job to change anyone… or your responsibility to change them. Usually when we have these strong thoughts… I would argue that something is actually begging to change inside of you. Your thought process… the window through which you view others… your perspective… only you know. I have had the privilege to do many weddings in my years as a pastor…. And one line I say every time is…. “Never be too proud to change” So let me ask you the question… I am sorry if this seems aggressive. Where in your life has your pride kept you from changing into the person you need to become? Where you know there Is a habit you need to get help for… you know there is an addiction you need to address… you know that you need to work on being less angry, or more kind… But maybe you've said something like… “Can't teach an old dog new tricks!” Now I am not a dog person so I don't know if that is necessarily true… but I have seen mature people change at every age. In my life, following God has changed me from the inside out… and I am far from perfect… but everyday I sense his attempts to change me in a way that is more loving to the people around me. So today, interrogate your attitude about changing yourself for the better. I know you don't like to be a prideful person… So think about the people you love and ask, How can I adjust my lifestyle for them!? You will be surprised how when you make this decision, and work it into your daily rhythm… the people around you will feel it, and your life will begin to reflect it. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“Hey, I know it's Monday. But it's also a new day and a new week. And in that lies a new opportunity for something special to happen.” – Michael Ely Today is your friendly reminder that Monday is a fantastic opportunity to reset… to wipe whatever happened last week… Good, bad, chaotic, to wipe it off your heart and mind. I challenge you today to enter into this week with hope… an expectation for something to happen. I'm not going to let last week deter me from having a great week I'm not going to dwell on things from last week that happened out of my control. I'm going to lean in to the new and the “possible” this week, and change the narrative. I'm rooting for you, --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

Early mid life crisis for me. My face is tightening. I look at pictures of myself before kids and marriage and life responsibilities and laugh. What a kid. It's funny how you have no idea 1) what life will throw at you and 2) how much you are capable of handling as a human. I've very recently decided that I am not going to be harsh to myself as I age. (Which is hilarious I am saying this at 26)… If you are listening to this I want to talk about wrinkles… the naturally unavoidable reality delivered to our bodies over time. Thank you Mother Nature. For me, I am thankful for my wrinkles and my dad bod because I got them spending my time investing myself in the things that matter most. The hard work of raising children… being emotionally present with my spouse… living life present with hurting people. So today instead of hating your body for they way it is presenting itself to you in the mirror… say this… I've earned these wrinkles. Today choose what your future wrinkles will represent. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

I recently read some alarming statistics. 84 men a week take their own life. 75% of all suicides occur in men. Today I am going to share some daily declarations for men, because there is a battle we fight in the mind that I am not sure we are always awake to. Save this episode and begin each day believing these truths about yourself, from Pastor Craig Groeschel. I am the son of the King of all kings. I lay down my pride and selfishness, giving all glory to the one true God. I love my family like Christ loved the Church—giving Himself up for her. I fight for purity, guarding my eyes and heart from tempting situations. I seek friendships with other godly men to sharpen my perspective. (Proverbs 27:17) I wait for God to open the right doors and take action when He does. I'm not defined by my failures or successes. I finish what I start. I never give up! I will act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with my God. (Micah 6:8) Through Christ I am strong, gentle, fierce, and compassionate. I am a warrior! I stand firm, even when the pain is crippling because God is my strength. I will fight the good fight for what matters most. (2 Timothy 4:7) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

I have heard so much feedback from our episode 1.51 “Daily Declarations” that as today's lift, we are going to share more of Pastor Craig's content. Specifically today declarations for Women as you navigate all that you are in life. Save this episode and speak it over you life everyday. I am the daughter of the King of all kings. Because of Jesus, I lack nothing. God has given me everything I need to do what He's called me to do. I speak encouraging, life-giving words and build others up. The joy of the Lord is my strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) I will not compare myself to other women. God made us all beautifully unique. I will hold myself to God's standards and measure myself with grace. I will love and laugh rather than fight and complain. I refuse to waste my life on meaningless things. I will act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with my God. (Micah 6:8) Through Christ I am strong, gentle, fierce, and compassionate. I will fight the good fight for what matters most. (2 Timothy 4:7) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

"I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving." Oliver Wendel Holmes I find this quote to be fascinating considering today's cultural climate. Do you ever feel the pressure that exists to “take a stand” on all of the most controversial issues that dominate the headlines today? What is your opinion on whiteness, and Western Gender ideology, and abortion, and policing, and Nation building, and vaccines and masking… We all likely have stances on these things… and for most of us, we live in a country where we have the privilege of being involved in the discussion. Let me ask this question… How often have you shared your stance in a way that changes someone else's stance? Like after you spend 20 minutes pontificating to someone who feels differently than you… you completely win them over to your side? For many of us, its happened maybe once? Twice if your lucky? So many people are exhausting themselves formulating and posting and defending their “stance”… why? I find that we have a difficult time changing minds and hearts because of our “stance” on any issue or topic. However there is something that we all have the opportunity to appeal to that does have the power to change minds and hearts… an ideal future! So let me ask you… have you created in your mind and heart a vision for your ideal future? A future where… you fill in the blank. A world where… you fill in the blank. A country where… you fill in the blank. An organization where… That's my challenge to you today. "I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving." Define what the ideal future looks like in your context! Stop wasting your time on your “stance” and start creating a vision for the purposed life you were designed to live! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

Have you ever caught yourself criticizing yourself? Like the soundtrack of your mind turns completely negative… It happens so subtly… so slowly over time. Recently I was having a horrible day when it comes to these afflicting thoughts. It happens more than I'd like to admit… and I know the thoughts I have are not really true… but there is something inside me that is terrified that they are true. What do you do when your inner-critic gets the best of you? How do you stop the borage thoughts? How do you silence the afflicting voices? One practice I want to share with you today is the power of Daily Declarations. A couple years ago, I heard this from Pastor Craig Groeschel… and I can almost link my dark thoughts to when I get away from the discipline of doing these daily declarations. These declarations are the resistance to the negative thoughts that consume me. They are the frontline, the offense against the lies that we tell ourselves about ourselves. These statements are what are inherently true about every person because we are made in the image of God. Here are Pastor Craig's declarations, feel free to steal all of them, because they apply just as much to you as they do him or I. Jesus is first in my life. I exist to serve and glorify Him. I love my wife and will lay down my life to serve her. My children will love God and serve Him with their whole hearts. I will nurture, equip, train, and empower them to do more for His kingdom than they can imagine. I love people and believe the best about others. I am disciplined. Christ in me is stronger than the wrong desires in me. I am growing closer to Jesus every day. Because of Christ, my family is closer, my body is stronger, my faith is deeper, my leadership is sharper. I am anointed, empowered, equipped and called to reach people far from God. I am creative, innovative, driven, focused, and blessed beyond measure—because the Holy Spirit dwells within me. I develop leaders. That's not something I do. It's who I am. My words, thoughts, and imaginations are under the power of Christ. I take all thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. I wake up with purpose, direction, and meaning every day of my life. Pain is my friend. I rejoice in suffering because Christ suffered for me. I bring my best and then some. It's what I bring after I do my best that makes the difference. The world will be different and better because I served Jesus today. Save this episode and play it daily until this becomes a rhythm in your life. Speak these over your life each day and notice the lies start to dampen day by day. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“The grass isn't greener” -Kevin Ilich Today I want to talk about “the grass is greener” mentality… No, not because every single one of my neighbors have a lawn irrigation system and I am jealous… that has nothing to do with this! I want to talk about what to do when we catch ourselves staring at other people proverbial “lawns” We all do it… even if you don't live within 5 miles of a neighbor, or don't have a “lawn” to take care of… So much of our life in today's society and cultural climate with social media is spent dwelling on what we ought to be doing. We should be more like that mom on instagram, we should workout as much as that dude on tiktok… we should be as financially disciplined as John at work… It is easy to be fixated on the things that we don't have or the gifts people have that we don't possess. Comparison Envy Jealousy The Grass is greener. Today's lift is a reminder. Water your own lawn. What would it look like if you started tending to your struggling marriage? What would it look like if you scheduled a doctor appointment or your ailing mental health? What would it look like if you finally paid for the personal training that you know you need to learn your way around the gym? Often the last thing we do is invest in our own “lawn” Today do something that will contribute to the long term health of your context. It is the best investment you will ever make. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

"Love lights more fires than hate extinguishes." Ella Wheeler Wilcox What was your temperament growing up? It's funny how we all have these predispositions to behave in a certain manner. I was your more fiery argumentative type. I loved everything that brought friction and angst in life… politics, black coffee, lifting weights… anything that involved a challenge, I was drawn to. Like a June-bug to a porch light. What was your pre-disposition? Maybe you, opposite of me, were drawn not to friction but to ease… like reading, and being nice! My wife is like you. How would you describe how you've existed in the world? When I think about these things… I am often drawn to the “enneagram” - a personality typing system that helps give language to the way you have existed in the world… I say all of this help remind you of this truth… We are all so very different. Have you learned how to love people who are different than you? Who behave differently? Who look differently? Who like different things? Who eat different foods? Who pray different prayers? If you have a pulse, you understand that there are news networks, and politicians, and social media companies who profit off of your hatred for the people that are different than you… The fire of hatred will incinerate the purpose of your life. There is nothing good that will come from it. Light more fires with love. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

"What you do for yourself dies with you. What you do for others lives forever." Robert Conklin How often do you think about the end of your life? I hope you understand I am not trying to ask this in a morbid way… What will people remember of you when you are no longer here? I heard once of the practice of taking the time to sit down and write your own Eulogy. What do you hope would be in it? You know - a Eulogy.. the thing people read at your funeral. What would the people close to you feel compelled to share with the world? Maybe I should ask it differently… What would you want the people closest to you to say about you when you're gone? Have you ever thought about that? I think that's one of my worse fears… is that someone would have to make something up… How would your behavior change today if you started living with this end in mind? For me, I would probably be more generous. I would probably take more risks. I would probably make more random phone calls to loved one's just to check in. I would probably make dinner for more people… That's just what comes to my mind. What about you? Today, think about the way you want to be remembered, and do something today that aligns with that desire. When you do, you might experience the confidence of knowing you are spending time investing in the things that matter most to you. So - think about that eulogy today. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

In today's interview on MDL, Cody Ferguson takes us along on his journey creating mindfulness. He opens up about his most meaningful relationships and what he has had to do to help them thrive. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

"A friend is someone who walks in when the whole world walks out.” Let's take a day to think about friendship. Who would be there for you if the whole world walked out on you? Think about it… I realize that when I ask this question you might have 3 possible responses. You have multiple people that would be there at a moments notice to help you through whatever you could ever go through. You're confident in their support for you. You may be able to think of one person who would be there for you If the the worst happened, there wouldn't be anyone left. If that is you… I am so sorry. That is a horrible place to be… to be in the place where you are suffering the brunt of your relationships that didn't last. The ones that fell apart… I don't think any of us make it our primary goal in life to experience this type. Of profound loneliness. I don't know what the reason is… or the narrative you have created in your head but let me share some truths with you that I hope will bring hope and healing to the lonely space in you today. Un-Forgiveness blocks new Friendships - We have all experienced a friendship in which the other party wronged us… at least in our perception. It could be they didn't show up to the party that meant a lot to you… It could be they lied to you… it could be they stole something from you. Whatever the case - until you forgive that person for hurting you (forgiveness does not mean you have to be friends again…) you lose capacity to create bonds with new people. So forgive. Choose to stop dwelling on how they wronged you. Unforgiven-ness will hold you back. Friendship is an opportunity for you to Give Love - So often we wish we had someone close who is willing to show us love and grace and compassion… to communicate… to initiate fun, create memories… Here is an idea if you are feeing lonely. What if you became the friend you wish you had to someone close to you? Until God is your friend, you will make your friends your God While I do believe we are wired for friendship… It first starts with becoming friends with God. Did you know you can be friends with God himself? Here is the truth. No human can meet every one of the needs you have. It's possible you are trying to get humans to meet the needs that only God can meet. Learn to Forgive - Give first - Start with God! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." Mother Teresa I know this lift might sound super elementary to you… but when you can work it into your every day routine I think it can change the game… You have the ability to make someone feel like a million bucks. Everyday. How crazy is that. That it doesn't matter what's in your actual bank account, but your intentional and uplifting language can thrust someone into a better headspace, can help someone not feel so lonely, can improve someones self-esteem… Isn't it funny how we know this to be true but we can be so… stingy with our words? Like we literally have to power to say something so simple to someone. I like your outfit! Or like even gas them up… “Yeah - you parented the mess out of those kids!” That kind of stuff changes peoples lives! Why do we keep that to ourselves? Maybe because we are fixated on ourselves and other people? I am guilty of that… Maybe we don't place importance on that act of speaking kind words? I don't know… But here is the truth… The most valuable gift you possess is the ability to speak kind words over people! To make them feel like a million bucks! Try that today… be generous with your words towards one person today! And make it a daily habit. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

"The question for the child is not, 'do I want to be good?' But, 'whom do I want to be like?'" Bruno Bettelheim Have you ever revisited this question that we all linger on as children? Who — in your life was your chosen role model? It could be a parental figure, or someone you saw on TV? A Character on a show or in a book? Let me run through a few questions with you that you can answer silently in your mind. Who did you emulate? Why did you emulate them? Who is emulating you? I ask these questions because… We can all take ourselves back to a time when we mirrored everything that someone did. Even if you are the most independent person in the world… we all look towards an example. And usually not just one! Like - I not only wanted to be like my mom & dad, but I wanted to swing a baseball bat like Ken Griffey Jr! That's normal… Can you remember how you would take every cue from them? Or in my case, practice their batting stance? Mirroring the way they walk, talk, argue, encourage… I want to encourage you today that just like you looked up to someone, there is a high likelihood that someone is looking up to you. Maybe it's your children, maybe a niece or nephew. maybe its an employee. Maybe it's a kid on the team you coach, or a neighborhood kid who was adopted. Do you think about that ever? When it comes to the decisions you make? The sins you resist? The words you speak? The tone you set? The things you smoke & drink & pop? I bet if you thought about it more - that fact that someone is looking up to you - it would greatly affect your decision making. So here is my challenge to you today… do something for someone worth emulating! You have what it takes to live a life worthy of replicating. So dwell on that, let it change your behavior… and you'd be surprised how impactful that might be for someone else. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

"Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." Louis Brandeis What did you dream about as a child? Go back to before you knew how hard life could get… the obstacles you would have to overcome… What did you dream about? Did you dream of becoming an Astronaut? A Firefighter? A Fashion Designer? A Mom? A Builder? A Speaker? To do what Dad does? Or to be a father like you never had? To be president of the United States? I want to revisit these dreams in our hearts. I could say — just to pump you up — go chase your dreams! Who knows! You could be president of the United States! But only 46 men in the last 250 years have achieved that… so maybe killing that dream is simply not self deprecation, but actually wisdom! At some point in life we have all had to lay down a dream and desire as we prioritize our responsibilities. I don't think we should loathe this process in life… there is a term for it… and I think it is a noble process that leads us toward maturity… It's the process of Sacrifice! Sacrifice the process of saying yes to the most important things in life. It's the realization of our human limits. We only have one body. There are only 24 hours in a day. We can't be two places at once. This reality forces us to say NO! To be honest with you, I SUCK at saying no! There are so many things I love about life! I'm a dreamer! A maverick type! I like new and change! So I like to think that none of the limits I just described apply to me… I learn the hard way! But what if in the process of sacrificing for what matters most, and taking responsibility for what you're responsible for, and finding your limits, and setting down roots… There was a part of you that just got used to killing your dreams? Today I want to remind you of this. You may never visit the moon… you may never have a pant-suit featured in a window on 5th avenue… but there is a dream inside of you that I believe you are destined to revive! Take some time today to dwell on dreams that burn like a subtle fire inside. Stoke that flame, and believe that it's time to dream again! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change.” -Brene Brown Today I want to address a silent killer. Grossly undercover yet on full display in the lives of so. many. That killer is - SHAME. How recently have you experienced shame? Not guilt… like you made a mistake… Not remorse… like you wish you had chosen to do something differently. Not public penitence… like you want show other people how contrite you are. Like the when you believe that your are a mistake… That you have too gravely fallen short so consistently that instead of it being an occasion it becomes your description. And not only a description of who you are, but of your future. Maybe you are in a place where you feel like you are beyond change. That you — regrettably — now have a life defined by your mistakes… If you feel this way, can I get honest with you right here, right now? You need to get Forgiven. Kev - do you mean “forgive myself?” Sure, but I am talking about accessing a forgiveness that can wash away your shame! What you need in your life is nothing a life-coach can solve, nothing a course can teach you out of, it is only through receiving the Grace of God himself through Jesus. Grace is generous, free and totally unexpected and undeserved… exactly the type of forgiveness available to you today through Jesus. He wants to help you break free of your shame. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“What do we live for if not to make life less difficult for each other.” – George Elliot I think this sentiment has the power to be life-changing for you. A complete perspective shift. Here is what I love about this quote… when it comes to “making life less difficult for the people around me” I have always internalized the notion in a self-deprecating manner. Do you do that? Immediately you mind goes to “I can make their life easier by taking some of my overly-complicatedness out!” Maybe you have felt like you are “too much”, or “too loud” or “too needy” or “too sad and too anxious too often…” So in order to make someone's life less difficult, you feel as though you have to appear less in their life. Would you allow me to speak against that mindset today? What if you had the power to carry a burden for and with someone? Think about the closest people in your life…think about what they carry, emotionally, financially, spiritually, physically. How can you take one action today to make their life easier? Some of you are financially blessed. You have much more than you need… well you have the great ability to make someone's life easier by paying a medical bill, a utility… what have you. Maybe someone is battling a spiritual war, where they need God to intervene in their situation… you praying for them out loud, or sending them a daily text every morning could be the help they need to let them know that they are not experiencing this difficulty alone! However it applies to you… you have the great ability to make a difference in someones life. Don't back down from this opportunity to fill your life with purpose, and to act on compassion towards those around you. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

In today's first ever MDL Interview episode, I sit down with Elisa Haggarty. She is a conscious leadership coach out of Brooklyn, New York and Host of “The School of Unlearning” Podcast follow her show here: https://apple.co/3z3XIo2 or on Spotify here: https://spoti.fi/3E3hIuO To stay connected with all of her content, follow Elisa on Instagram: https://instagram.com/elisamaryhaggarty?utm_medium=copy_link --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” - Philo Here is your friendly reminder today that when someone is not proactive in their relationship with you, when someone is creating distance in your friendship, when someone is quieter than normal… when that person isn't paying much attention to you.. that it is not always because of you. Too often in life we feel as though people are attacking our character through the way they unintentionally treat us. Here's what I mean by that… Not everything that affects you or hurts your feelings is a result of something you did or someone trying to hurt your feelings. I'm not saying that there people don't intentionally try to hurt you… because that can absolutely happen… But most of us assume that is happening way more than it does in actuality. Because here is the truth…. People are thinking about themselves way more than they are thinking about you… We all think about ourselves more often than we would like to admit… If you were honest… on any given day the way people experience you is directly connected to the internal battle you are facing that day. Try this today… The second an interaction with someone in your space goes south, respond with a compassionate thought. Don't let your mind swirl down the toilet bowl of insecurity, or anger, or revenge, or envy… Just be intentional about having a compassionate thought towards him/her. Build in your life what I call “positive regard” for the people around you and the internal or hidden situations that they are working through. You may have heard it said this way… the benefit of the doubt. At the end of the day, this is what Kindness and Compassion looks like practically in your everyday! Here's what I know… that in my darkest moments, I need people around me who have positive regard toward me, and extend the benefit of the doubt towards me when I haven't yet found the courage to share the battles I face. Today, you can be that friend for someone. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

Today, let's talk about a super faaar-out raaadical concept that you may have heard slip out of the mouth of the cool office millennial… Perhaps you are familiar with ‘The Minimalists' where I derived most of the content from tis show, from. Or… it's also very possible you saw something about it on Netflix! Let's talk about Minimalism. Just a forewarning, I would not consider myself a minimalist, and don't think that in order to achieve utopian nirvana… you have to live in a shipping crate. If that is your thing, I am so happy for you and proud of you… that's not my season right now! Instead, let's take a couple minutes and extract some concepts that I think you could implement tonight and improve your life. Let's start with a quote. “Minimalism is the thing that gets us past the things So we can make room for life's most important things Which turns out aren't things at all.” -Ryan Nicodemus The average American household has 300,000 items in it. So tonight, go through and count your things! Ha! Isn't that staggering? 300,000 items on average that usually do nothing more than take up space, or that we keep around just in case we might “eventually find it useful” What are some weird things you have kept in your attic or basement that for some reason you hesitate to get rid of? Maybe it's old clothing, sentimental items from your kid's preschool craft sessions, your high school sports awards… One thing immediately comes to mind for me. I keep around any and all nails, screws, brackets, or any leftover materials from DIY projects. Some of you could be commending me in your head right now… “He is so wise!” But little do you know that I have never ever once not gone to the local Home-Depot to buy all new materials for the next project! Don't you look at me like that! We all have our things. Whatever you hoarding tendencies are, here is the truth I want us to dwell on today. A Full life has little to do with things we accumulate. I'm sure there are some purchases or inheritances that temporarily brought you happiness… but don't play a role in your current level of joy. I would actually opine the opposite. My parents somewhat recently moved out of my childhood home. They describe their experience of de-cluttering one that has actually made them happier! It has made life simpler! They didn't realize how much their ‘stuff' had been subtly stealing their freedom. Now they are pretty much minimalists like the cool kids! All kidding aside, your one challenge today is this. Pick day to de-clutter your home, your bedroom, your office… whatever. See how you feel afterwards. Minimalism is not Deprivation-ism. It's not meant to deprive you of things you love. But here is a great question to ask yourself! Do the things I own have a purpose or bring me joy? Say yes to living life lighter! With less that weighs you down! To creating more room to fill your life with the things that no money can buy. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

A recent study was released that detailed how it's more dangerous to be lonely, than to smoke 15 cigarettes a day. Just to be clear, this is not an endorsement to smoke, and 15 cigarettes a day will not take away your loneliness… but the research behind this statistic is staggering. Especially when you consider the amount of time Human's are spending in complete isolation. Work from home? Hang out with friends less than ever? Live in a neighborhood but never ever talk to your neighbors? Have thousands of friends on social media but have never actually spoken to 90% of Them? Quarantine sure didn't help… We aren't going out as much in America… Our parties are less often and much smaller… Our wedding attendance is has been decimated… As a pastor, I did a couple funerals over Covid, and lines that used to be wrapped around the building are substituted for “virtual visitations” It is staggering. And I hope it doesn't sound like I am wagging my finger… not my intention at all… because the truth is I every behavior I just listed are observations I have made about my own social experience. I guess the way I would paint it in words is like this… We have created “an illusion of togetherness” Have you felt that? More “connected” than ever… but profound feelings of isolation. I want to ask you a question today, specifically about your current social patterns. Where in your life are you accepting counterfeit connection with other humans? Shallow, Digital, pass-by, connection. I'm sure some of it is unavoidable… not many of us have a choice as to whether we work remote or not… But what about the aspects of your life that you do have control over? Let's get super practical. When was the last time you made a loving & neighborly gesture toward the person or family who lives next to you. Not gesture like a wave, but like… you know… baked them cookies or something! That is a decision in your life that will foster real connectivity. How about this… When was the last time you hung out on your front porch and engaged with the people walking by. (I say this because we are absolutely a backyard, privacy fence, culture…) When was the last time you checked in with a friend? Voice-to-voice. Called them out of the blue with no agenda other than to tell them they were on your mind. When was the last party you threw? I'm talking a big gathering… not for a wedding, not for a birthday, not for a football game… but just to see people? In the days we are living in as a society… could it be that you have to search & destroy everything in you that wants to hunker down in your house and binge Netflix until Christs' return? I hope you make the decision in your life to punch loneliness in the nose, poke isolation in the eyes, and roundhouse kick the phrase ‘I'm so busy' to the curb. Here is the truth… Loneliness is not a nagging tension that we should strive to manage throughout our life. It is a silent killer that is ravaging the hope of the our world. So it's time to come out of isolation! Pick up the phone! Stick an invitation in their mailbox! Bake some cookies for goodness sake! Throw a block party! Your one attempt to connect with others could literally be the thing that saves someones life. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

Today's lift I want to do an exercise with all of you… Not only has this been super helpful for me and my wife… but it has provided us many many laughs since we first did this… so I hope it can do the same for you. First, let me tell you its origin story… While I wish it was a little more research laden, or an epiphany discovered mid discussion with a psychiatrist… but that is hardly the case. I actually saw this video while mindlessly scrolling through instagram… @doc_amen… (You will be hearing many more daily lifts derived from his content… I love his stuff…) In a video, said that one of the most helpful things you can do if you struggle with anxious or depressive thoughts is this… to “Name Your Brain”. Why does this help? Because if your mind has an identity of it's own, you can consciously choose whether or not to listen to it. I think it's brilliant. Some of you might not be anxious or depressed… but you have a stifling inner-critic that spews self-deprecating thoughts as friendly fire… Name Your Brain… Maybe you have a thought process that consistently leads you to over-promise and under deliver. You need to stop doing that. Name Your Brain… Whatever your thought patterns are… this could change the game for you. So let me as you if your brain had a name… what would it be? I'll go first… My brain's name is Terry. Terry can get a little out of hand. Terry tells me how horrible of a Dad I am, reminds me of how often I fall short, and cripples me with the worst ever ‘what ifs'. I don't listen to Terry anymore. So your turn to name your brain! And when you do, see your mindset start to slowly shift from one of pessimism to one of optimism… on of self-hatred, to self-determination… one of fear into one of courage. Choose today to not weigh every single one of your thoughts equally… trust me… your days will be lighter and more enjoyable because of it. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

Do you ever struggle to feel like your day was a “win?" Is it difficult for you to identify if you win ever in life? Or if you are winning, at what? I know I do. Here is our quote for today's lift: “Tiny victories are like gems scattered on your journey. Notice them.” Emma Xu. Maybe the question we should be asking ourselves is not, where am I winning? (Because I promise, you are winning somewhere…) but am I able to notice every tiny victory over the course of my day? Us humans are funny… It seems to be easy for us to think of all we NEED to do, all we DREAM of doing, all we STRIVE to do… but much harder for us to celebrate all we have ALREADY DONE. If we go about life only stopping to appreciate the ‘big stuff,' our celebration will be few and far between. Imagine if you took notice of all the tiny victories. Imagine the joy and gratitude you would experience… day after day… victory after victory… each time you simply pause to take each into account. Maybe your win for the day is checking off one thing on that to do list, probably not everything but one thing! You are on your way! What if your win is that you scheduled a date night with your spouse for the first time in a long time. It won't fix everything but you just took a step in a new direction! What if you did a 20 minute YouTube workout sometime today? You probably won't drop a single pound because of one workout but you sure will take a first step on a journey that could change your physical health for life! Or maybe you could reach out and let a friend know you are struggling. Thats a win! You let someone in on your journey to getting well! What will become abundantly clear to you each day is this… The Big Win is actually the skill of noticing the small wins. Don't miss even one! I can't wait for you to drop those insurmountable expectations of yourself. To break free from the self deprecating thought process… and live a life full of gratitude for how you have won each day. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

Today's lift comes straight from the Naomi Osaka twitter account. Naomi, 23 years old, is a Japanese professional tennis player. She has been ranked No. 1 by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and is the first Asian player to hold the top ranking in singles. She is a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, and is the reigning champion at the US Open and the Australian Open. Osaka was named a 2020 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year for her activism alongside the year's other prominent activist sports champions LeBron James, Breanna Stewart, and Patrick Mahomes, as well as medical worker Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. She was also honored as one of the Time 100 most influential people in the world in 2020 for her activism, having also been named to the list in 2019 for representing professional tennis well as an excellent role model and a major champion. Here is her tweet from August 29th, 2021 “Hi. I've been reflecting over this past year. So grateful for the people around me, because the support that I feel is completely unparalleled. Recently, I've been asking myself why do I feel the way I do and I realize one of the reasons is because internally I think I'm never good enough. I've never told myself that I've done a good job but I do know I constantly tell myself that I suck or I could do better. I know in the past some people have called me humble but if I really consider it I think I'm extremely self-deprecating. Every time a new opportunity arises my first thought is, “wow, why me?” I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm gonna try to celebrate myself and my accomplishments more, I think we all should. You got up in the morning and didn't procrastinate on something? Champion. Figured something out at work that's been bugging you for a while? Absolute legend. Your life is your own and you shouldn't value yourself on other people's standards. I know I give my heart to everything I can and if that's not good enough for some then my apologies but I can't burden myself with those expectations anymore. Seeing everything that's going on in the world I feel like if I wake up in the morning that's a win. That's how I'm coming.” -Naomi Osaka --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“You will never be the person you can be if pressure, tension and discipline are taken out of your life.” – Dr. James G. Bilkey In today's lift we are going to talk about the things in life that cause us the most constant strife… the things that help us grow and evolve… the things that without - your future suffers. These things are Pressure, Tension, and Discipline. So let me ask… What pressures are primary to your life right now? provide for your family? Lead a staff? Hold the family together? Perform well in school? What tensions are you wrestling with right now? meaningful relationships gone bad? Indecision towards your future? But what about discipline? I believe there is something special about it, and here is why…. Discipline is the structures you set up in life to help yourself carry life's pressures and tensions. The discipline of an early morning routine will give you momentum everyday to face the pressures of life. The answer might not be to stop engaging with pressing activities… maybe just to approach them differently. The discipline of how you approach broken relationships, or just relational rifts… will determine the strength and intimacy of your relationships. If you consistently approach them with anger? You Will drive people away. If you approach them with forgiveness? Different story. So today… I ask you consider the pressures intentions in your life. What disciplines can you engage in that will help you in your approach. I promise your ability to implement disciplines in your life, will enhance your quality of life. To handle the pressures you face, the tensions you manage… and to grow in the person you are destined to become. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“That the birds of worry and care fly over your head, this you cannot change, but that they build nests in your hair, this you can prevent.” – Chinese Proverb “When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened.” – Winston Churchill Today, let's have a quick chat about worry. I don't know how this nagging emotion has interacted with you in the past… maybe you feel consumed by it always, or have a fling with it every couple months, or you don't worry at all, ever… Wherever you land on the spectrum, I want to assure you that you are not wrong to worry. For example… My First Kid, my son, went off for his first day of school —ever. I am worried about a lot of things… Will he be nervous? Will he meet friends? Will he miss us? Is his sister going to miss him while he is at school? Am I going to be able to get him to school on time everyday… There is plenty to worry about. I find that to be true about almost everything in life… there is plenty to worry about. At your workplace, I am sure that there is plenty to worry about, your boss, the next project, an sabotaging coworker… At school, the bully, whether you make the team, will the boy/girl like you back? Parenting: are you raising your kids right? Are you screwing them up more than you are helping them? How much therapy will they have to attend to make up for my screw ups? There is PLENTY in life to worry about. Here is what I want to remember today. You don't have the capacity to worry about the things you have no control over.. WE WERE NOT BUILT TO FILL OURSELVES WITH WORRY. I have discovered that when I worry, I believe the lie that I am in control of a situation. With my son? I might be in control, kinda, of where he goes to school… but I am not in control of what happens to him while he is there. With my daughter? I might be able to comfort her in the short term while she misses her brother… but I cannot control the fact that she has to process these emotions eventually. So often, our worry begins where our control ends. Here is what I believe could transform your outlook… Maybe the answer to extinguishing your worry is to extend trust! Trust to who is in control… Maybe it is a friend, a teacher, a boss… Trust is when you release to control to someone else. Someone who is more powerful in any given situation than you are. Who is in control of aspects of your life that you aren't trusting? I want to encourage you today, give yourself permission to let others be in control (because they might just be)… and at the end of the day, my peace? It comes from trusting in God - who is in control of it all. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“Pretending to be someone that you are not is hurting yourself. It's telling yourself that the real you is worthless.” – Ritu Ghatourey Isn't it amazing how much of our lives we spend wishing away the things about our personhood that make us unique? The amount of time we spend envying the strengths and gifts of the people around us? Today, let's interrogate our insecurities… we all have them, and they all lead us towards behaviors that are less than dignifying… Here is what I perceive to be true. Humans with unchecked insecurities do the most damage. Think about it… Have you ever had an insecure boss? An insecure friend? The outcomes are not great… I am sure you do not want to be someone who affects people the way those people have affected you. Today, let's do an exercise to keep our insecurities in check. Let's use this working definition of insecurity… Uncertainty or Anxiety about oneself, lack of confidence. On a piece of paper or in your head, create three columns… The first - titled ‘Uncertainties' Here, think about all of the adjectives that describe you that you don't really know if they are a good thing or a bad thing? What if you made the decision to own what you are uncertain about? In the second Column, title this ‘Anxieties' What about you makes you anxious? What if you made the decision to give yourself a break from dwelling on these things? In the third section, write ‘Confidence' What inside of you do you know the world needs to see, but you lack the confidence to present it? What if you started making small moves to bring this hidden value inside of you to the world? Do all these and begin to picture a world where your insecurities don't drive your life any longer! Live a life free to offer 100% of who you were made to be. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“It's better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war.” -Chinese Proverb I love this proverb… Have you ever found yourself in a situation you haven't prepared for? Who knows why… maybe you just never thought that you would be in this situation. You never thought your finances would look like this… you never thought your teenage child would behave like this… you never thought that business partner would leave you. You never thought you would be alone at this age. Life has a way of placing us in situations that we feel not at all prepared for. When we experience seasons like this, how do we not just survive, but thrive? Understanding that we can't be ‘dooms day' preppers… we can't forecast all of the nuance of every possible scenario we may or may not find ourselves in… Here is my question for you… What have you been preparing for in life? Have you been preparing financially, vocationally, emotionally, spiritually… for a life of eventual ease? Early Retirement? Dreaming of the one day you can finally kick your feet up and relax? I think there is a part of all of us that dreams of this. Truth is, I haven't met many retired people that aren't also going through some of life's toughest transitions. Death of loved ones, transition of seasons of life, selling the company, dealing with the realities of the aging process… I am not trying to be morbid… Really just trying to help you paint an honest picture from my observations. You've seen it too. I want to put in front of you a new option today. What if we didn't just plan for a life of peace, paradise, and no responsibility… but if we planned for what we will eventually do when we find ourselves in crisis? Here are some more questions to help you work through this… one's I hope you have answers for in your personal life. When everything feels like it's falling apart… what do you trust? Or who do you put your trust in? If the worst-case scenario happened to someone close to you, why would it be ok? If you found yourself in crisis, what are 3 truths that you can lean on to get through? For me, these questions all lead back towards my faith in Jesus. For you? I'd love to hear. Here's what I know… is that while the world will make you think this thought process is one for the weak… it actually creates in you the fortitude to thrive in life no matter what happens to you. So you can enjoy every moment with proper perspective. So you can not be afraid of outcomes you can't control. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” ― C.S. Lewis When I say the word ‘PAIN'… what images do you see in your head? Maybe intense workout routines at the gym… Maybe plucking your eyebrows in the sensitive spot… Maybe a recent car accident you've been in, or those migraines you struggle with. That is all physical pain… what about emotional pain? Have you ever felt that? Such internal anguish - if even just for a moment - that what started as emotional, turns into physical? Emotional pain can be excruciating. Today's lift is a simple reminder… Your Pain is not “for nothing” Pain is always intended to send you a message. Just as physical pain is your nervous system alerting your brain of something gone bad, emotional pain is your soul telling you that something needs adjustment. So pay attention to the pain, and make a change! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“You can only find the right way after you lost it” ― Erik Tanghe Have you ever felt completely aimless? Like whatever you have been doing, whatever goal you have been chasing, whatever job you have been working… doesn't stimulate your soul any longer? Maybe your long-term relationship just ended. Maybe everyone else in class knows what they want to do with their lives… but you have no clue. You feel as if you have completely lost your way. If there is any comfort in me saying this, I hope you can sense it… Just because you have lost your way, does not mean that you are a lost cause. Let me say that again Just because you have lost your way, does not mean that you are a lost cause. You are discovering the version of you that exists in the absence of the goal-setting, of the approval seeking, of the expectation meeting… you are discovering a new version of you. This version of you will teach you so much about fulfillment, about meaning, about purpose, and will frame some your most important life objectives. Do Not Hate the “Lost” version of you. You aren't really lost, you are rediscovering. You are opening your soul up to new realities, to new truths, to humility, to kindness towards others going through this same thing. I can't wait to see the person you are becoming because of this lost season. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

Have you ever been shaken by the sudden loss of someone you loved or admired? Like the news of their passing is like a firm gut-punch? I have had a few of those recently. Out of the blue. It could be an illness that took them, a tragic event, taking their own life even… There are so many lessons to learn from these sudden events in life… There are so many questions we begin asking ourselves as we begin each of our individual journeys of grief. I should've, I could've, I won't get the chance to, I wish I'd… I get that. It's kind of unavoidable… Here is my one encouragement… almost “action step” for you today. Think of one person who has greatly impacted your life… maybe a coach… maybe a teacher… maybe a family member… maybe an old friend. Here is the step, and it is simple. Send them a ‘check-in' text. Right now. Nothing profound… just a “hey! I miss you. How are you doing?” I think it's a great question to ask yourself, too… why is this not a part of your daily or weekly rhythm? I am sure there are so many people who know you need to check-up on. Too awkward? They don't want to hear from me? You're probably overthinking. So let to day be the day… and reach out! Give people the gift of letting them know that they were on your mind. It might reignite a friendship, you might have reached out at a dark time… Who knows what's on the other side of one text, one FaceTime, one call… --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“When it rains, it pours…” -Anonymous Have you ever said this to yourself? When it seems like you can't catch a break? You know, your dog pooped on the carpet right after you stubbed your toe getting out of bed, right after you slept thru your alarm clock… One of those days… Where it seems as though everything that could go wrong, has… Maybe you have been in a season where it is not just pouring rain, but a torrential downpour monsoon. Like you're dealing with a sick family member, your finances are drowning you, your marriage is on the brink, You are lonelier than you have ever felt. All your joy has left, you are starting to wonder if things will ever get better. You have given up on the idea that you could ever feel true joy again… A torrential downpour of life. If that is you, I am so sorry. I know what that feels like, and it is miserable. To feel like all hope is lost. Will you let me be straight with you today? To tell you the truth you need to hear? That I needed to hear when I was in your spot? Your hardship does not have the authority to steal your hope. Your hardship does not have the authority to steal your hope. So when it rains, it pours… but when it pours? Look for the rainbow. Can I encourage you today? There is great purpose in your current hardship. Your pain won't be wasted. So, get back up when it is hard. Take the next right step. Even if it's small. There is a rainbow after every storm. Fix your eyes on the rainbows of life. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“Example is Leadership” -Albert Schweitzer Whatever context you find yourself in… here is what is true. You are responsible for leading yourself. You could be in a corporate leadership position… A position of spiritual leadership… maybe the captain of your team… or the leader of your family, or you could be leading nothing at all. Here is what we all share in common. We are all responsible to lead ourselves. So let me ask you the question… How well are you leading yourself? Rate yourself 1-10. Think about the different aspects of life. Physical, Spiritual, Mental, Emotional… How are you leading yourself in those areas? Broad questions, I know… but it's likely you already have areas that “need improvement” coming to mind. So what do you do to get better? Try harder? Maybe… Read a book about how to improve in that area? Can't hurt… Attend some sort of course on the 5 disciplines to improve in this or that? That would be cool… I want to offer an unorthodox solution today… because if we fall short in self leadership, I have found it is rarely a “knowledge” problem. We usually are well aware of what needs change in order to grow. What if it's actually a problem that lies within your “motivations?” Think about our quote today… “Example is Leadership” Ask yourself these questions… Who is following the example I set as I lead myself? Who is affected by how seriously I take leading myself? Who around me pays the price for my poor self-leadership? Here is my encouragement to you today… You have great influence on people! Try committing to leading yourself better! Not for you, but for the people around you! Let your self-leadership be a great example to the many people you influence. You've got what it takes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“Think of all the beauty still around you and be happy” -Anne Frank Most of you are familiar with the writings of Anne Frank… a Jewish teenager that lived in hiding for two long years in a secret annex from the Nazi's. On her 13th Birthday, Anne was gifted a diary in which she would pen what would turn into the “Diary of Anne Frank.” There she penned here experiences of living in hiding in the Secret Annex. Anne was eventually arrested and sent to Auschwitz, where her and her mother were eventually transferred to Bergen-Belsen, a labor camp for women. Both Anne and her mother died of exhaustion, eventually succumbing to Typhus. I want you to think about that context when I say this one more time… our quote today from Anne Frank. “Think of all the beauty still around you and be happy” Anne had every right to forfeit her happiness. She had every right to live each day in paralytic fear. Anne chose to dwell on the beauty that remained. Here is today's encouragement… You hold the power to name your situation. No matter what is not working, no matter what you are battling, no matter who opposes you, no matter what could happen to you… Choose to see the beauty not in what has been taken or lost, but in what remains. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“God brings men into deep waters not to drown them, but to cleanse them.” Have you ever experienced a profound and overwhelming sense of inadequacy? Like you don't have what it takes to make it another day? Like you don't have the skill, the patience, the hope, the money, the gifts, the support… Like whatever it takes to live life well, I don't possess that. Congratulations… you have arrived at a potentially life-altering roadblock. I refer to it as this… “the end of yourself.” You have fallen short. You have realized in fact… you are not good enough. You in fact are too poor. You in fact do have a sucky job… it's a fact, your marriage does need to improve. Welcome to the end of yourself. How do you know you are here? You feel like life is suffocating you. It feels as though you are drowning, and sinking deeper and deeper from the life you thought you were going to live… Don't be alarmed. You have arrived at a place that is not all meant to destroy you… no… this place is meant to give you an incredible gift. The gift of Humility. Empathy. Generosity. You are learning what it is like to feel as though all hope is lost.. Now, it is time to take this profound pain, and use it to help people! What do you wish people would have done for you in your most desperate moment? Now do that thing for someone else! What do you you wish people would have given you when you felt like you were drowning? Now give that to someone! It could be money, a helping hand, an invite to a party… If you have arrived at the end of yourself, it's time to start using the experience to live a life of service to those around you. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

What are your responsibilities in life? Think about yours right now. Are you a mom? Responsible for the livelihood of your children? Are you a husband? Responsible for the treatment of your spouse? Are you a student? Responsible for your schoolwork and building lasting relationships? Are you an employer? Responsible for the well-being of your employees? Are you an employee? Responsible for carrying out the mission of your company? What are your responsibilities? We all have them… and the importance of each is relative. How do you approach your responsibilities each day? Are they a burden? Are they heavy? Are they arduous? If this is your relationship to what it is you are responsible for, your spirit and vigor for life itself will slowly grind away… I'm sure of that. Today, what would it look like to shift your mindset? What if we started carrying our responsibilities differently? What if instead of a burden you saw your responsibilities as opportunities? Let me show you… Hey you - mom… I know your life is pandemonium and its hard to feel like you have any time to yourself… but you are sowing important seeds into your children. You are teaching them how to function in life, you are instilling inside them values that will guide their future. Your voice will ring in their heads forever… this is a great responsibility. Don't overlook it. Hey you - employee… I know your work feels monotonous and your pay too little… but how you execute your daily duties says everything about your character! You are building a heart of trustworthiness for those in authority over you as well as the people that work next to you. This is a great responsibility. Don't overlook it. Your responsibilities are more important than you know… Luke 16:10 says this, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” How you handle your current responsibilities will make way for your future responsibilities… And you have great responsibilities in front of you and ahead of you! Each of your responsibilities are an opportunity for you to actuate your true character. Attack it with positivity! Strive to do it with excellence! Give it your best, even if its not perfect! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

Do you have a circle of people that surround your life? The people that you look to for affirmation? The people you lean on when making decisions? The people that speak wisdom into your life? This group of people has the potential to be some of the most encouraging and life-giving… help you work through hard things… But what if your circle is the opposite? What if they are toxic? Negative? Arrogant? Jealous? A great circle of influence can catapult your life to heights you could never imagine. A toxic circle can induce self-deprecating, limiting, negative thoughts that will hold your life back. If you have a great circle, keep it up. Lean on them. Ask them for advice. Sky is the limit. If you have a toxic circle here is my advice to you. While you can't choose your family of origin, you can't always choose who you work with or go to school with.. You do get to choose who gets the PRIVILEGE to have a say in your life. Here are two questions to ask yourself… What thoughts swirl in your mind that originated from a toxic person? About yourself? About your flaws? About your character? How can you begin to replace those thoughts with positive ones? Here is today's encouragement… Stop letting the words of toxic people keep you from living your best life. They don't “deserve” a say You don't “owe” them space in your mind. Begin to believe that there is goodness inside of you, Even greatness inside of you. Start to find a circle that will help you live the best life possible. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

Raise your hand right now if you are PERFECT! Come on, don't be shy. If you've never made a mistake! Keep that hand up. Never done something so dumb… Never hurt another person! Keep your hand high! Is your hand up? Hopefully not, because none. of. us. are. perfect. I would imagine you are as painfully aware as I am of this truth. Isn't it hilarious how we spend so much time trying to convince people around us of how good we are? Either how “good” our character is, or how “good” our bank account is, or how “good” our kids are! It's hilarious! For example, I tell people all the time how my kids are so “well-behaved”, and sometimes they are…. But most of the time, I'm lying… they can be real monsters! And guess what… It's OK to not be perfect! Here is the real problem… Not only do we present like we are perfect, but we act like others should be perfect toward us… Have you ever expected someone to be a perfect friend to you? Or a perfect customer? Or a perfect co-worker? Or a perfect child? Here is the issue… No one is perfect. So today, let's try something… what if we gave one relationship in our life a second chance. “But if you knew what they did to me…” “But if you knew how bad they hurt me…” “But if you knew what they did!” I will never know any of that stuff… but what I do know, is that you have the strength inside you to forgive, and offer a second chance! What if the relationship heals? What if the person is genuinely sorry? What if your friendship grows into something more beautiful than before? Give it a shot, offer a second chance. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“Why am I doing this?” Have you ever asked yourself why you are doing what you are doing? Profound question. Why do you work where you work? Why is your business in business? Why do you believe what you believe? Why do you treat people how you treat them? It forces you to really think deeply about…everything, really. Have you asked “why” questions of yourself lately? You might have even wondered why I have started this Podcast? Honestly, I have started it for my Kids. I fully understand the unpredictable brevity of life, and I want to leave as much behind for them as I can. What I share with you I hope is as life-changing for you as it would be for them in case something happened to their dad. It's not content I just “hope” is true… It is the overflow of the transformational experiences I have encountered in life. Even just an opportunity for my kids to hear my voice again. What has this “why” done for me? It has elevated my perspective on my project. It has made it not about praise or listens or views or likes… It has made it about legacy. My encouragement to you today is this… Even if you haven't identified it yet… Your life has an incredible “why!” There is purpose in what you are involved in! There is people who need to experience what you have to offer! Get out of autopilot - Engage in a life with a higher purpose, and leave a great legacy for the people that will follow in your footsteps. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

“Unforgiveness is like drinking poison waiting for someone else to die.” -Disputed Have you ever been fixated on an antagonistic figure in your life? For some reason, this person… whether an abuser, someone who abandoned you, someone who wronged you, someone who stabbed you in the back… lives in your head? Someone you think about every day? Someone you are often mad at, even though you don't speak to them any more? Would you mind if I got in your business a little today? Have those thoughts ever changed what happened to you? What they did to you? What they said about you? Unfortunately, we feel like “getting back” at people could be the only way to work through pain. I'm so sorry about what happened to you… I'm sure it was unfair. I know you didn't deserve it. Let me lift you up today… Here is a truth! You deserve to live a life free of grudges! You have the strength to forgive! Forgiving doesn't mean to forget… forgiving doesn't mean restoring relationships… forgiving means to allow yourself move into a new life of freedom. Take a step in forgiveness today, because I don't want to live in unforgiveness… “Unforgiveness is like drinking poison waiting for someone else to die.” -Disputed --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message

Here is my expectation for your day. Today could be the day that changes everything for you! “No it's not, Kevin… you don't know the first thing about me!” What does that have to do with anything! Why not today? It could be the day that changes your entire life! Sure, you could win the lottery… Sure, you could get a life-changing check in the mail… Sure, you could get the phone call you've been waiting on… The raise… The Job… The news… I hope all of that is true for you! What today is really all about is not any of that… its this question…. What level of Expectation do you live your life with!? My guess is, like me, when you hear… “today is the day!” Your heart leaps! It leaps at the wonder… it leaps at the opportunity… it cracks through the cynicism that we've built up! Let me say it again then — “Today could be the day!” What would happen if you postured every day like the magical day it could be! It could be the day where I meet the one! It could be the day where I don't feel depressed anymore! From my heart to yours… Today could be the day! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kevin-ilich/message