Coaching by Kieran

This week is Men's Mental Health Week.
I wanted to share some of the simple things that genuinely help me stay steady when life feels busy, stressful, or uncertain.
Nothing revolutionary.

Just practical things that have helped me over the years, including movement, purpose, good conversations, systems, hobbies, and focusing on what I can control.

If you're interested, you can read the full article below:
https://coachingbykieran.com/articles-and-reflections/f/men’s-mental-health-what-actually-helps-me-stay-steady

I'd be interested to hear what helps you.

One idea I’ve been thinking about recently:

The Craftsman Mindset.

Many people spend years trying to find their passion.

What if the better approach is to build valuable skills first?

Confidence often follows competence.

The more evidence we collect that we can learn, improve and contribute, the more confident we become.

Maybe the question isn’t:

“What should I do with my life?”

Maybe it’s:

“What skill is worth building?”

Become useful.

Become capable.

Keep improving.

The rest often follows.

Read more here
https://coachingbykieran.com/articles-and-reflections/f/the-craftsman-mindsetstop-chasing-passion-start-building-skill

Many young people think confidence comes from getting things right.

I think it usually comes from something else.

Try something.

Notice what happens.

Learn from it.

Adjust.

Try again.

That's how experience is built.

The footballer who stays calm under pressure wasn't born that way.

The confident student wasn't born that way.

The person who handles setbacks well wasn't born that way.

They've simply seen more situations, learned from them and adjusted.

One of the most useful beliefs a young person can adopt is:

"If I'm paying attention, mistakes become experience."

And experience becomes confidence.

https://coachingbykieran.com/articles-and-reflections/f/trial-error-intuition-how-experience-is-really-built

A lot of young people don’t need more pressure.

They need more clarity.

One of the first things I do in coaching is help them understand where they are now before trying to change anything.

What’s going well?

What’s feeling difficult?

What keeps showing up?

What would make the biggest difference?

That first step matters because confidence often starts with clarity.

I’ve written a short article about the Life Dashboard exercise I use with clients and why awareness comes before change.

Useful one for parents, students, college leavers and young adults who feel a bit stuck.

https://coachingbykieran.com/articles-and-reflections/f/the-first-step-i-take-with-every-young-person-i-coach

Authentic Confidence Starter Pathway

This is a 4-session coaching pathway designed to help young people build real confidence — not fake positivity, and not just being told to “believe in yourself”.

It’s aimed at young people who may be struggling with things like:

* self-belief
* overthinking
* fear of judgement
* social confidence
* school, college or work confidence
* taking action before they feel ready

Across the sessions, we look at what confidence actually is, what gets in the way, and how to build confidence through small real-world actions, evidence and self-trust.

The aim is for the young person to leave with clearer thinking, practical tools, and a simple confidence plan they can keep using.

The pathway includes 4 x 60-minute sessions over 6 weeks and is currently available at a launch price of £295.

If this sounds useful for your child, you can book a free introductory call here:

https://calendly.com/coaching-by-kieran/introsession

Free Introduction Session 🚀 - Coaching by Kieran Free 30-Minute Introduction SessionIf you are new to coaching with me, this is the best place to start.This session is a chance to talk through what is going on at the moment, what support may be helpful, and whether coaching feels like the right fit.We’ll explore what you would like to work on, h...

A lot of us are not only dealing with what happened.
We are also dealing with how often we replay it.

A difficult conversation.
A regret.
A worry.
A sense of unfairness.
A stressful season the mind keeps returning to.

That replay has a cost:

* more anxiety
* less presence
* quicker frustration
* less peace in everyday life

One Stoic question I keep coming back to:

Do I want to keep paying for this with my attention?

I wrote a short article on resentment, rumination, and what strength can look like here through a Stoic lens — acceptance, focusing on what you can control, and taking the lesson rather than just carrying the pain.

Read the full article here:
https://coachingbykieran.com/articles-and-reflections/f/resentment-rumination-and-the-cost-of-replaying-what-has-alread

One Stoic idea I keep coming back to:

Guard your inner command centre.

Not every thought deserves a seat at the table.
Not every outside event deserves authority over your whole day.

I’ve written a short piece on protecting your mind, handling impressions more wisely, and living with more steadiness.

https://coachingbykieran.com/articles-and-reflections/f/guard-your-inner-command-centre

Photo by Ian Stauffer on Unsplash

A simple question I come back to a lot with clients:

What’s Important Now?

When everything feels important, very often nothing is.

That is usually when people start overthinking, drifting, or giving energy to the wrong things.

Sometimes the most useful move is not to do more. It is to stop, cut through the noise, and focus on what actually matters next.

I’ve written a short piece on this here:
https://coachingbykieran.com/articles-and-reflections/f/win-what’s-important-now

WIN: What’s Important Now? A lot of people do not struggle because they have nothing to do.