08/06/2026
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