Brad Yetman - Counsellor & Speaker

**Monday Mental Edge 🧠 | #008**

Over the last two weeks, we’ve talked about getting stuck in the past and getting caught up in the “what ifs” of the future.

Today’s Mental Edge brings us back to where we actually have influence:

**Right here. Right now.**

**Be where your feet are.**

This is a strategy I come back to often in my presentations and in my work with athletes and high performers.

When pressure rises, our attention can quickly move somewhere else — replaying the last mistake, worrying about what comes next, or trying to anticipate every possible outcome.

Grounding ourselves in the present doesn't make the pressure disappear.

It gives us a chance to **respond to the moment we're actually in.**

Take a breath.
Notice where you are.
Bring your attention back.

Then ask yourself:

**“What do I need to focus on right now?”**

You don't need to solve yesterday.
You don't need to figure out tomorrow.

**Be where your feet are.**

That's where your attention can have the most impact.

Sometimes our minds get caught up in everything that *might* happen.

*What if I make the wrong choice?*
*What if things don't work out?*
*What if something goes wrong?*

It’s natural to want certainty. We want to know how things will turn out before we take the next step.

But the truth is, sometimes we simply **don't know yet.**

And that's okay.

Instead of trying to solve the future, try coming back to what’s in front of you.

**What do I know right now?**
**What can I control right now?**
**What can I do right now?**

You don't have to have all the answers today.

**Get out of the “what if?” and into the “what now?”**

And hey! If it is tough getting out of the what if, have you ever thought "what if it goes well?"

Have a great Monday. 🧠

Sometimes we get caught up in what already happened.

The mistake we wish we could take back.
The conversation we keep replaying.
The opportunity we wish we had handled differently.

It’s okay to look back. There’s often something there for us to learn.

But we don’t have to stay there.

Take what you can from the moment, give yourself some grace, and then bring your attention back to what’s in front of you.

**What can I do from here?**

You may not be able to change what happened, but you can still choose what comes next.

**Look back to learn. Look forward to act.**

Have a great Monday. 🧠

Wednesday Wisdom 🧠

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to deliver 8 presentations and speak with athletes about mental wellbeing, confidence, authenticity, and performance.

But some of the most meaningful moments don’t happen during the presentation.

They happen afterward.

The athlete who stays behind to ask a question.
The conversation that starts because there's a sense of safety created.
The realization that someone else has experienced the same thing.
The lightbulb moment of how a skill can help in sport and every day life.

Those conversations are a reminder that creating space to talk can be just as important as the information we share.

That’s what Wednesday Wisdom is about — sharing the lessons, conversations, and reminders that can help us navigate sport, work, and life a little better.

Most times the most important part of the conversation happens after the presentation.

Our feelings can be powerful.

Anxiety can make us want to avoid something.
Frustration can make us want to react.
Fear can make us want to step back.

And sometimes, those feelings are telling us something important.

But a feeling doesn't always have to make the decision for us.

We can acknowledge what we're feeling, get curious about where it comes from, and give ourselves space to choose how we want to respond.

That doesn't mean ignoring our emotions.

It means learning to feel and listen to them without letting them lead every time.

This week's Monday Mental Edge is a simple reminder:

❤️ **Feelings are information, not instructions.**

Pause.
Name it.
Get curious.
Choose your response.

What might change if you gave yourself a little more space between **what you feel** and **what you do**?

The conversation around mental wellbeing in sport is ever evolving and changing in today's world. has always made this a priority for their participants.

The last two weeks I had the opportunity to spend time with their participants to chat about authenticity, mental health, my experiences and mental skills that may help them perform their best-not only in hockey, but in life.

My goal isn't to deliver a motivational speech. It's to provide practical tools and perspectives that athletes can use and to help them build skills that they can use not just in sport, but everyday life.

Thank you to the Cleary Hockey program for once again giving me the opportunity to chat. Look forward to it every year!

Our minds are constantly creating thoughts.

Some encourage us.

Some challenge us.

Some help us move forward.

And some can leave us feeling stuck.

The interesting thing is that not every thought deserves the same amount of our attention.

Sometimes our first thought isn't our most helpful thought.

When we learn to pause, notice what's happening, and respond with curiosity instead of immediately reacting, we create space to make choices that align with who we want to be—not just how we feel in the moment.

That's a skill.

And like any skill, it can be practiced.

This week's Monday Mental Edge is a simple reminder:

💭 Notice your thoughts.

💙 Choose your response.

What's one thought you've caught yourself questioning or reframing lately?

It's easy to believe that we need the perfect plan, the perfect timing, or the perfect version of ourselves before we take action.

But chasing perfection often freezes us.

Progress looks different.

Progress is showing up even when things aren't "perfect".

It's learning from mistakes instead of fearing them.

It's recognizing that growth happens one step, one conversation, and one decision at a time.

Whether you're an athlete preparing for competition, a student starting something new, or simply trying to navigate everyday life, meaningful change rarely happens all at once.

It happens through small, consistent actions.

This week, ask yourself:

**What's one small step I can take today instead of waiting for perfect?**

Earlier this week, we talked about how confidence isn't something we have to wait for—it grows through action.

The same idea applies to asking for support.

So many of us grow up believing that counselling is only for the moments when life feels overwhelming. We tell ourselves we'll reach out if things get worse, or that someone else probably needs the support more than we do.

But what if we looked at mental wellbeing a little differently?

We don't wait until we're unhealthy to start looking after our physical health. We prepare for the moments that matter. We invest in ourselves because we know those habits help us navigate whatever comes next.

I believe our mental wellbeing deserves that same care.

Counselling isn't only about getting through life's most difficult moments. It can also be a space to slow down, reflect, better understand yourself, and develop the skills that help you navigate everyday life with greater confidence, resilience, and purpose.

You don't have to be in crisis to deserve support.

You don't have to have all the answers before reaching out.

Sometimes, choosing to invest in yourself is reason enough.

💙 What's one small way you take care of your mental wellbeing before life becomes overwhelming?