I have lacked self esteem most of my life. I am 64 now, And it has been uphill for me since I can remember...
I used to walk long distances all the time when I went with my parents to a club down by the beach. A few of my friends would go there on weekends and we would hang around short periods of time.
When I could not find anybody, I would walk and walk...
I was involved in swimming and volleyball... I always knew something was off kilter but wasn’t able to deal with it until much later in life...
fat forwarding to these days, I rediscovered that I still look to other people for approval... I need to continue to understand that SELF esteem derives from self, and that wether or not people like me or accept me for who I am, I need to develop that Stoic attitude that my mind is in my power, to set better boundaries, to change my perspective on failure, and to choose my own path...
It has been of much help to believe in something or someone better than me, my Higher Power, whom I choose to call God. I know this is not much of a stoic thought but...
I have relied on my Higher Power most of my life, I would be dead or in an institution if I did not have God in my life.

Once again, good thread. I need to continue to learn more and more...