How to overcome low self esteem?

I’m going through divorce and after being a stay at home parent for 9 years I need to start supporting myself and my children. I don’t want to go back to the career that I (barely) started before I had kids and instead am setting up a business doing what my actual passion is. I have everything mostly ready for launching but I just can’t find the confidence to actually do it. I constantly worry about what everyone will think, what if I fail. It would be the biggest satisfaction to my husband, who has done nothing but try to undermine me and tell me I don’t have what it takes to be successful. I’m just so scared with so much being at stake.

I think what you are describing is very common fear among people about to start a new business based on their passion. So it is a common fear even without the added insult of having been undermined by your husband. I hope that realizing that there is shared humanity in what you are going through will help you find the courage to just dive in.

Also, try focusing not on self-esteem but instead on self-compassion. Look up research and meditations and Youtube videos by Kristin Neff. She explains why self-compassion is a better focus area than improving self-esteem.

People will think what they want. I'm a lifetime entrepreneur. It doesn't matter what they think. When I was successful everybody was my friend. When things went sideways, people vanished. All of these people work in an institution or worse, so it's easy to return fire. Entrepreneurism is tough, and it's a ride, even at the best of times.

My advice is to just work on the things you need to get done. Best approach is to manage lists of things to get done. Get a MVP (minimal viable product) working and selling. Then build. Entrepreneurs are resilient (one of the reasons I'm in here, to fix my issues), and we enjoy accomplishing the things that get in the way. When people piss you off, ask them how they handled their startup, and watch their face. Then say 'exactly'.

Treat yourself well (diet, exercise, sleep, hydration) and every week reflect on what you accomplished. Go out for a glass of wine and enjoy what you're doing.

Very interesting thread...

Hope things are going well for you, Scarlett.