LIVING WITHOUT FEAR
Living Without Fear is the intimate story of a woman who spent decades wrestling with the shadows of self-doubt, insecurity, and the quiet ache of not feeling enough. Journalist and children’s book author Esther Buerki opens her heart and her past with disarming honesty, sharing how fears shaped her life — the fear of failing, of being judged, of not being seen, heard, or held the way she longed for.
For years, she moved through life with a brave face while feeling small inside. Depression, emotional pain, and the silent belief that something was wrong with her accompanied her through many chapters of her life. And yet, a soft, persistent voice inside kept whispering that life could be different.
At 57, she dared to listen.
Through gentle methods and surprisingly simple exercises, Esther learned how to guide her emotions instead of being swept away by them. Step by step, she discovered how to shift her thoughts into kinder, lighter pathways — and slowly began to create the life she had always dreamed of: grounded, joyful, and deeply empowered.
In Living Without Fear, she shares this journey with you — not as a teacher on a pedestal, but as a woman who walked through the fire and found her own light.
You will find true-to-life guidance, practical tools, and heartfelt encouragement that help you loosen the grip of fear and self-judgment, and open the door to a more confident, peaceful, and fulfilled life.
The foreword is written by Mahindra Raj, Master and Platinum Performance Results Coach at Robbins Research International, whose words reflect the heart of this book. He writes:
“Esther goes above and beyond to help people create breakthroughs. She is living proof that anyone can free themselves from the past and begin creating the life they truly deserve and desire.”
This book is an invitation — gentle yet powerful — to believe that change is possible for you, too.
And that it’s never too late to step into your own courage.
What readers say
“I am totally flashed and very touched. I am devouring your book and have now landed on page 117 and tears are streaming down my face, because I also experience this feeling of gratitude and love. To your book, I can only say ‘Wow’! I’m sure you will encourage many people with your openness when they are ready for change.”
B.C., Switzerland
***
“It’s fantastic! Your style of writing reminds me of the best-selling book “Educated” by Tara Westover.”
B.R., USA
***
“Esther’s book ‘Living without Fear’ is a touching and vulnerable story that gives hope, inspiration, and practical tools for overcoming whatever life throws your way.”
D.G., Switzerland
***
“In her book, Esther Bürki provides the readers with true-to-life tips to overcome fear. In her autobiography, she describes in an impressive and honest way how she struggled for years with fears, self-doubt, and depression.
She was brave and generous to gift her story to the world. With concrete exercises, she brings you page after page into faith, in yourself, in others, in nature. You’ll get goosebumps and concrete steps to make a place for joy in your life. Thank you, Esther, for bringing me further into life without fear.”
E.P., Switzerland
***
“Your writing is great. You write authentically and deeply. I’m so happy to get to know you and to be able to participate in your development process.”
A.N., Germany
***
“Thank you for reading your powerful and thought-provoking story. My wide-screen imagination was running at full speed. Parallels kept popping up in these personal stories, letting me know that I’m not alone in my own experiences from childhood and adolescence. For me, your motivating charisma is a ray of hope.”
M.G., Switzerland
***
“Your book is wonderful and healing. A few tears at first…and I’m sure there will be more. It opens my heart. It touches. When I read it in the evening, I always fall asleep well and wake up content, happy, and closer to myself. I’m looking forward to what other feelings it triggers in me, and I’m excited about more great exercises.”
M.L., Switzerland
***
“It’s beautiful how openly you describe what you experienced. I’m sure that will help many!”
A.G., Switzerland
WHAT DO NEWSPAPERS WRITE?
“Der Landbote”, Winterthur, 17.12.2022
“The birth went terribly. The umbilical cord had wrapped around his neck a few times. I was terrified.” Fear of losing one’s child, fear of failure, fear of poverty. Fear of a life of mediocrity. Fears long defined the life of Winterthur children’s book author, podcaster, and writing coach Esther Buerki, who also writes for the “Landbote” as a freelancer. In her book which is definitely also self-therapeutic, she now describes these fears relentlessly, one after the other. She gives readers insight into therapy sessions and psychoanalyses in which she picks apart the fears and seeks childhood explanations for them.
The descriptions are a wild ride from hopelessness through the first newspaper article, perfectionism, through generations of inherited war trauma, suicidal thoughts, dealing with money, and finally into the Covid lockdown that changed the way she viewed her parents.
The anecdotes are well-structured and personal, yet told so vividly and authentically that others can relate.
This autobiographical half is followed by specific tips on how to face self-doubt and anxiety. Some of the approaches she herself learned in personality coaching sessions are special and surprising. Some tips, however, are more generalities that can already be found in large numbers on motivational coaching websites.
In the prologue, Esther Buerki expresses the hope that her book can help others struggling with their self-worth and fears. Whether or not this succeeds is probably based on the individual situation of the readers and how much they have already dealt with the topic of self-worth. In any case, the book captivates with its direct narrative style. Browsing through it feels like having a delicious cappuccino with a good friend in a cute café.
READ HOW THE BOOK CAME TO LIFE
In her blog, Esther shares the story of her journey of writing and publishing this book.
