Learn to laugh at your silly Kin'ah, Ta'ava, and Kavod issue, and picture how stupid Bilam looks when, instead of being astounded by a talking donkey, he just continues talking to it. “You embarrassed me! If only I had a sword, I’d kill you for that!” The person who is drunk with his lust for Kavod simply doesn’t see straight, and he doesn’t chap reality! You’d be shocked how people, even the most Chashuv, can spend a lifetime without addressing their Middos issues.
They can live a lifetime of Hakpados and resentment and hidden anger and subtle and not so subtle jealousies and plenty Sin'as Chinam, Rachmana Litzlan. I have seen many super successful people, even in Ruchaniyus, and all kinds of great people who are much admired by all. Yet, since they weren’t involved in breaking their Middos in a major way and aiming for their own (sometimes unknown) weakness, they suffered terribly, including Pikuach Nefesh health issues, Rachmana Litzlan. For good reason the Gr”a said: the main Chi'yus (life) of a person is Shviras HaMiddos.
By the way, working on self-esteem and kosher Ga'ava can be 1000% Tikkun HaMiddos. So much pain, like Shalom Bayis, depression, anxieties, and all kinds of dysfunctions can be traced just because of a failure to make an Ikar out of Tikkun HaMiddos. As long as you try your best, and you give Middos time and effort and plenty of Tefila, and especially by asking lots of Eitzos.
