RSRH Zatzal points out from Shimon and Levi that a Jew is: בְּ ע צ ם essentially a tough person, and it’s no Mitzva to always be soft and Eidel. There is a time and place for: אַ מִּ יצוּת courage, which Novardok was famous for. So much Zikkui HaRabbim is lost because of fear of humans. Usually, your meekness and softness can be overcome if you work on it. It will make you a “free” person, and it gets you out of your self-imposed lifetime “jail”.
I once discussed working on: אַ מִּ יצוּ ת courage with R' Gershon Liebman Zatzal, and he told me that my Avodas: אַ מִּ יצוּת courage depends upon how much I want to spend my life all locked up with fear of other people’s opinions. I counted 14 Pesukim where Yaakov Avinu defended himself and praised his own integrity and decency (to Lavan and to his wives).
