As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 (NKJV)
People with low self-worth often feel hurt by others. Let me give you an example to demonstrate how destructive poor self-esteem can be when it comes to our relationships.
Let’s pretend that I just had my dislocated right shoulder put back into place but I don’t mention it to my co-workers. When I walk in to work, the first person I encounter shakes my hand. Although this friendly gesture wouldn’t hurt normally, it brings excruciating pain to me. On my way to my office, this happens several more times. Instead of realizing that my co-workers are unaware of my pain, I assume that everyone is out to hurt me and I shrink away from these relationships.
People who try to derive their self-worth from their achievements and performance also walk around with an injury. Because they value themselves only for what they can do and not for who they are, being criticized for a poor performance or lack of achievement is excruciating to them. Their fragile self-esteem is even further lowered.
Does this mean that others should tip-toe around our sore spots in life? Actually, it is up to us to allow God to heal us with His Word and give us a great sense of self. It is okay to want to be respected and admired for our work, but our achievements don’t give us worth. Someone who solves the problem of world hunger is just as valuable as a homeless alcoholic on the street. Wrap your head around this fact and you will not be so easily hurt when someone critiques your performance or gives you suggestions for improvement.