Acharya Prashant explains that feeling hurt or sentimental by someone's words is not a matter of emotional sensitivity but a sign of dependency and self-interest. He clarifies that we do not get hurt by the words of strangers or those we truly love; rather, we feel hurt by those upon whom we are dependent for some gain. Using the example of a boss, he points out that a boss's criticism causes distress because it threatens one's financial security. When dependency ends, the same person's words lose their power to cause pain. Therefore, the tendency to be easily hurt is often seen in those who are economically, emotionally, or socially dependent on others. He further discusses how praise and criticism are two sides of the same coin. If one enjoys being praised, they will inevitably be wounded by criticism. This cycle exists because the ego is ignorant and constantly seeks validation from others to define itself. Acharya Prashant describes the desire for respect as a subtle form of entrapment that is harder to renounce than material wealth. He quotes that even great masters have been consumed by the desire for respect. He concludes that a person living through the ego remains a slave—if not to others, then to their own thoughts. True freedom belongs only to the one who is self-reliant and does not depend on the world's opinion for their sense of self.