Self-honesty is not putting yourself down or feeling sorry for yourself. Self-honesty is looking at things as they are and then being compelled to make changes.
There are lifetimes where one goes off into the Himalayas and meditates in a cave. But this is not really one of those lifetimes for most people. Our earth has changed.
You don't want to become so sensitive that you can't interact with people in the world. If you get to that point ... you are running away from the world, and you've made yourself weak.
We seek absolute neutrality in Buddhism. We don't want to be drawn into anything in particular. We don't want to be pushed away from anything in particular.
Be concerned with the welfare of others, without any sense of self-importance, that one is better because one meditates or leads a certain type of life.