The search for self-esteem may not stop there, however; the quest often leads to toxic self-delusion and psychic pain. Research shows that when people focus on building, protecting, and maintaining self-esteem, they can become less able to focus on what they really value. They are more likely to feel pressured, stressed, and anxious and to be less resilient when facing challenges. For example, students who base their self-esteem on academic achievement suffer when they receive a low grade and will be at increased risk for depression—especially if they are already prone to it. Similarly, people who generate rosy stories about themselves begin to think they are better than other people. As that happens, rather than helping us feel that we belong, holding tightly to our self-stories makes us feel alienated and alone. Genuine self-esteem is soft and open to our own flaws; the kind built on pretense is rigid, defended, and rejecting of self-honesty. The difference is fusion with our conceptualized self-stories.