Ego Protection

From the Ellis Deck, the Five of Swords; from the Brownies Oracle, Surrender:

Birdman is the one left holding the swords after this battle, but he is left standing alone. Those piles of feathers beneath his feet represent just how cutting and damaging his words were. I don't see him doing a victory dance, probably because the reality of what he lost in order to win is sinking in. Ellis suggests learning from our mistakes when we find ourselves in this situation. Being right might feel good in the moment, but the fallout sucks. Surrender is something people in recovery know well, mostly because of the struggle we put up beforehand. We blame, we justify and we rationalize - anything to prevent us from admitting the truth. The longer we play this mental game with ourselves, the more prolonged and intense is the suffering that follows. Many prefer to die rather than admit their wrongs and ask for guidance from another. Is protecting the ego worth all that?

Change only happens when the pain of holding on is greater than the fear of letting go.

~ Anonymous