The ego.

That big bitch that ignores logic and makes self-preservation ugly, and you vindictive.

When trying to avoid embarrassment, how far do we let our ego turn our personal truths into subjective ones?

The ego's takeover comes when we are put into social fight or flight.

Take this example. You are a self-proclaimed avid animal lover. Nothing could get in the way of your love for the Grizzly bear, and everyone who knows you knows that. Yet, when you go out into the forest – especially with your family – to observe the bears in the wild, you bring a shotgun. One day, a Grizzly bear charges your youngest kid, and you are forced to make a split-second fight or flight decision: let the bear kill your kid, or you kill the bear.

The shotgun is your ego, the thing you carry around with you even in your most treasured and comfortable places. Why? Because to many, being prepared for the worst is not a hope, it's a necessity.