In chess, you sometimes give up a piece to win the position. Not every loss is a loss.

Giving something up on purpose looks identical to losing it, unless you know what was bought with it. Dropping a commitment, leaving a group, taking a smaller role, all read as going backwards when they are often trades for space and time. The board matters more than the pieces, and what counts is what your position lets you do next.

When something feels like a sacrifice, write what you get in return and see whether the trade is actually good. If you cannot name what you are buying, it may just be a loss.