You grow every time a hard truth wins an argument with your ego.

Your ego works as a defence lawyer and it is good at the job. Whenever something unflattering and accurate turns up, it produces context, excuses and a version of events where you come out fine, usually winning before you notice there was a case. Growth happens in the rare moments the truth wins anyway, because you cannot fix what you keep talking your way out of.

Notice the next time you get defensive very fast. Speed is the tell. Sit with the chance that the uncomfortable version is correct before you answer.