Embarrassment sometimes protects an image that no longer deserves so much work.

Embarrassment is a guard, and guards protect something specific. Often what it is protecting is a version of yourself you assembled years ago for people who are no longer watching, and the effort of maintaining that version has quietly become larger than the version is worth. The feeling is not a flaw in you. It is just loyal to an older set of rules.

When the heat rises this week, ask what picture of you is being defended and whether you still want it. You may find you are guarding something you would not choose to build today.