I think something clicked for me here. The “outs” are the progressive complications of trying to have it both ways. The author addressing the outs is arguing why it has to be one or the other.
Does that make any else go “A-ha” or do I just need a nap? 
I think when I read it with all the context it seemed like two sides of the same thing, where one actually makes the other easier instead of being in conflict. There’s something about the way it’s worded with one side being about being a recluse, and the other side about not standing up… seems like it makes it easier.
So this a perfect example to me where it would help to strip away the context, so you get:
I need to change my nature to avoid something bad, but becoming an avoider leads to a bad sense of self.