Our brains constantly assess our status and how we fit within the social hierarchies of our workplaces, neighborhoods, churches, and friend groups. Thriving in these structures requires not just aiming to be a genuinely good individual but also understanding that our nervous system has an ancient mechanism for tracking our social standing, which in turn regulates our emotions. Feeling admired, respected, and valued by others can release positive neurotransmitters to regulate the system and help balance our emotions.
If you find yourself lower in status, possibly due to factors beyond your control, your serotonin levels may drop, leading to increased negative emotions and reduced positive ones. Thus, it's vital to maintain or strive toward a respected position. As our world changes and the need for us to learn to adapt is crucial, status is not necessarily defined by power but by competence. If your current status feels low, actively seeking improvement to move forward and upward can provide you hope and motivation.
Life's unpredictabilities, such as illness, job loss, or betrayal, can unpredictably alter our status. Despite this, the best strategy remains to consistently do your best, as hierarchies tend to reward competence, adaptability, and the ability to be trusted. (Simmer on that for a few moments, and you might have a life-altering Ah-ha moment.) By exceeding expectations and embracing challenges, you can elevate your status, enhancing your self-perception and overall well-being in the process.
In the worst-case scenario, you will elevate how you think and feel about yourself. So, decide when and how you will have courage and amaze yourself by doing hard things.
**Adapted and Inspired by Mondays of Meaning (April 8th, 2024) Jordan Peterson.
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