What specifically about feeling low status bothers you? What parts of that feeling do you find difficult to handle? You described the “acquire more status” process well, but that wasn’t the focus of your question. Would you please be more detailed in your description of what bothers you?
I feel something like “low status is the default” or, “there’s not any particular reason why this person should, by default, be interested in what I am doing, or consider it important or worthy.” Hmm, when I write that out it sounds worse than it feels. But it doesn’t particularly bother me to go into a situation where someone treats me as low-status, unless I am attempting to achieve something that status and attention would help with. There are times when not being the center of attention is an advantage, and where having higher status would be more time-consuming and bothersome. Is the group worthy of my time and attention? Does it share my values? Is increasing status something that would help my goals? Then it may be worth it to put the effort in. Otherwise, why bother? It may be easier and more congruent with my goals to slip through the group unnoticed.
Chasing status for its own sake can be a time-sink. If your time is valuable, it makes sense to be selective about what status you pursue. Letting others’ perceptions of your status affect your motivation seems...nonsensical to me. If you let status affect your motivation that much, perhaps you were not strongly motivated to begin with. Perhaps the thing you are starting to do is not something that you actually want. Perhaps what is needed is more introspection about what you do want, and what your priorities are, so that your actions can align better with your values and goals.
But I’m kind of guessing with not much to go on here, so that’s why I asked for more detail.
Also, “even in new groups finding interesting and relevant things to say” is a skill that can be acquired. In my opinion it would be better not to think of having that skill or not having that skill as a fixed part of your identity.
What specifically about feeling low status bothers you? What parts of that feeling do you find difficult to handle? You described the “acquire more status” process well, but that wasn’t the focus of your question. Would you please be more detailed in your description of what bothers you?
I feel something like “low status is the default” or, “there’s not any particular reason why this person should, by default, be interested in what I am doing, or consider it important or worthy.” Hmm, when I write that out it sounds worse than it feels. But it doesn’t particularly bother me to go into a situation where someone treats me as low-status, unless I am attempting to achieve something that status and attention would help with. There are times when not being the center of attention is an advantage, and where having higher status would be more time-consuming and bothersome. Is the group worthy of my time and attention? Does it share my values? Is increasing status something that would help my goals? Then it may be worth it to put the effort in. Otherwise, why bother? It may be easier and more congruent with my goals to slip through the group unnoticed.
Chasing status for its own sake can be a time-sink. If your time is valuable, it makes sense to be selective about what status you pursue. Letting others’ perceptions of your status affect your motivation seems...nonsensical to me. If you let status affect your motivation that much, perhaps you were not strongly motivated to begin with. Perhaps the thing you are starting to do is not something that you actually want. Perhaps what is needed is more introspection about what you do want, and what your priorities are, so that your actions can align better with your values and goals.
But I’m kind of guessing with not much to go on here, so that’s why I asked for more detail.
Also, “even in new groups finding interesting and relevant things to say” is a skill that can be acquired. In my opinion it would be better not to think of having that skill or not having that skill as a fixed part of your identity.