Gut Level Part 4
December 13, 2025
Gut Level Part 4
When our dominant instinct is social, we are finely tuned to the order and flow of relationships around us, such as our place in family, friendships, community, and organizations. We sense hierarchy, rank, and the subtle shifts of acceptance or exclusion. Those with this as their dominant instinct can feel the energy of a room, sense who holds influence, who feels left out, and where they themselves stand within the circle.
A woman once moved to a new town and longed to join the same social level she had known before. When no invitation came from the local society club, she felt so miserable that she and her husband decided to pull up the roots they had made and move away. Another man, proud of his membership in an exclusive club, lost it when because of business failures, he could no longer afford the dues. Stripped of that title, he felt stripped of value.
The social instinct has both its benefits and drawbacks. It allows us to navigate the complex web of human connection. Yet when we measure our worth by our rank or recognition, we become imprisoned by comparison and pride. To awaken, we must remember that our actual value is not decided by social order, but by divine reality.
When the Holy Idea and Virtue of one’s type replace the passion that drives the ego, a leveling occurs. We begin to see through the illusions of rank and importance, and the soul recognizes every being as equal in worth. To the awakened soul, the social ladder disappears.
Spiritual practice: Reflect on Christ’s view of the social order and our place within it. Read and journal on Matthew 23:12.
Self-inquiry: How strong is your identification with the social instinct? How does it shape your sense of worth or belonging?
Prayer:
Dear God, Teach me that my worth comes from Your blessing upon my soul, not from others’ measures of importance. Amen.
