How to react to Peer Pressure?
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment”
Ever heard about this term, before? Peer pressure means to be influenced by people around you, or members of one’s peer group. It can result in either positivity or negativity, or both.
It’s quite common nowadays that we hear about our young generation’s behaviour being affected by peer pressure. The reason I’m typing this down is to help you and I understand and react to negative peer pressure at school, colleges, institutions, jobs and everywhere you step.
Humans are not capable of working properly when they are under pressure. My question is, “why do people give in to peer pressure?” The idea of “everyone’s doing it” can influence some children to leave their better judgment or common sense behind.
How to WALK AWAY from it, is how YOU choose to react to it.
Managing peer pressure is usually not that difficult if we are surrounded by people whose values, preferences and behaviour are similar to ours
Friedrich Nietzsche said and I quote “The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently”
Never underestimate yourself by comparing yourself with others. It’s our differences that make us unique and amazing. As human beings, we must embrace who we are and respect ourselves for our differences.
However, we will likely meet people with a wide variety of attitudes and behaviours. It may feel easy to know where we stand but at times, we may feel confused.
An easy way to deal with pressure is to permit yourself to avoid people or situations you feel uncomfortable with.
We should recognize unhealthy dynamics because it’s NOT okay for others to mock, belittle, shame or criticize us for our choices. Our choices are what makes us or breaks us. Our choices are our identity. We don’t have to please everyone or need everyone’s validation. This can be hard to accept, but it does help to try.
I would like to share about a celebrity who suffered from peer pressure and leaves a message for us all on how to react positively to it. Lady Gaga said that at the age of 29 she was criticized for her age, looks and body ‘Oh she’s getting old,’ is what she heard about herself, most of the time. But, she decided to react positively and said “When, you know, actually, legacy and longevity is about having some sort of story and footprint to leave in the world when you die, chasing your talent until you’re dead. And that as an artist you love your art ’til death”.
