Peer Pressure! Most have faced it. Have you?

A:“Let’s bunk this lecture.”

B:“But, I think it is an important one.”

A:“So, what? We are all going to chill, come on! Don’t be a loser!”

B:“Umm, okay I will come then.”

If you can resonate with the above mentioned scenario, you are not alone! Mostly all of us have heard and faced it-'Peer Pressure’. It refers to taking part in activities in order to ‘fit in’ a group. However, it often leads to behaving in a way we don’t want to ‘really’.

Some Myths and Facts:

MYTH: People who fall into peer pressure are weak.

FACT: Peer pressure comes with the hope of ‘fitting in’ into a group or making new friends. The hope is not wrong, people are not weak. Any one can fall for peer pressure in the hope of making friends.

MYTH: The joy of ‘fitting in’ the group is better than choosing to do what you ‘really’ want to do.

FACT: Activities done due to peer pressure will give joy-but momentarily. The long term happiness solution is doing what you “really” want to do.

MYTH: If you do not accept peer pressure, you will have no friends.

FACT: Your true friends will respect you for what you are!

Look at these tips to deal with the most dreaded peer pressure:

1. Identify that it exists: it can be direct, indirect, verbal or non-verbal. Look out! Identify the times you have given into it. Acknowledge its existence!

2. Is it positive or negative for you: You heard it right! Peer pressure can be both! If your peers motivate you to try something that is going to be a value add to your life positively, no harm in embracing it. Similarly, if it happens to be negative for you-time to say bye-bye!

3. Don’t lose hope: if you feel that you will never find like minded people and hence it is imperative to accept peer pressure, give it some time. Let’s not lose hope. There are many people who like the things as you do-just a matter of time!

4. Assertiveness: There is a thin line between assertiveness and aggressiveness. Let’s try and put forth our opinion in a respectful yet powerful way!

5. Skip, hop, jump into the future: Before doing what you don’t want to, imagine how it is going to impact you in the future. Pause and reflect and then take action!

Watch out this space for some more tips on dealing with peer pressure. Till then, let’s try and be brave in choosing what we really want to do!