“Come on, it won’t hurt, just do it.” or “Go do it, don’t be a chicken.” These are some of the things you may hear as a college student from those you call your peers. By the time you’ve reached college, you’ve experienced what is known as peer pressure. It is a part of the nature of humans to want to fit in no matter who they’re with. Sometimes, peer pressure is obvious. As stated in the beginning, your friends can start begging you to do things like go to a concert or even call you names if you don’t do it to make you feel like you’re less of a person. Even so, there is nothing to feel ashamed about.
This is a normal thing to have happen, but instead of just standing there and taking the peer pressure, there are many ways to handle it properly. Though giving in to peer pressure isn’t always as bad as you think, sometimes peer pressure can lead you to do things needed to step outside of your comfort zone. Here are the tips you need to handle peer pressure so that you don’t get into dangerous situations but also know when it’s the right time to listen to your peers.
Empowering Yourself To Resist: Trust Your Instincts
It’s more difficult to resist peer pressure than just saying no. It can be challenging at times, particularly when you’re feeling weak, alone, or simply very eager to meet new people. These abilities might aid you in resisting peer pressure. First, listen to your gut and mind. Though sometimes people throw these thoughts out the window, thinking that it may be nothing but an idea or a feeling, it is important to listen to your body. It can tell you whether you need to do it or not. This is called flight or fight. Your body is never wrong, so always listen to your body if you are being peer pressured.
Second, always believe in yourself more than anyone. You know who you are and whether or not what is being asked of you is something that you’ll do. Don’t ever do anything that you know you are not okay with.
Third, know your values and limits. Your values are important as a person. Never give in to something that’ll disgrace what you value. For example, if you know you value your religion, never resist peer pressure that goes against it. Your body’s limits are something only you know, so never do more than your body can handle. Know when to put the bottle down or even when to say no to drugs.