How to Not Succumb to Adult Peer Pressure

In 3 simple steps

Your friends tell you to do something. If you don't do it, you don't support them.

True or false?

‘If you support, me you'll do this'; 'if you care about me you'll do this'; 'if you love me you'll do this'.

These phrases put you in a difficult situation.

What if you do support them, care for them, and love them, but what they ask of you isn't authentic for you. For any number of various reasons, including a reason they may recognize down the road as valid.

Instead of succumbing to the pressure of doing what others want out of fear for how you'll be perceived, go deeper.

Ask yourself:

•How do I feel about being asked to do this

•Is either one of our responses lacking clarity based on a flood of emotions

•How could I care for both of us, without behaving inauthentically. And without agreeing to a superficial, temporary fix

Think back to a time when you said 'if you care about me, you'll do this'.
It's not that you were trying to coax or manipulate. You wanted to feel better. To feel supported. And you didn't know how else to ask for it.

Imagine someone sat you down and said, ‘I love you, I want to help you. How about we brainstorm ways that are helpful and authentic for both of us. I'm here, and we'll do this together.’

Implement this the next time you find yourself on either side of the pressure, to test the results.

It's a common belief that peer pressure is a kid-thing that ends after college. Not so. It re-surfaces frequently, and sometimes in subtle ways.

Each time you feel pressured to go along with something inauthentic, instead of succumbing to the pressure and then hating yourself for it, step back, and say 'this is an opportunity to go deeper. I'll go slow'.

It'll take courage. But you have an inexhaustible amount of courage.
Every day you wake up with new reserves.

What relationship would you like to support today with your courage?

Overthinkers are highly sensitive people who have deep inner worlds.

You want to help others while staying true to who you are. You do this by using your deep thinking skills without falling into overthinking, or pressure.

Strike this balance to see your life directed and clear; and your relationships grow more meaningful than ever.

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