Peer Pressure Is Controlling Your ENTIRE Life

We are all conforming to some type of social pressure. It could be our family, our friends, our community or our work colleagues that are keeping us in check and holding us accountable for every decision and action step we take or don’t take or even think about taking. While being socially accepted with your groups can be very satisfying, it could be holding you back from fully becoming the person you wish to be.

 

Let’s take John Doe for example. At a young age “he” chose to study his future career based on his parent’s expectations. His schooling and neighbourhood peer groups also reflected his decision and he proceeded to the job that was expected of him. Eventually he moved to the area and the house that fit in with his social status. He even married based on the approval of others. The type of car he drives, the clothes he wears, the holidays he takes and the clubs that he is a member of are all reflective of his social circle. Some people claim that you are the average of your 5 closest friends. John’s whole life has equated to living up to an ideal that was given to him by everyone in his life. He hasn’t lived his own life. John Doe is fictitious but if we reflect on our past decisions I’m sure that we all will have experience of being swayed by peer pressure.

 

Social media and media in general are also greatly adding to the strain of peer pressure. They are selling you the life that you convince yourself you need to live.

 

When I was a kid we moved house several times. I lived in different areas as an adult too. While this had the obvious drawbacks, I didn’t have all the same peer pressures that I see in others. I managed to avoid community based peer pressure and peer pressure from school mates as I attended different schools. Not all peer pressure is bad. It’s a good thing if it keeps someone from destructive behaviour but not a good thing if it prevents you from succeeding. The most obvious peer pressure in Irish society has to be around the subject of alcohol. I think that every Irish person can relate to that one.

 

We are all greatly influenced by others and not every wants to see you succeed, especially if it’s more success than they’ve achieved. We are all brain washed to some degree. Understanding that we can be so affected by others can be a freeing mind-set. This simple realisation can give you back choice. Some of your beliefs and past decisions could contain falsehoods. Are you doing it for you or are you doing it to impress others or because it’s what’s expected of you? Eliminating peer pressure allows you to become more focused on what YOU actually want. It will make your goals a lot clearer. It’s absolutely fine if what you want matches what others expect of you. We’re talking here about blindly following what’s expected of you all the way up to your quarter or mid-life crisis when regret could hit you like a ton of bricks.

 

It all boils down to your awareness of yourself and remaining true to what you believe in. Living your best life may require less social interaction but you’ll be able to choose better friends.

 

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By Roundhouse Rob, The Success Sensei

 

Robert Devane is a serial entrepreneur and experienced investor as well as a former martial arts multiple World champion and professional MMA fighter with over 20 years of coaching experience.

 

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