Right from the time we start to understand and do things from what we understand, we've been influenced by the people we have around. It's why they say your environment plays a role in deciding the kind of person you are or might be. We've been influenced by our parents or guidance, our siblings or relatives and friends.
But I've always believed that we are the ones who decide the pressure to fall for, whether positive or negative. Although the fight could be hard for someone who has no choice but to be around such peers over a long period of time. Giving in is mostly the option and that's how bad influences make way into another life and takes a lot away.
From what I think especially since I read the prompt asking for the positive sides of peer pressure, I've just realised that we've been made to believe that there can only be bad peer pressure. We forget the good friends we've had that changed our lives for the better, the peer group even in our families who taught us good.
So I'm happy to share my own side of the story regarding why we can't conclude that peer pressure is only bad, there are unpopular upsides to having some peer pressure that over time have been one of our best decisions in life. I think the pressure among peers is what is causing the wrong notions but good things don't come easy.
When we want to change for the good of ourselves, there will always be difficulties and reasons to just give up so you go back to being unproductive, useless to yourself. This is where we have friends who are there simply to bring you up when you're going the wrong direction without realizing it. They will pressure you for your good.
In many stages of my life since my teenage years, I've encountered both the good and bad sides of peer pressure. A good kind of peer pressure made me know better how to sing which today I still reap the greatness in it. It was from my peers I learnt the importance of going to school, doing good and being one of the best.
In my university days, I meet friends who made me put in more efforts to come out with a good certificate and it wasn't a once thing, they kept pressuring me especially the times when I felt it was okay to give up. It made me wonder what would have been my case if I didn't meet friends like that. At that time, I didn't see it like I do now.
If I am to weigh the times I've had good and bad peer pressure, the good ones triumphs and that's because I am good at making my own choices in a way I don't do something I'll regret on the long run no matter how beautiful it looks when my peers pressure me into it. Peer pressure is normal and it's double edged, choose wisely.
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