The society we found ourselves in today is full of pressures and some of these pressures sometimes are difficult to control. There is social pressure, mental pressure, physical pressure, and so on. The pressure could come from your close friends, family, your co-workers in the office, your business partners, or perhaps financial pressures due to responsibilities and could make you conceive negative ideas. In any of these noises around, implementing self-control, self-discipline, and being strong can help to overcome this pressure and live your life.
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When I was still in the university, I had this particular roommate and we were so close. I remember her telling me that she came from a poor family background and that her existence at the university was all because of her uncle. I shared my part of the story with her, letting her know that my family isn't rich either but they are lovers of education and so is my existence at this university as well. We were getting along with each other, doing so many things together, until she changed all of a sudden. She started going out without telling me her whereabouts, she stopped following me to night class to study, and could even miss lectures most times. All my effort to understand her newfound life proved abortive. Then after two weeks, she came home one day with a new phone, different female wears, and plenty of money. She upgraded from using the stove to cooking gas. She could cook food with plenty of meat, make fruit salad, and do other things that only rich kids do in school. She no longer manages life with me🤦 She began to tell me how she met one married man that she sleeps with and how the man has been spending on her. She went ahead to tell me how the man still has other of his friends who are interested in young ladies and I should give it a thought considering my suffering in school then. Well, I know that I had tough times in school, it was so rough for me to the point that I couldn't afford to buy some materials for our practicals and I was missing some grades. It was also rough to the point that I ate junk food most days and dressing well was far from it. The pressure of doing what my friend did was there, but I am glad to have resisted that little voice telling me to say yes to her. At last, my friend got pregnant, she tried all she could to abort the child without success. The man didn't care for her anymore and she couldn't do anything about it. The pregnancy made her drop out of school because her uncle training her couldn't withstand the shame. She was lured into that act by other of our classmates but suffered the consequences alone. She regretted every action she took all because of pressure to belong and live a soft life. I am happy to not have followed her to that lifestyle. Aside from my roommate, I had other friends in school who were pressuring me so much to come out of my hiding place and live life with them. I was able to overcome all of those pressures until I got married.
Imagine having another married woman as a friend who also came with lots of negative influence, so persuasive being over lifestyle she felt is better for me. I thought to myself one day, after overcoming all these school pressures, is it now that I am married I should fall for these noises? Edith was the lady who almost ruin my marriage at the early stage with some of her friends as well. They were always in my home expressing their dissatisfaction with how I dress and always act so simple in my marriage. To them, dressing decently is no longer in vogue otherwise, side chicks will snatch my husband away from me. Also pressuring me on requesting money from my husband constantly for some flashy reining things as well as following them to clubbing and catching up with the happenings in town. These were their routine lifestyle but when I saw where it might lead me, I cut off from them completely.
The pressure to give my children a good life is there, the pressure to be a good mum and wife, it's this pressure that forced me to be hardworking . There is just so much pressure we face in life even from families but in everything, staying strong in that decision you know is good remains the goal👌.
If you soil your hands all because of pressures from friends, you will take responsibility for your actions.
In summary, I overcome all these pressures by taking break to think 💬 🤔, cutting off from people who pressurizes me negatively, and for the pressure I create for myself inorder to meet up with my goals, I try to stay strong, focused, and motivated.
This post is in response to the #hivelearners contest on the topic titled PRESSURE