The development of society always exists with preconceptions and standards. On the journey of self-exploration, have you ever experienced self-doubt, wrestled with feelings of inferiority, or measured your own path against the success of others? Facing the success of our peers, at least once in our lives, each of us will experience the feeling of being lost. When faced with relentless challenges, have you ever denied your own efforts?
“Peer pressure” is not an unfamiliar thing to most of us, to put it simply, it is the feeling of inferiority when we do not achieve the same things as those around us. There have been many books, and podcasts, as well as research in the field of Psychology, with the hope that each of us can identify and overcome it. But let’s face it—regardless of our ages, “Peer Pressure” will always be present in every phase of our growth. Only when you truly understand and respect your own value, and focus on your own journey, you can see how much effort you have put in and how far you have come on the path you’ve chosen.
“New York is 3 hours ahead of California, but that doesn’t make California slow.
Someone graduated at the age of 22 but waited 5 years before securing a good job.
Someone became a CEO at 25 and died at 50.
While another became a CEO at 50 and lived to 90 years.
Someone is still single, while someone else got married.
Obama retired at 55, while Trump started at 70.”
———— From The Minds Journal ————
There are numerous causes for “peer pressure” that are listed for examination, however, if the causes are briefly grasped, “peer pressure” emerges whether the causes are internal or external, when someone is compared and judged by an unreliable yardstick. Albert Einstein, a scientist, famously remarked, “Everyone is a genius. But if you measure a fish by how well it can climb a tree, it will live its whole existence feeling that it is stupid”. In the same vein, if you use other people’s success to place yourself, that is also when you start to lose focus on the road you’ve chosen.
When it comes to today’s youth, they are perhaps the age group that will experience “Peer Pressure” the most since they are simultaneously trying to assert themselves and trying to answer the question “Who am I?”. The school of life is located behind the school gate. You must start to deal with the demands of financial independence at a young age while simultaneously making ongoing attempts to advance yourself, it is a tough road. On that journey, no one will be fully stable without a little wobble. The process of “growing up” involves a “child” who has not yet reached adulthood being “thrown” into life and being forced to continually search for recognition. Each time they try, they can fall, but succeed in the end. The greatest recognition that you are constantly seeking actually comes from the inside. Social expectations place each individual on a “should go” road, which can often cause you to become caught up in the cycle. These expectations range from family expectations to personal expectations to the success of peers. Life’s never-ending cycle makes it impossible to remember the answers to fundamental questions like “Who am I?” “What do I want to do?” and “What do I always desire?” You can locate the “lighthouse” that points the way back to your own path by answering those questions. Remember that you must come to terms with and accept who you are before you claim your value.
Everyone has a distinct starting point, level of knowledge, and level of life experience. What you see may be a person’s achievement, but are you sure you comprehend the struggles that person has faced? Are you certain that you have the fortitude and readiness to tackle the challenges they may experience on their journey? Furthermore, there is no assurance that they would do better than you do if they lived your life. People frequently want for what they do not have but fail to see the plenty in their lives.
Looking at it from another side, “peer pressure” is not necessarily a bad thing; in fact, it may completely change into a motivating force on the road to self-improvement, supporting you in becoming a better version of yourself. Instead of serving as a competitive factor, pressure should be used as a lever to boost motivation. It is a tool that hones our skills, knowledge, and perseverance, making us “sharper” as a result. You can develop into better versions of ourselves in this way. “The sparrow near a school sings the primer”.
Instead of worrying, you should make the effort to live your life properly since you only have one life and you get to decide how to live it. There will be times when you could have anxiety, but please remember that as long as you continue on your own journey, whether it moves forward quickly or slowly, there is nothing to worry.
“Just keep moving forward. People can’t get too far, and you’ll catch them.”
(Little Prince)
———— Antoine de Saint ————-