If you're having problems with friends or colleagues calling you a baby because you won’t do things you don’t really want to do, here are a few very helpful tips on how to stand up to peer pressure. Peer pressure can influence a lot of children and teenagers nowadays, since it can be exactly the thing that pushes them into drugs, drinking or hanging out with the wrong people. That’s why one of the most difficult things for teens today is to say no to peer pressure. In order to counter those negative influences, it’s important for them to learn how to stand up for themselves and how to feel good about it. Here are a few very helpful tips on how to stand up to peer pressure that will help you gain the courage and the confidence you need to say no to all kinds of negative influences:
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1. Dismiss Their Request
One of the most important things you should do if you want to learn how to stand up to peer pressure is to simply dismiss your friends’ request. Just tell them that you are not interested, the end. This technique works best in situations when you are offered something you don’t want, like drugs or alcohol.
2. No One Can Make You Feel Inferior without Your Consent
Try to remember that no one can make you feel inferior without your consent, because peer pressure thrives on making people feel bad about themselves. You don’t have to do what your so-called friends are doing just to feel important, loved or accepted. Just do what you think is right and what makes you feel good about yourself.
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3. Just Say No
Even if you think that this can be very difficult sometimes, it actually isn’t. Just say no! Say no to drugs, alcohol, smoking, stealing or unprotected sex! Say no once and if your friends keep bothering you, just walk away. Don’t do something you don’t really want to do in order to gain the respect of your so-called friends. Just stay true to yourself and stand up to peer pressure.
4. Surround Yourself with Better People
One of the things you should do if you realize that your friends are not a good influence is to try to surround yourself with better people. Just get rid of those toxic friends and surround yourself with people who inspire you and who are a good influence in your life.
5. Use Avoidance
As I said in the previous paragraph, try to get rid of those toxic friends and surround yourself with better people. Use avoidance if you can’t find the courage to tell them personally that you don’t want to be their friend anymore. If there are certain peers or colleagues that you feel that are constantly pushing you, just stop hanging out with them.
6. Make Jokes
This is another very clever way to turn down a request from one of your so-called friends. Just use humor and turn that request into a joke. This way, you are showing them that the thing they asked you to do is laughable and they will quickly understand that you are not going to listen to them.
7. Turn the Pressure around
Instead of giving in, try to turn the pressure in the other direction. Just use this opportunity to change other people’s behavior, instead of letting them change yours. This attitude will not only save you from peer pressure, but you will also be able to have a positive impact on someone else’s life, this way, helping someone you really care about.
Dealing with peer pressure can be difficult sometimes, but if you stay true to yourself, you will manage to counter those negative influences in order to stand up for yourself and feel good about it. Do you know any other helpful tips on how to stand up to peer pressure? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section!