Indian poet Rahim, (one of Akbar’s nine jewels) had once written a couplet which said, ‘A man of great character will not be dissuaded by negative peer pressure. A piece of sandalwood does not have poison, even with cobras tied around it.’
Be it a vacation in Goa, a late night horror movie, a cricket match in a stadium or even a Sunday afternoon spent doing nothing- our lives are easier (and way more fun) to get by with a little help from our friends. But, are all friendships good? Unfortunately no!
If friends are known to be your companions on the right path, they can also take you down the road you shouldn’t travel. Most people who smoke, drink or do drugs usually start way back in college (or even school) when they are most affected by peer pressure. While it is easier said than done, these are a few practical tips you can try to fight negative peer pressure, and remain healthy.
Don’t be afraid of being judged:
When you go into a new college or get a new group of friends, you have an urgent human need to be accepted by your peers. Fitting in could seem the single biggest priority of your life. You could think that doing alcohol and drugs can be an easy pathway to acceptance, and if you don’t do them you might be judged as someone who doesn’t like to have fun. Don’t get swayed, because it is a long life and when all your peers will be old and frequently sick, you’ll still be strong and healthy. Then, it’ll be your turn to judge them back.
Think about the consequences:
As if being trapped in your addiction for life isn’t bad enough, chances are that you could be caught on the wrong side of legal for doing drugs which are ‘illegal’ or instances of drunken driving. They could take a toll on your health, career and relationships.
‘Nah, I don’t do drugs, but I can’t stay without my smokes’. If this is something you say quite often, think again. While smoking may give you some degree of social acceptance today, you may not realize what you are doing to your health.Read about the 10 dangerous chemicals present in tobacco.
Refute their theory:
Sometimes your friends adopt a gentler way of applying pressure. You must have heard of theories like, ‘weed is a gift to mankind, my life would be a waste had I not smoked’, etc. Or jokes that glorify drinking, smoking, etc. It is better if you do not encourage such behaviour. Go get yourself the right kind of friends.
Set an example:
If all your friends are smoking and drinking, you can stay strong and be an example that would inspire others to lead a healthy life.
‘Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others, it is the only means.’, Albert Einstein had once said.
‘Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others, it is the only means.’, Albert Einstein had once said.
Reverse the pressure:
This means that if many of your friends are making you insecure about the fun they had while drinking/smoking, you make them insecure about the excellent time you are having bulking up your muscles, going on a trek, going bungee jumping, getting that hot girlfriend or getting into that renowned college.
All peer pressure is not bad:
Surely, all peer pressure isn’t bad. Some friends can even inspire us to lead good and healthy lives, and be more productive at work. Here are some ways how having good friends can be good for your health!
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