Influenced or Peer Pressure ?

 Knowing that your decisions and actions have consequences and then having a reflex as to what your “close friends” will think about your choices are two very different things.

Same way being influenced is very different than being pressured into doing something through your peers

You know you are messed up when you are thinking about what your friends and others will have to say about your decisions.

The thing is people have a lot of bold opinions about everything, and there’s nothing wrong with it, having an opinion is nothing wrong, but giving that unsolicited opinion is absolutely wrong. And that’s the difference between being influenced and being pressured.

Influencing is when someone is willingly seeking out your suggestions and opinions. Peer pressure is when one is made to believe that the only available and viable option is the one that their “friend” is suggesting.

As someone who is easily “influenced”, I also get easily pressured, and as someone with anxiety it’s such a bad situation to be in, which is so not worth it.

Point being, it’s okay to feel like someone’s opinions are a bit too much, not saying they are wrong, but if you find yourself thinking about their thoughts and opinions far too often, it’s better to distance yourself from them. Gotta have your mental peace.

from Kellman Martinez

Toodles