We all feel pressure to try things we are unsure about. It’s especially hard when it feels like people we like and want to hang out with are all doing something.
There’s no magic way to always honor what you want and never give in to other people’s expectations. But there are things you can do to set yourself up so you don’t end up doing things you don’t want to do:
- Get to know and love yourself. What is important to you? What values do you most want to live by? Nobody can decide these things for you. You get to decide who you are. And there’s only one you! As we grow and have new experiences and challenges, we learn about ourselves. Try to take note of what makes you YOU, and honor that. Take the quiz: what are your greatest strengths.
- If you are going into a situation where you know you’ll be pressured, plan ahead. Make up your mind about how you want to handle a situation like someone asking you to help them cheat on a test, or offering you a vape. Run through the scenario in your mind, and think about how you’d like to respond.
- Check out this resource for some goofy and some serious suggestions: Tips for Turning Down a Vape Offer
- Is pressure from someone weighing heavy on your mind? Talk to a trusted adult about it. Let them know what you are struggling with and why it is bothering you. We’ve all dealt with being uncomfortable because of other people’s expectations.
- Forgive yourself if you do something you’re not proud of. Doing one thing that doesn’t align with what you want for yourself doesn’t change who you are. It doesn’t make you a bad person. Try to focus on what you learned and what you can try to do differently next time.
