DECEMBER 2017
STOP AND THINK!
Have Brian’s peers really thought about what they are doing? Have they made their own decisions? Not likely. In general, they have yielded to the influence of others. They want to be accepted, so they allow others to shape what they do. If you were confronted with the same situation, how could you choose a different path and resist peer pressure?
1.ANTICIPATE - “The shrewd one sees the danger and conceals himself, but the inexperienced keep right on going and suffer the consequences.”
.Often, you can see trouble in advance. For example, suppose you see a group of your schoolmates up ahead, and they’re smoking. By anticipating a problem, you’ll be ready to deal with it.
2.THINK - Ask yourself, ‘How will I feel in the long run if I go along with the crowd?’ True, you might temporarily avoid the disapproval of your peers. But how will you feel later? Are you willing to sacrifice your identity just to please your classmates?
3.DECIDE - “The wise one is cautious.” Sooner or later, we have to make a choice and live with the consequences. If you’ve already thought about the consequences and made up your mind, stating your position can be surprisingly easy—and rewarding. Don’t worry—you don’t have to give your peers a lecture. A simple but firm NO may suffice. Or to make your nonnegotiable stand clear, you could say:“Count me out!”“I don’t do that sort of thing!”“Come on, you know me better than that!”The key is to respond promptly and with conviction. If you do, you might be surprised at how quickly your peers will back off.
ROSHAN JOHN
SKILL DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE
PAZHASSI RAJA ARTS AND SCIENCE COLLEGE, PULPALLY
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