PEER/SOCIETAL PRESSURE OR SELF PRESSURE?

Once, while I was in high school, I wrote an article on pressure. I'll attach it as an image to this post should I find it. It was between peer(social) pressure and self pressure. From that young age, I've never been one to believe in peer pressure. This isn't to dismiss the reality that it is a thing.

Pexel

Pressures are unending. Almost inevitable in human life. There are expectations and burdens and responsibilities. Even kids face it. At every phase of a man's life, he faces it; at home, at school, at work, in church, at his business, in his spirituality, in relationships,...just about everywhere.

Everyone faces it. Both the pressurer and the pressured.

Sometimes, these pressures come from people whom you never have met, take for instance, celebrities and influencers on the gram. While the general public is in their necks to get married, lose weight, gain weight, have kids, etc, the same general public is in an 'unhealthy' competition to be like them.

Now you wonder why someone who is totally unrelated to you is super invested in your business. What's his/her gain? Absolutely nothing.

Sometime back, i wrote on here that I am the last person who is swayed by the lives of others. I actually do not think I am under any form of societal pressure. If not, I am oblivious to it. Maybe that's why I am unserious.

If I have to be fair, I know we know that the society may just have your interest at heart, but this pressure might just be too much on your person and without proper calculation, one jumps into a deep dark hole.

Always will there be that round-the-clock 'direct' or 'indirect' nudging by family and society to win like your "mates" and it's depressing.

There'll always be pressures; from family, friends, the society, random strangers offline and online and even from yourself. We know that to some extent, whatever puts pressure on you, makes you uncomfortable, right?

We're all in this endless pursuit of money, of achievements and the likes. Ask yourself, to what end? Does it make sense to you that you live your life by the dictates of society thereby put undue stress on yourself only for the entire hustle and journey to end in death?

While my family and the society has expectations of me, I'll only achieve those if I please and on my terms. If I don't, that's me. That's on me. My life, my choices.

Be reminded that there'll always be different voices that yours might get drowned in the noise. It can be likened to a storm, a heavy wind, and if you're not guarded and grounded, you just might get carried away.

Society will always have an opinion on what they "know" is best for you, of what you should do, of where you should and should never go, on how to act and how to live. But ask you, do these people live my life? Does society live my life? Do they, more than me know what I want and what is best for me? Will you keep succumbing? How long would you be able to hold up?

When things turn sour, remember that the same society would be the very first to laugh and mock you for failing at a life they chose for you. It would never share in your misery. You alone are responsible for whatever goes on in your life.

While it is requested that I share the steps I had/have taken to break free from societal pressures, I have none. Really! I just have chosen myself and chosen to believe that social pressure has nothing on me. Self pressure? Maybe.

Why?

Because society might be on my neck to be a thing but I alone can make myself be that thing. Society only has its voice. I am in charge of me. I own the willpower and the choice.

You may take the horse to the stream, but you cannot force it to drink.

And to you who gets pressured from the life of others, I hope you know that there'll always be someone doing better. You're doing really well. You just don't give yourself enough credit.

I hope, I sincerely hope, that the dream you have and the life you live/pursue is yours and not someone else's.
I hope that when you remember how life is and what the end is for everyone of us, you retrace your step, and live life as you.
And maybe you get to experience the peace that comes with an independent mind and having your own kind of discipline.

You're all you've got. Be your own yardstick for growth measures.
Life isn't supposed to be hard.
No too de worry abeg!

Thanks for stopping by.
Greetings!