“Pa, can we please get a dog PLEASE..just like the one Amy has! or a smaller one like the one of Sara. Ok?” After few weeks at school, you start realizing the impact of peer pressure your kids go through. I know you parents out there are not surprised when your kids start asking for what their friends own starting from toys, pets up to houses with several swimming pools. Suddenly back to school or kids birthday turned into a burden on the parents who have to manage their kids needs seeing what others are enjoying or bragging about. I love how kids are so transparent in their emotions, they do not need to hide or mask the influence they get from their peers at school. They will absorb and reflect that at home in a simple question format a need captured from their friends…yes, Peer pressure is a reality starting this early age.
We, sophisticated adults, seem to be more clever in hiding our needs, yet we know for sure that we are equally impacted-if not more-by that peer pressure. We pretend being immune to what our surrounding brings on our plate everyday, to the way our close circle acts and reacts. “Show me your friends, I will tell you who you are” is a true and wise statement. We know that deep down we start copying the attitudes of our surrounding, we absorb and reflect the need in acting it rather than speaking it out loud like our innocent kids. This goes specially to attitudes and way of life we believe we lack and dream of having. We like those Go-Getters yet give a deaf ear to the wrong doings on the way to get the goal, we like having this trendy look yet neglect the border line flirty side it brings, we yearn for this over empowering “charismatic" presence yet accept its side effect selfish attitude. Actions and attitudes do make an impact, specially if they get copied…they are contagious in a peer pressure way.
No wonder in proverbs, influence of peers and societal pressure was clearly stated:
He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm. (Proverbs 13:20)
20المُسايِرُ الحُكَماءَ يَصيرُ حَكيمًا، ورَفيقُ الجُهّالِ يُضَرُّ. (امثال ٢٠:١٣)
I am not seeking to open your eyes on the choice of your surrounding (You are mature enough to chose)..but rather I am asking each one of us to reflect on who we are to our friends and society..Are we the wise or the fools? Do we realise the power God has created in us to impact, influence and change…do we realise that we are created to Shine and Keep shining His Light?
What type of “Peer Pressure" you are spreading today? I hope the Up-lifting one!
