Peer pressure

Yesterday we went to see our sister who we visit teach and learned so much of how the peer pressure to smoke is so strong. She explained to us how she wanted to learn how to smoke because she thought that would be a good skill to learn in case she ever needed to feel sophisticated. She regrettably said that for years she was hooked but that now after she was baptized fifteen years ago, she was able to quit for life. She was temped once only she said, but the box she picked up was empty so she threw it away and each time she finds a box of cigarettes, she throws them away. She was telling me that one of her daughter's has picked up the bad habit and she is sad for her. I saw a post about this very thing on peer pressure on a blog I am following that I want to share:

We live in a world full of peer pressure to look like this or act like that. There is a constant bombardment of pressure to join the crowd or do what everyone else is doing. It takes genuine courage to stay true to yourself – to stand strong and hold to your values. Psychologists call this trait self-determination, which means acting in accordance with one’s core self and they rank this trait as one of the three basic psychological needs. I call it living with integrity.

Interestingly enough, I have found in my own life that my confidence level is directly tied to my living with integrity. When I stay true to my values that I believe in and when I act in accordance with those values, my self-confidence and self-esteem rises. When I falter from those values or do things in opposition to my core beliefs I find myself feeling a lack of self-worth and my confidence plummets. I start feeling pulled to and from and my feelings of uncertainty create fear and anxiety. Yet, if I stick to my integrity I have found that no matter what circumstances I find myself in, whether a situation succeeds or fails, my confidence and self-worth stay high. I believe that comes from knowing that despite any circumstances I am living my life true to myself and that creates peace that no other person or circumstance can take away.

I love this poem someone gave me long ago. I wish I knew who wrote it because it is brilliant.

I

 I have to live with myself and so

I want to be fit for myself to know

I want to go out with my head erect

I want to demand all men’s respect

I never can hide myself from me

I see what others may never see

 I can never full myself and so

Whatever happens I want to be

ve to live with myself, and so

Here is to having the courage to live your life true to yourself and true to your values. Nothing will give you more confidence then living your life with integrity!