How to handle negative peer pressure as a teenager. (Part 2) 

You know that feeling when your friends do something, and you feel like you have to join in, even if it does not sit well with you? Here is the thing, just because all your friends are doing it, does not mean you have to. You do not have to prove yourself to anyone. Darkness can only lead to darkness. Being around the wrong crowd can have a detrimental influence on your life. You do not want to look back, few years from now, with regrets about the decisions you are making today due to negative peer pressure. But here is something important you should know, peer pressure is not just a teen thing. Everyone, at every age, faces it. It might not look the same as yours right now, but adults deal with peer pressure too! 

This is an extension of yesterday’s post to help you handle negative peer pressure as a teenager. Let us go teens! “Blessed is the man who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers”, (Psalms 1:1).

Be Guided by the Word and the Spirit of God

I want to profoundly encourage you to have a physical bible and not rely on tech alone. Bible scholars say there is something special about those pages.

You see one thing which I can assure you as a teenager that you can rely on for anything, is the Word of God. And I am not saying this to sound too religious or anything, but I know from experience the impact of being a teenager who devotes their time to studying the word of God. In Psalms 119:105, the bible says the word of God is a lamp to guide my feet and a light to my path. As a teenager, I encourage you to cultivate a solid bible study for yourself. Nowadays the bible is everywhere, we have Bible apps, online notes, and digital devotionals. Back then, when I was in high school, I did not have a phone, so I carried my big NKJV Bible to school. I remember hiding it under my desk because I did not want to seem weird. And I remember vividly how my teacher saw it and did not say anything, but from that moment onwards, she became very close to me. It would have been easier if I had a gadget or a phone so that I could run around with it and browse through between classes. You guys are technologically ‘woke’, so make use of technology and other resources to your advantage. However, I want to profoundly encourage you to have a physical bible and not rely on tech alone. Bible scholars say there is something special about those pages, chile!

Have a good role model. 

Out of billions of influencers online and in real life, ask God to connect you with those who will narrow your path to your destiny.

These days everyone is an influencer, but everyone is not worth following. We are exposed to too many role models that do not quite model well their roles. Some of these role models give a wrong impression of a lifestyle which leads to destruction. The amount of influence that all these influencers have on you as teenagers is immense. One minute, you are just scrolling through social media, the next, you find yourself dressing or acting differently because of what you saw. 
Maybe you think it’s cool to sag your pants because your favorite rapper does it. Or, as a girl, you feel pressured to dress in revealing clothes. I know culture will say it’s fashion, but I always encourage teenagers to respect their bodies. Some teens have even ended up in prison because they followed an influencer who glamorized drugs, crime, or bad behavior.
Out of billions of influencers online and in real life, ask God to connect you with those who will narrow your path to your destiny. Whether it’s a parent, teacher, mentor, or friend, having the right people in your life makes handling negative peer pressure much easier as a teenager, as long as they model good morals.

Conclusion

I hope Part 1 and Part 2 helped you understand how to handle negative peer pressure. Your teenage years are crucial, so make the best out of them. Use the Word of God as your compass for direction and surround yourself with role models who push you toward your best self.

What did you learn from these posts? Let me know in the comments section. If you are a parent to a teenager, how do you guide them through negative peer pressure? Like, share, and subscribe for more content on faith, teen life, and personal growth.

From my heart to yours,
Cheers!