Energetic Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is a type of influence that comes from a peer group. Most of us experienced this growing up. Trying to fit in with the cool kids. Being accepted in a group. Wanting to fit in and be loved. It feels safe, comfortable, exciting and fun to be accepted by others. Because of this so many people choose to conform or be influenced by peer pressure. We do this energetically by lowering or raising our vibration to match others. Are we accepted and loved or are we criticized, challenged or even bullied? Think about how your energy is being swayed or influenced by the peer pressure you experience every day? How can we be more aware of the effects of this influence? And how do we want to change how we respond to this energy influence going forward?

There have been many studies into the influence of peer pressure. It helps to see how people are persuaded or influenced to make decisions and go about their daily life. Look at advertising. Every ad or campaign is targeted to a certain peer group. Mainly using emotional influences such as love, fear, admiration, jealousy, fantasy, romance and more. A lot of money is spent to make you feel a certain way to purchase a certain product or support a cause. A certain car makes you feel cool. Makeup makes us feel young and attractive. Weight loss products will help us feel better. And pharmaceutical products can use fear of disease and medical issues. This idea of influencing people’s energy has been around for a long time. This peer pressure can be so strong that people go against their better judgment or choose something they wouldn’t just to fit in and not upset others. Everyone else is doing it so I guess I should too.

If you get a chance look up the Asch Conformity Experiment. This is a famous study done in 1951 where a group of people were asked simple questions. Except there was only one person in the group that was not a part of the experiment. All the others were told to give the wrong answer to an obvious question. The one person not a part of the experiment, conformed and gave the wrong answer due to the peer pressure of the group. It shows how many people would change who they are and what they believe or know is true to go along with the group or peer pressure. It shows how powerful the energy of being loved and accepted is and can influence us to go against our own belief or judgement.

Now look at your daily life. What are you conforming to peer pressure? It could be not speaking up in a meeting when everyone has an opposing view. You might say you like a music artist when you don’t just to appease the group you are in. It could be doing activities you don’t like in order to be liked by a group. It might be taking a job you never wanted just to have status in society. There are so many places where we can bend to energetic peer pressure. Some of the negative effects of this are not living the life you want. Not being an influence or a different voice in the room. Not standing in your own energy and feeling comfortable with who you are. Even losing your sense of self. Conforming to others can lead to bad health decisions, being unsafe, or letting others take advantage of you physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually.

Between social media, news, television shows and advertisements, people are more influenced by peer pressure than ever. The thought of not being accepted, loved or included can be so powerful that people can easily be swayed when making decisions. If you do this you are a good person, if you do that you are a bad person. The power of peer groups can be substantial, and it can be hard to be the one opposing voice in the room. But the good news is that the more awareness you have of energetic peer pressure, the easier it will be to navigate it. If you have been able to voice your own opinions or not bend to peer pressure, give yourself so much credit for staying in your own energy.

Before making your next decision, think about why you are choosing it. Were you influenced by someone or something outside of you? Are you choosing something that doesn’t resonate with or fit your needs? What consequences are there if you do not conform to that decision? Are you able to make choices for you? Deciding what is best for you based on your own belief system? Are you able to choose even if others don’t agree? It might not always be easy to go against peer pressure, but it will lead to a happier and more fulfilling life for you in the long run. Dive into how you make decisions and free yourself from any energetic peer pressure.