Pressure

Pressure implies constant force on an object.

Shooting free throws when the game is on the line teaches us how to manage this pressure.

Instant pots use pressure to cook food.

In other words, not all pressure is bad.

However…

Pressure to do something we are uncomfortable with might open up doors.

Jumping the high dive when all our friends just did it might push us out of our comfort zones.

Getting picked to give a presentation to the board of directors may not be your thing, but your colleagues believe you can do it.

Getting the encouragement to ask a girl to dance, a friend can apply pressure to muster the courage.

Pressure to do something reckless or dangerous, however, isn’t something we want to do.

The way to manage peer pressure is to become really good at assessing the risk.

Is this a real danger? Or is it perceived? Peers are good at pushing us out of our comfort zones, but they can also take it too far when there are no brakes.

In the end, peer pressure creates tension and friction. And can test a relationship.