This is a question that I struggled with for a long time.
Why are some people so easily manipulated as compared to others?
I am not only talking about manipulation by a so called "friend" but also manipulated by your feelings. How can some people stand by the truth even in the most difficult situations and some give in their values when a little pressure is put on them.
Is it courage? Yes, there is a factor of courage involved. Self image psychology is also involved as some people just want others to accept them no matter what.
What I have experienced in my own life is that logic and understanding make you a really strong person. Once you understand the "WHY", you gain a lot more courage. Once you can penetrate the outer layer of your ethics and values, you start asking deep meaningful questions about your morals and when you compile the answers with your emotions, you will be able to make the right decision no matter what the situation and how much pressure is put on you.
If you want to become fierce and vigorous in overwhelming pressure, you need to understand how decisions will pan out in the long run. For example, it may be very convenient to lie. But when you really try to understand that in order to hide one lie, you are going to have to lie again and again and that being a liar might save you in the short term but it will destroy your life in the long term. Once you can understand how even your smallest actions today are so deeply interconnected with your life in the long term, it all starts to make sense.
I ask all of your, to please give serious thought to what you have been taught. We have learned some beautiful values from our parents, but if we really want to practice those values in the world, we need to understand why those values should be followed.
Remember, you can be easily manipulated if your life is not governed by some values and principles.
