There was a friend of mine who got a vacation job just for the interim while he was in school. He was from a good and morally upright background, but a lot of things changed about him when he got the job. Out of the pressures from his coworkers, he found himself altering figures. Not just that, he also joined them in engaging in sharp practices because they convinced him that it was an easy way to make money. At a point, his conscience could no longer bear it, and he left before the due date. The truth is that, he was not prepared for what he saw, and he cracked under pressure. Life can throw a lot of things to you that will challenge your values, but it is your responsibility to refuse to bow down to pressure. Here, we shall take a look at some of the ways that someone can stay true to their value even in the face of pressure.
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Firstly, and very importantly, is to know your values. If you do not know what you stand for, you are more likely to fall for any little pressure. It is almost impossible to defend a value that you have not clearly defined. Imagine not knowing what you should do, why you should do it, and what you should not do, there may not be anything to guide your actions. This is why you have to take time to identify the principle that matters so much to you. Principles like honesty, respect, integrity, responsibility, respect, compassion, and fairness. When you know the values you stand for, you will discover that making difficult decisions will become a lot easier. Instead of allowing other people and other things to determine your choices, your values will be what will determine your choices.
In addition to knowing your values, you also have to think about the long-term consequences of your actions. Pressure can often make people to focus on the immediate result. But after that, what happens to the long-term effects? Someone who goes into financial crime for example, may have been pressured by the need to make quick and immediate money. But in the long run, the consequences will come biting hard. Before you make any decision, do not only consider what you stand to gain in the immediate, but also consider the effects it will have in the future. This will enable you to know if you still want to take the step or not.
You also need to be mindful and selective of your friends. There are people who have gone contrary to their values and belief, not because they wanted to, but simply because they were pressured to do that by their friends. The people around you can greatly influence your decisions in ways you may not realise. If you stay around people who promote dishonesty, poor behaviour, and other vices, you may see yourself joining them soon. And it will be difficult to resist the pressure coming from them. This is why you have to build friendship and relationship with the people who respect values, and who make wise choices.
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Another very valuable point is to learn the ability to say "no." One of the reasons why some people compromise their values is because they are afraid of disappointing other people or being rejected. This will make them to accept to anything just because they cannot say "no." You have to learn to refuse unhealthy pressure. It is true that you may lose friends at the moment, but you will gain far beyond that in the long run. After all, your integrity is worth more than momentary gratification.
The last point is to match your actions with your belief. If you say you have values, then it must show in your actions. As a matter of fact, your value will become meaningful when you practise it consistently. For example; it does not just stop at talking about honesty, responsibility, or kindness, your character must show it. People may not see what is in your mind, but they will judge you by what you do. So let your actions portray the value you believe in.
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