Stay Away from Negative Influences
Today's teenagers learn from adult behavior and the media. They face peer pressure.
Peer pressure is not just limited to teenagers, it is also prevalent in adults. It shows a lack
of self-esteem when people do not have the courage to say "No, thank you," and stay
away from negative influences: What are the negative influences?
# Negative People
An eagle's egg was placed in the nest of a prairie chicken. The egg hatched and the little
eagle grew up thinking it was a prairie chicken. The eagle did what the prairie chickens
did. It scratched in the dirt for seeds. It clucked and cackled. It never flew more than a
few feet because that is what the prairie chickens did. One day he saw an eagle flying
gracefully and majestically in the open sky. He asked the prairie chickens: "What is that
beautiful bird?" The chickens replied, "That is an eagle. He is an outstanding bird, but
you cannot fly like him because you are just a prairie chicken." So the eagle never gave it
a second thought, believing that to be the truth. He lived the life of and died a prairie
chicken, depriving himself of his heritage because of his lack of vision. What a waste! He
was born to win, but was conditioned to lose.
The same thing is true of most people. The unfortunate part of life is as Oliver Wendall
Holmes said, "Most people go to their graves, with music still in them." We don't achieve
excellence because of our own lack of vision.
If you want to soar like an eagle, you have to learn the ways of an eagle. If you associate
with achievers, you will become one. If you associate with thinkers, you will become one.
If you associate with givers, you will become one. If you associate with complainers, you
will become one.
Whenever people succeed in life, petty people will take cracks at them and try to pull
them down. When you refuse to fight petty people, you win. In martial arts, they teach
that when someone takes a crack at you, instead of blocking you should step away.
Why? Even to block you require energy. Why not use it more productively? Similarly, in
order to fight petty people, you have to come down to their level. This is what they want,
because now you are one of them.
Don't let negative people drag you down.
Remember, a person's character is not only judged by the company he or she keeps but
also by the company he or she avoids.
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2. Smoking, Drugs and Alcohol
One reason that I don't drink is that I want to know when I am having a good time.
Drinking makes a person lose his inhibitions and give exhibitions.
In my travels, I have noticed that in some countries drinking has become a national
pastime. If you don't drink, they look at you as if there is something wrong. Their motto is:
"It doesn't matter how bad your English is, as long as your Scotch is good." If a banker
asked them what their liquid assets are, they would bring two bottles of Scotch.
Drinking and smoking are glamorized today. It all starts with the first time. If you ask
people why they consume alcohol or take drugs, they will give you a host of reasons,
such as: to celebrate; to have fun; to forget problems; to relax; to experiment; to impress
(it is cool to drink); to be fashionable; to mingle; for business purposes.
People want to conform to peer pressure. I am amazed at the way peer pressure
compels with phrases such as: "Aren't you my friend?"; "One for the road"; "One for my
health."
Drinking and driving cost lives. According to Jerry Johnson,* the American Hospital
Association reports that half of all hospital admissions are alcohol-related and according
to the National Safety Council's 1989 Accident Facts Edition, a person is injured in an
alcohol-related crash every 60 seconds.
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