Ep 02: Adult Peer Pressure Part 1 - Who's Identity Are You Living?

CLICK PLAY ABOVE or SUBSCRIBE & LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PLAYER:

Embracing Your Authentic Self Amidst External Pressures

I'm getting real about a topic that hits close to home for so many of us: adult peer pressure and its sneaky impact on our identities.

Let me take you back to a pivotal moment in my life. Picture this: I'm 47, newly divorced, and suddenly confronted with the realization that I've been living my life according to everyone else's expectations. It was a wake-up call like no other. I found myself questioning every decision I'd made, every belief I held dear. Who was I, really, beneath the layers of societal, cultural, and peer norms that had shaped me?

This, my friends, is the insidious nature of adult peer pressure. It's the subtle yet powerful influence that comes from the groups we belong to, molding our life skills, choices, behaviors, and ultimately, our very identities. It's the voice in our heads that whispers, "This is how successful women behave," or "This is what happiness looks like." And we listen, often without even realizing it.

For me, adult peer pressure manifested in countless ways. As a woman, I felt the weight of societal expectations dictating my role in relationships. Culturally, I was expected to embrace certain traditions. And then there were the peer norms - the unspoken rules of my social circles. I found myself making choices, not because I wanted to, but because it was what others expected of me.

It took hitting rock bottom for me to wake up and smell the coffee. Divorced and grappling with a scarcity mindset, I realized I had lost touch with my own values and identity. I was living life on everyone else's terms but my own.

So, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery. I joined a women's investment group, redefined my relationship with money, and started aligning my decisions with my true values. Slowly but surely, I began to shed the identities that had been imposed upon me and stepped into my authentic self.

And let me tell you, Bold Ones, it was liberating! Empowering. Life-changing. Suddenly, I was making choices from a place of abundance, not scarcity. I was building a future based on my own definition of success and happiness. I was living life on MY OWN TERMS.

Now, I want to invite you to embark on your own journey of self-discovery. Here are some steps to get you started:

1. Reflect on your identity and the norms that have shaped it.

2. Ask yourself tough questions about who you are and what you value.

3. Challenge the expectations and pressures that don't align with your authentic self.

4. Redefine your values and start making decisions that align with them.

5. Surround yourself with supportive communities that empower you.

6. Take action to move closer to your authentic identity and desired life.

Remember, unlearning years of conditioning takes time and effort. But it's so worth it. Because when you step into your authentic identity, when you start living life on your own terms, that's when the magic happens. That's when you start thriving.

So, my challenge to you, Bold Ones, is this: Start questioning the norms that have shaped you. Start redefining your identity on your own terms. And most importantly, start living life as the unapologetically authentic, boldly empowered individual you were always meant to be.

Until next time, remember: You are bold, you are powerful, and you are so worthy of living life on your own terms. Keep shining, my friends.

In this episode:

01:30 - Personal Story: Re-evaluating Financial Mindset After Divorce

03:00 - Adopting a Wealth-Building Identity

05:00 - Defining Identity and Adult Peer Pressure

07:30 - Examples of Societal and Cultural Pressures

09:00 - Uncovering Your Own Identity Through Questions

11:00 - Personal Story: Buying a Car and Financial Empowerment

14:00 - Journey of Financial Self-Discovery

16:30 - How Societal, Cultural and Peer Influences Shape Identity

18:00 - Pressure to Conform as a Successful Single Woman

20:00 - Reflecting on Your Own Cultural Identity and Relationship Status

22:00 - Societal Norms and Decision Making

25:00 - Closing