Social pressure can arise from a variety of sources, such as peer comparisons, social media messages, and interpersonal relationships. A study by Gable (2018) found that when respondents recalled a happy event in a week, more than 50% came from social life. Supportive relationships with family and friends can foster love, trust, and encouragement in everyday life. The following advice is simple and actionable to help university students reduce social pressure and develop positive relationships.

Gratitude Visit

Cicero once said, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all the others.” Being grateful helps people to obtain healthy, happy, and harmonious relationships. You could write a letter to someone who has helped you but whom you have never properly thanked, read the letter to them in person or by phone, and be receptive to their reactions and discuss your feelings together.

Smile

Showing your smile creates a sense of positive emotions to others. Your shared laughing may convey that you share the same viewpoint and are welcoming to communicate. It offers you a chance to experience a mutual occurrence known as positivity resonance, which is described as a resonance of positive emotions between people by Fredrickson (2016).

Authentic Listening

Practicing authentic listening creates a connection and trust between people. In turn, it is likely to promote the experience of love in a relationship. Maintain eye contact with people when talking, stay fully present, and observe people’s body language, expressions, and eyes. Be a good listener while sometimes expressing your feelings to avoid relationship misconceptions.

Counting Blessings

Find a calendar and fill in your daily blessings. For instance, write down the pink and purple sunset at dusk. Then remember to look back and savour. When you are content and grateful for your life, you are likely to be less concerned by comparisons with your peers, whether in person or on social media.

Compassionate Hug

Having a compassionate hug may help you quiet the inner critic and replace it with a voice of support, understanding, and care. It could equip you with better social functioning. For example, more forgiveness of others. Talk to yourself and others when suffering or exhausted, like “this hurts”, “other people feel this way; I’m not alone”, and “may I give myself the compassion that I need”.

Think of Your Best Time

Think of a time in your life when you were at your best. It may have been in response to a particular challenge, or it may have been simply an initiative you took to make a good situation even better. Reflect on the process, in which you are likely to regain positivity and efficacy.

Check out the WeThrive student work for more tips and resources.