The Power of Choice

The older I get, the more I realize that every decision, no matter how small or forgetable, says something about who I’m becoming. Between sports, school, and everything else going on, it’s easy to forget that even small decisions can shape who we are. I started reading and watching more about why people make the choices they do, and I came across this study called “Peer Influences on Adolescent Decision Making.” It immediately caught my attention because it explained something I think most teenagers feel but never really talk about.

According to the study, when teens are around their friends, the reward center of the brain becomes more active, which makes risky behavior feel more exciting. Essentially, our brains are wired to make peer pressure feel good in the moment. Reading this makes me realize that saying no is not only about your willpower but understanding what is happening in your own mind. Once you understand this, you start to realize how much control you actually have. Keeping this in mind can make a crucial difference in your day-to-day decision making, and I have already started to notice it myself!

I have also realized that it is easy to fall into moments that do not seem like a big deal at the time. Maybe it’s saying yes to something you’re unsure about, or staying quiet when you should speak up. But those moments can define us. I’ve noticed that the times I have stopped, thought, and made the safer choice ended up being the moments I was content with later on. The feeling of stress after a bad decision is something everyone understands – that pit in your stomach that makes you wish you could change something that is already in the past. Those moments are a remainder that even small choices can have actual lasting effects (especially as a chronic overthinker).

I’ve made mistakes and learned from them, but I think that is the point. Every decision, good or bad, teaches you something about who you are and who you want to be.

Source: Steinberg, L. (2008). Peer Influences on Adolescent Decision Making. Current Directions in Psychological Science.