Last night over dinner with friends, the topic of coping with pushy friends came up. They are your friends that mean well but may come across as a bit aggressive with their advice to you. My suggestions are (I am probably as “guilty” as anyone else on being a pushy friend at times):
1) Stay calm and don’t get upset.
2) Don’t get pressurized.
3) Take a deep breath and smile with confidence.
4) Thank them for their suggestions/reminders/concerns.
5) Use “I” in your conversation to emphasize that you are the one who makes the decision. For example, “I will take care of it in my own time/when the time is right, thanks.”
6) Last resort – Tell them calmly and FIRMLY that it is your own decision and responsibility as much as they are concerned about your situation.
Good luck :>