Signs of Maturity

How will you know if you have matured?

Hasn’t there been a time in your life when one said ‘GROW UP’? I always wondered how people would distinguish themselves within the ‘grown up’ group. Hence I started thinking about what qualifies a person as being mature. In my understanding, maturity doesn’t come with age. It comes with learning and experience. Maturity is a personality trait that helps you deal with life as it comes and in a positive and approachable manner.

The following indicators/qualities might make it easier for you to identify where you stand on being a ‘Mature Person’.

1. When you can take care of yourself and others: When you can take care of and be more responsible towards, not only yourself but also others.
2. Taking responsibilities seriously: You have many responsibilities and tasks to accomplish that you don’t shy away from anymore. You take your duties seriously and understand that they are your priorities. You do not need the help of your elders or family anymore to handle situations.
3. You can be positive even on odd days: When you have learnt that life comes with a package of good and bad. When you have accepted the fact that ‘there shall be an end to the dawn of sadness with the morning of happiness’ which helps you stay calm and positive even when things go wrong. This way it becomes easier for you to cope with a bad time.
4. You have empathy: You don’t just care about yourself but also about others around you. You start to feel for and understand them. You start acting in a manner you would have wanted to be treated yourself.
5. You have control over your emotions: When you no longer cry out over the smallest of things or have an angry outburst. You are well aware of your feelings and hence, you can now control or handle them better. Example- Instead of getting into a physical fight, you may end up having a discussion or a light argument.
6. Take charge of situations: When things go wrong in your life, you are more than competent to deal with them yourself. You are able to deal with any issue, be it small or major, with your friends, relatives, companions, etc. You find solutions that are just.
7. You can accept defeat: When you understand that failure is a part of life. You cannot always win. You learn from the defeat, correct your mistakes and work harder the next time.
8. You live in the present: You don’t allow your past to bother your present. You realize the importance of present life and accept that the past is gone. You have successfully dealt with your past to move on.
9. You can forgive: You understand through experience that mistakes happen. You start to rationalize that the mistake may not have been done purposely and that everyone needs to be given a chance to correct their mistakes. You realize that by holding grudges, you increase the likelihood of stressing yourself and filling yourself with unhealthy emotions. You realize that it is time to let go and move on, as life may have a lot in store for you.
10. You are independent: You no longer need someone to take decisions for you. You are capable of solving your own problems efficiently and deal with everyday situations. You independently make choices in the important events of your life.
11. Listen more, talk less: You know if you want to be a rational being, listening is important. You want to understand people more and be less judgmental. For this, listening more and talking less is essential.
12. Life is not black or white: It’s only later in life, through various kinds of experiences, that you realize that life treats you with ups and downs. There are times when life has no answer to your questions and when you do accept the reality of this, you feel grown up. You accept that everything doesn’t have to be either black or white.
13. You feel content: You are now willing and able to wait for what you want. You realize that you cannot get everything in life, whatever you do. You may now feel more satisfied as there are lesser expectations that you hold.

If you feel that you fall short on some of the qualities mentioned, try developing them to lead a better and more positive life.