What do you often think of maturity as? Not being childish and behaving like adults, right? But it is not limited to this, maturity is much more than this. Maturity is when you start making decisions after having a careful thought, reflecting upon your actions, and in general, being a responsible human. Emotional Maturity is no different.
What Is Emotional Maturity?
It is the ability to thoroughly consider a circumstance and pick how to deal with it in the most ideal manner conceivable. An individual who is emotionally mature has control over their feelings. They perceive what they are feeling and pick how to respond in a manner that gives the best result.
To have emotional maturity is to have particular power over one's feelings. A mature individual has encountered a spectrum of feelings, comprehends the outcomes of each, and knows the advantages of being in charge of them. Above all, an emotionally mature individual knows about his/her feelings, and they realize how to distinguish every feeling. They don't panic when figuring out what they feel, and how they ought to respond. Something that stops the vast majority from being emotionally mature is figuring out how to react to stress.
Can Age Measure Emotional Maturity?
The answer is No! The world is full of grown-ups who've been great achievers despite the fact that they have the emotional maturity of a three-year-old. Emotional Maturity is complicated and personal. It has to do with topis like self-respect, sympathy, and regard.
Many times we forget that being an adult doesn’t automatically fill you with maturity, knowledge, and rightness. It does not make you an expert in situations or shield you from mistakes. It can be stated that emotional maturity doesn't simply show up when you turn 30 or 40. The pliancy and strength of the brain depend on persistent learning and association.
It’s in the “cheerful immaturity” of childhood when emotional maturity should be taught. Then by time children grow into teenagers, people will see emotional maturity begin to blossom.
Read more: Age and Emotional Maturity
Signs of Emotional Maturity
1. You have more tolerance to manage individuals, however, you turn out to be less influenced by them
When you reach a stage in life where you know that anger isn’t getting you anywhere in the conversation is when you realize your emotional maturity. If you get angry, the other person may get angrier. If the other person gets angry and you snapback, this becomes a cycle until someone gives up or the relationship breaks down. From a young age, you might have been taking a good decision and being the bigger person.
On the surface, it looks as if you are giving up and letting the other person win, but only you know how you have been tolerating the argument and making peace with whatever happens. This is for your own benefit and peace of mind.
2. You can put yourselves in other’s shoes
You have the ability to put yourself in situations, understand the challenges faced by others, and get along with other people. Empathy has a lot to do with your emotional quotient. Being empathetic and soft-hearted does not mean that you are weak, instead, it shows your strength to understand people and stand with them when they need you. You have the ability to give meaningful advice to others and support them in every way possible. Instead of pushing your own situations on them, you tend to take it as a task to help others and leave when you are done.
3. You will ask for help when you need it
Being emotionally mature means that you understand your emotions and feelings in a better way. You know when the situation is going out of hand and when it is the right time to ask for help. Some people think of asking for help as a sign of weakness and they don’t like being vulnerable. This is a pretty wrong notion and is just a sign of a lack of maturity.
You may want to appear strong and independent, but people who can’t ask for help are not emotionally mature and cannot engage in a relationship in a way that brings trust. Vulnerability is a sign of emotional maturity that tells you whether or not someone can handle being in a relationship, being honest, being open, and being real. Being vulnerable allows you to communicate more honestly and more clearly express your own needs, which is important for building trust and collaborations with others.
4. You realize when you are wrong
You achieve emotional maturity once you stop feeling the need to be right all the time. You just want the other person to listen to your point of view even though they find it to be wrong. The power lies within you and you just do not feel the need to make everyone happy with what you do. You do not like drama and conflicts and if needed, you do not fail to react and take a step that most people don’t.
You can get things wrong from time to time, and you realize that if you’ve been wrong before, you may be wrong again. The phrase “I don’t know” is something you use more often. Rather than running away from this phrase, it paradoxically brings you a sense of calmness.
Conclusion
It is not easy to develop emotional maturity. It is a tedious task for many as most people do not know how to react in panic and stressful situations. People often have major misunderstandings regarding this topic and hence, are perceived differently. It is the need of the hour that parents start teaching their kids and engraving the right notion of maturity in their minds. Emotional maturity has nothing to do with age, it just comes from within.
Read more: Myths and Misconceptions surrounding Mental Health
Written By - Riya Garg
Edited By - Neha Kundu
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