In school, we are taught essential facts, like the formula to calculate the melting point of snow, the area of a circle and triangle, etc. But what are the unwritten rules that determine when and how knowledge becomes wisdom is somewhere missing?
In this article, we explore whether there is one universal ‘truth’ about intellectual development or if there is an ongoing maturation process that occurs with age. When you are asked to define “Maturity”, what will you say? I am sure most of you would answer: Maturity means the behaviors of grown-up people that we can often see in our daily life. But in fact, we cannot recognize maturity by name and age because some person that looks younger may have a better maturity than an elder one. So, what are the main rules used to determine a person’s maturity? Some of the critical factors are presented below.
1. Maturity is the ability to take responsibility.
Possibly the most vital sign of maturity is the ability to take responsibility for your actions. Mature people are self-reliant and independent, not relying on others to make decisions for them or to take care of them. In order to know about your maturity in any particular case, ask yourself the following questions:
1. Do I know what I want?
2. Am I good at clarifying my goals?
3. Do I have a plan to achieve my goals?
4. Do I have the willingness to work hard and persist until my goals are accomplished?
5. Am I able to accept responsibility for my own life?
6. Am I able to learn from my mistakes?
Mature people do not see themselves as victims of life or other people; they do not ask for help from others but instead work hard to find solutions to their own problems.
2. Accept the harsh truths about life.
Maturity means embracing the truth of human existence. Life is complicated, painful, and sometimes confusing. Those accept this and do not waste their time seeking a “nice” or “happy” life all the time. They do not rely on other people to give them what they desire, they take the time to figure out what they want and how to get it. This is part of maturity; you have to learn how to deal with life independently. Therefore, the mature person does not look for approval from others to validate their worth; they look within themselves and find the desire to continue living.
3. Able to keep long-term commitments.
A person must mature before they are able to keep long-term commitments. We do not enter a relationship fully formed; we develop it over time through the process of intimate relationships. Our partners shape us, and our commitment to them helps us grow. Understanding relationships is the first step in learning to keep a commitment. The second step is keeping the commitment. Keeping the commitment is more complex than making it. When we make a commitment, we want to fulfill that commitment. If we are not successful, there is the pressure to break our word. If we are successful, we feel that we “brought it,” and we are now “safe” from making any more commitments. Our intentions are very important in committing to something. An intention is what we want to do. For example, if you say to yourselves, “I want to be a tennis star,” you have an intention to do something. We must have an intention before we can begin to do something. Commitment is what causes us to act in a certain way and persist with it.
4. A mature person possesses a spirit of humility.
A mature person is humble in spirit. This can be seen in a refusal to judge others and a preference for the spiritual goods of life over material goods. A mature person would possess a spirit of grace and hope and the ability to love and forgive themselves and others. A person must practice virtues in order to develop them. One of the common problems with human beings is that we believe what we have heard and seen, but we do not put it into practice. Our desire to be good must come from within us.
5. Does age have anything to do with it?
There is a myth that people’s maturity level is determined by their age. Some think that it takes a certain amount of time for someone to grow up and become mature. But maturity is not determined by the number of years one has lived, but by how one has lived those years. Mature people are those who have become more than what they were when they were younger. The measure of a person’s maturity is not found in the number of years they have lived but instead in how they have lived those years.
6. What are the benefits of being more mature?
· More self-control
· Being more responsible
· Having fewer conflicts with others
· Having a better outlook on life
· Having a more peaceful mind
· Being able to deal with problems in a more relaxed way
· Having a higher degree of self-esteem
Conclusions:
When you are asked to give the definition of “maturity, what will you say? Most of you would answer: Maturity means the behaviors of grown-up people that we can see in daily life. We cannot recognize maturity by name and age because some person that looks younger may have a better maturity than an elder one. Maturity can be seen from their ability to make different decisions, to understand the world, to be ready for a new challenge, etc.” With this meaning, if you want to grow up and become more mature, then you should make the decision to do so.
