Are you Emotionally mature?
I have been in numerous situations where someone has let me down, cheated, and lied, which has disappointed me. I’m sure you all have faced similar situations. But the most important thing here is how we react to those situations. The way we respond to those instances tells about our emotional maturity. We must cultivate emotional maturity to be the best version of ourselves to face those situations. So, let’s dive in and learn more about it!
The core of emotional maturity is how we manage our feelings, express them healthily and productively, and, most importantly, understand the emotions of others. You must be mature enough to take responsibility for your emotions without playing the blame game or being too hard on yourself. And it would be best if you build healthy relationships with other people while connecting with them meaningfully.
However, there are situations when our emotional development lags behind our physical development. You may have heard the expression, “55 on the outside and four and a half on the inside,” which describes persons who appear to be adults yet behave like children regarding emotional maturity. Our interpersonal and professional relationships may suffer as a result.
Fortunately, there is a quick test you can take to see how emotionally mature you are. Consider your response when someone disappoints you. Do you mope around and act upset without saying why? Or do you lose your temper and strike out? Even if you put on an act that suggests otherwise, you care. All of these exhibit emotional immaturity.
However, emotional development requires three crucial skills:
1. The capacity to explain: You can articulate your feelings in a way that doesn’t come off as weak or pitiful to the other person. You can be open and honest without feeling embarrassed or exposed.
2. The capacity to maintain composure enables you to give the other person the benefit of the doubt and avoid making snap judgments or being overly critical. You control your emotions and refrain from acting in ways you’ll regret.
3. The capacity for vulnerability: You are aware that being close to someone exposes you to the chance of suffering harm, but you are comfortable with it and are able to seek assistance if necessary. You view your vulnerability as a strength that enables you to engage with people more deeply rather than as a weakness.
The qualities of communication, trust, and vulnerability are referred to as the “three cardinal virtues of emotional maturity.” It’s okay if you weren’t taught these as a kid! You can still improve them with time and effort, even as an adult. The effort to become emotionally mature may take some time, but it will be worthwhile. A happier life generally and more extraordinary relationships might result from emotional maturity.
Therefore, don’t be reluctant to develop your emotional maturity. On the contrary, it’s worthwhile to put out the effort to expand into more emotionally mature individuals since we can all do better. Enjoy discovering the fascinating and complex world of emotional adulthood, and remember to treat yourself and others with kindness along the journey.
