Mature in One Realm, Childish in Another
We can exhibit different levels of maturity in various aspects of our lives
Anaïs Nin really hit the nail on the head with something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately regarding spiritual growth. She wrote:
We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present.
Growth is not straightforward or consistent, no matter how much we like to say it is. It is a nuanced journey.
Today I might be able to discuss a sensitive issue calmly with my mother, who often pushes my buttons, but later find myself snapping at my partner over a minor inconvenience. But compared to my ‘older’ self, I am far less impulsive than I used to be, so there is growth; there is change. It’s paradoxical and seemingly contradictory, but these aspects of me don’t cancel each other out.
One can possess a high level of intellectual understanding but lack practical life skills or emotional intelligence. Or one could be physically fit but find it difficult to manage stress or anxiety. Do you see how growth is a complex interplay…
