The biggest jump we take in our lives, and perhaps the most painful is when we as adolescents, are thrust into or are forced to act as adults, before were capable. There are some who are pushed far too early such as their early teenage years, which for many is far too immature.
The years of growing up, transitioning from discovery to acting mature are rudely taken away, as the joys of youth become handicapped.
Then once as adults, what most are completely unaware of, is they’re still conducting their lives by the decisions which were formed when they were still a child.
They still rely on the same framework and viewpoints for reference, instead of from a mature adults perspective.
How Mature Are You
What we as individuals, both men and women will do is physically mature at different rates. That’s when we begin controlling our lives and making our own decisions.
But rarely does anyone ever achieve complete emotional maturity, even after decades of living.
The primary reason why we don’t fully mature, is because of some type of unresolved childhood trauma.
These are the defense mechanisms that children have put into place, to protect themselves or to fight off emotional pain and dread.
The roadblocks children face, are the same anxieties that are related to maturing and growing up.
How Emotionally Mature Adults Conduct Their Lives
1.) – You Have Emotional Control
All adults will eventually experience every type of emotion. When it comes to taking some type of action, immature adults will make irrational decisions based on their ego or self interests.
Fully mature adults are capable of knowing the difference, between the emotional process and the intellectual process.
They have this ability, so they can instantly choose between having their functionality and decision making, guided by logical thoughts.
They also display a strong sense of identity, while striving to live with integrity, according to their own values and principles they believe in.
2.) – Have Balanced Relationships
What mature adults will seek, is equality when it comes to their relationships. For those who continues to operate from a child’s perspective, they’ll often take on the role of either the child or the parent.
Those who are emotionally mature, operates in the adult mode. They base their actions for the good of one other, as completely independent individuals.
They will operate from a viewpoint of never telling another adult or peer, what to do.
They will give the other full consideration, based on complete give-and-take when it comes to the reciprocal need of gratification. They’ll never fall into the master/slave scenario.
They’ve developed the capacity to give and accept love. While doing so, will never attempt to recreate the role of a parent in their partner, by forming a fantasy based bond for safety or security.
3.) – Open Minded Without Becoming Defensive
Those who are emotionally mature, won’t display anger or show defensive reactions to any feedback or criticism they receive. They won’t bother to disagree with any negative commentary.
Instead, they’re open to exploring new ideas which makes them a better person.
They want and welcome any type of constructive criticism, so they can expand their own self awareness from a different point of view.
Mature adults will seek out and discover self-knowledge to know themselves better, while developing a better more accurate concept of themselves.
They realize they’re not perfect, so they accept both the positive and negative opinions of their personalities.
They also have a realistic perspective of themselves, when it comes to their relationship with others.
In the pursuit of this self discovery, they’re also aware of all subconscious motivation, while attempting to integrate it the best way they can.
4.) – Make Goals And Reach Them
What fully grown mature adults will do, is formulate goals by making a plan. They will then take the appropriate action, to achieve them. This way, they can establish all of their priorities in life.
By contrast, those who continues to live within a child’s state of mind, will constantly overreact emotionally to the mundane.
This when it comes to events that are completely insignificant, in the overall scheme of their lives.
They will fail to respond to the events that are important, or are crucial when it comes to their overall well-being.
What they’ll get caught up in, is pointless drama and gossip that doesn’t mean anything, which wastes the majority of their time.
Since mature adults will pursue their goals and priorities honestly, their actions are more than likely to correspond to the final results.
5.) – Proactive Rather Than Reactive
Fully grown emotionally mature adults are usually proactive and assertive, rather than being passive and dependent on others.
They never feel victimized by life, complain, or shove off their problems onto others.
Instead, they face their challenges and problems head on, and then work out the best solutions. They do so instead of depending on others for direction or help.
They will seek out help only in relation to whatever they actually need, in the areas where they may lack expertise. They never do so towards any unresolved emotional deficits they may have from their past.
6.) – They Generate Personal Empowerment
Emotionally mature adults, will take complete command and power over every part of their conscious existence.
They’re constantly improving any behaviour or characteristics, they don’t like in themselves.
What they’ll do as a result, is approach their entire lives from the perspective of being completely responsible, and become the sole director of their destiny.
Immature adults don’t have that firm control over their thoughts or feelings.
These are the events or drama, which arises unbidden during the course of their day. As a result, they will overreact emotionally.
The Adult Child Among Us
These immature adult individuals, who continues to view the world while still in the child mode state of mind, often feels powerless and cursed. They’re forever at the mercy or acceptance of others.
They become completely overpowered by their own emotional reactions, when under times of stress, duress or critical decision making.
They then become victims of negative circumstances, which are beyond their control. Adult children will then generally feel they’re unable to act or protest in their own defence.
What everyone prefers, is to live a life as a fully grown functionally mature adult, which is always the preference.
So why then is it so many individuals, will just choose to function as an emotionally bankrupt adult child, and refuses to grow up.