Emotional maturity is the hallmark in thriving healthy relationships. The world isn’t all black or all white, understanding this makes life less of a battle and more of a journey. Emotional maturity is the ability to manage emotions. An emotionally mature person understands who he/she is and takes accountability for their actions. They do not project or blame others for their issues but actively seek to change their own behavior or response to the issue.
Emotional maturity and Emotional intelligence are interconnected and are key factors in maintaining healthy relationships. Emotionally mature individuals are in touch with their emotions and are able to articulate them.
Also Read: Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) – A Personality Trait Often Misunderstood
Here Are 10 Signs You Are Emotionally Mature
1. You Stop Blaming Others and Take Responsibility for Your Actions
You accept and admit your mistakes and take accountability for it, you do not deny or run away from your mistakes and instead of shaming yourself or others for it, you own up to them.
2. You Stop Striving for Perfection and Are Comfortable in Your Own Skin
You understand that there is no such thing as ‘perfection’ and you are comfortable with yourself. You celebrate your accomplishments and do not indulge in proving your ‘worth’ to others or seeking external validation.
3. You Set Healthy Boundaries
You respect others and your own needs and set healthy boundaries. You give others their space and respect their boundaries. You value and hold the boundaries you have created for yourself.
4. Pause Between Feeling and Reacting
You understand your own emotions and that of others, you understand situations instead of acting and reacting upon them impulsively. You understand that others have their own perspectives and their own lens with which they view the world and that has nothing to do with you.
5. You Go Easy on Yourself
You don’t beat yourself up or shame yourself for the choices you made which did not turn out well. You are kind to yourself and don’t bully yourself or pay attention to your inner-critic. You take feedback and work upon it instead of becoming defensive.
6. Self-control and Delayed Gratification
You identify the urges and impulses that build in your mind and resist the temptation to act on them. You are grounded and in control of yourself. You place your responsibilities before a leisure.
7. You Listen
You listen to understand. You clarify if you have doubts and are not afraid of speaking. You don’t cut people off.
8. You Are Not a People-pleaser
You have your own opinions and voice and do not please others and ‘fake’ feelings and actions. You are your own person with a mind and voice out your opinions.
9. You Express Gratitude
You express thankfulness and appreciate people for their work. You are not jealous of other achievements and do not compare yourself with others. You don’t take things for granted and are respectful.
10. You Can Ask for Help When You Need It
You are not ashamed or think less of yourself when you ask for help and are comfortable with not knowing. You are independent and always on the search for learning more, you are curious and ask questions.
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Being emotionally mature is not always something one is gifted with, it can be learned and cultivated. By being more in touch with oneself and one’s needs, emotional maturity can be cultivated.
