Maturity - Proficiency to observe absorbing oneself.

Recently there was an occasion where I completely lost my temperament. The Motive for getting into that disposition was compelling. Anyone in my place had enough reasons to justify the move. But, when I looked at that day, it seems that I might have been carried away with the circumstances which finds you in an unlikely situation and you wonder how you could have been so stupid. I suppose I should be thankful. Being framed for a transgression is all a part of growing up. “Maturity” was the first word which struck my mind and left me introspecting for a long time.

What exactly does it mean by maturity?

There are several instances where we use this term.  We all understand what it means based on situation. But, if re-questioned the response is never specific.

Let me narrate you instances where I have encountered people saying:

Acting childish signifies the absence of maturity.

He is stuffy arrogant, absolute immaturity.

Conceited in their own circumference, not being amicable connotes immaturity.

Traditionally being childish, stuffy arrogant, being hostile are all signs of immaturity.  Even when we take “arrogant” and “childish” out of this meaning so that we are left with ‘behave like an adult’, we are still left with a meaning that fails to represent the true value and quality of the word and its denotation.

Maturity means you are fully developed in some way to fulfil a role or function.  Botanically a fruit or a vegetable is mature when it is ripe — ready for consumption. When a person knows the rules of life with norms abided to society, a right speech to a right person at right place and time is about maturity with human beings. A thin line between childhood and adulthood - not the factor of age but the state of mind is maturity.

Maturity is the ability to control ironic emotions such as anger, annoyance and differences without violence or destruction. Generally, these emotions get carried away and leaves a bitter tinge embedded with momentary behaviour too. It is also the capacity to face unpleasantness and frustration, discomfort and defeat, without complaints or collapse of oneself too.

Maturity is perseverance, the ability to sweat out a mission, or a situation in spite of opposition and discouraging setbacks. It is also unselfishness – responding to the needs of others, often at the expense of one’s own desires of wishes.

Maturity is an interesting word which is hard to define and is been revolving around all pleasant traits what the social order is openly embraced. 

To put it into a nutshell, it is a virtue of humility and modesty. It is a grown up trait that demands great strength to say, “I am wrong’, ‘I am sorry. And  when being right, the mature person would not say, “I told you so.” It is also the ability to make decisions and stand by it. It is also dependability to overcome the crisis. 

There are few more false notions attached to maturity. One in my kinfolk even asked me - “Being serious towards life and with people around... is maturity. So, I want to be one”. I was dumb stuck when I heard that. You can’t understand life when you are a fun-loving person. People would not respect you when are in cheerful and in merry mood.... were few more to add to the catalogue.  All I wanted to say here was maturity is not the impression that you leave upon others. People don’t judge on momentary occasions. They judge on long term deeds, repeated manners and recurrence of your conduct.  Maturity is a long term verdict.

The greatest day in our life is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That's the day we truly grow up and probably that’s what we call as maturity. It is living life in tranquillity realising the difference between what can be changed and what needs to accepted. It is also an attribute to see others just like we ourselves – an objective evaluation of situation and people.  Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional. Growing with maturity is a conscious decision.

Author : Pratima Jagadeesh

She is a HR Professional and works in a MNC at Bangalore. Her topics of interest are psychology and metaphysics. She is also involved with Counselling and works for few NGO's.

Success depends upon maturity!

 

Maturity is many things. It is the ability to base a judgment on the big picture, the long haul.
It means being able to resist the urge for immediate gratification and opt for the course of action that will pay off later.

One of the characteristics of the young is “I want it now.”

Grown-up people can wait.

Maturity is perseverance–the ability to sweat out a project or a situation, in spite of heavy opposition and discouraging setbacks, and stick with it until it is finished.

The adult who is constantly changing friends and changing mates is immature. He/she cannot stick it out because he/she has not grown up.

Maturity is the ability to control anger and settle differences without violence or destruction. The mature person can face unpleasantness, frustration, discomfort and defeat without collapsing or complaining. He/she knows he cannot have everything his/her own way every time. He/she is able to defer to circumstances, to other people-and to time. He/she knows when to compromise and is not too proud to do so.

Maturity is humility. It is being big enough to say, “I was wrong.” And, when he/she is right, the mature person need not experience the satisfaction of saying, “I told you so.”

Maturity is the ability to live up to your responsibilities, and this means being dependable. It means keeping your word. Dependability is the hallmark of integrity. Do you mean what you say-and do you say what you mean? Unfortunately, the world is filled with people who cannot be counted on. When you need them most, they are among the missing. They never seem to come through in the clutches. They break promises and substitute alibis for performance. They show up late or not at all. They are confused and disorganized. Their lives are a chaotic maze of broken promises, former friends, unfinished business and good intentions that somehow never materialize. They are always a day late and a dollar short.

 

Maturity is the ability to make a decision and stand by it. Immature people spend their lives exploring endless possibilities and then doing nothing. Action requires courage. Without courage, little is accomplished.

Maturity is the ability to harness your abilities and your energies and do more than is expected. The mature person refuses to settle for mediocrity. He/she would rather aim high and miss the mark than low-and make it.

Maturity is the art of living in peace with that which cannot be changed, the courage to change that which should be changed, no matter what it takes, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Author: Ann Lander
Source : Author: Ann Lander Written by Stephen
photo credit: Alan Light via photopin cc