The Journey to Emotional Maturity

by Michael Corthell

Positive personality development leading to emotional maturity is acquired in two ways: by adjustment and by growth through experience. They may seem similar but there are differences.

''Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.''
― Roy T. Bennett

Adjustment is the type of positive personality development that lets us to operate effectively within our culture and society. The ability to make adjustments contributes to our lives running evenly and therefore smoothly. Adjusting to live also contributes to our personal wellbeing, life success, and even our longevity. As we age, we become more adjusted to the tasks and challenges of life through and by experience. For example, we may give up unrealistic goals, scale back certain expectations, or we grow by reshaping our own self-image because of our maturity.

''Emotional growth and maturity is primarily achieved when a person delays
immediate pleasure for long-term values because of their integrity.''

Here is an emotional growth check list, detailing skills acquired, that are critical for personal success, having good relationships, and of course cultivating a happy life.

You can identify which specific emotions you’re feeling.

You can identify which specific emotions someone else is feeling.

You have the ability to pursue goals even though you feel anxious and fearful.

You can tolerate awkward situations.

You have the ability to be intimate rather than avoid being emotionally close.

You have the ability stand strong and stick to your principles when someone is pressuring you to act on something against your better judgement.

You have the ability to take care of 'you' by calming your own emotions.

You have the ability to calm the emotions of another, (you have empathy and a sympathetic spirit).

You have the ability to delay pleasure to fulfill responsibility.

You have the ability give without the expectation of getting anything in return.

''I slept and I dreamed that life is all joy.

I woke and I saw that life is all service.

I served and I saw that service is joy.''
― Kahlil Gibran

To sum up. If we are to grow we must accept change. We live, and we learn; that is acquired wisdom. We adjust our reactions to life by learning from the past. We strengthen our emotional growth through acknowledgment of our connection to all of creation, and particularly we feel what others feel and know in our hearts that we were all created equal.

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The journey to emotional maturity

by Peter Sage

Peter is an inspirational speaker, serial entrepreneur and renowned coach. After 25 years of business and personal development his passion is now to help people through spreading his messages, insights and philosophy.