Sometimes, we all feel like children in adult bodies. It can be overwhelming to perform at a high level in this world; there are more long-term stressors, financial complications, marketing messages, relationship roles, and daily tasks than ever before. How can we survive?
“Caring – about people, about things, about life – is an act of maturity”. – Tracy McMillan
The answer is through maturity, and that might not mean what you think it means. Streamlining your life, setting goals, and getting your healthy habits in order will help, but it all starts on the inside. We can use this light-hearted example called “The Maturity Climb” to learn how to be more mature.
THE MATURITY CLIMB
Maturity has nothing to do with age. It has much more to do with experience, failure, and how well you can absorb and adjust to new information. If you’re trying to figure out how to be more mature, check out this fantastic graphic we found from Winston Rowentree at Subnormality called “The Maturity Climb” (featuring goats because…. well, because.)
It’s easy to see the “three stages” of maturity. Depending on where you are in life, you might remember them well!
The bottom stage is immaturity. If you read through the list of immature characteristics and feel like they describe you, pay attention. The next few stages are your answer to a healthier, happier, powerful life.
The middle stage is someone who has consciously taken the plunge to grow and mature. This does not happen naturally unless you’ve lived a very diverse and difficult life!
The final stage we should call the maturity playing field. You’ve reached a place of knowledge and experience, but there is never a limit to how far you can go. So, play around!
Let’s write out the characteristics and habits in each of these stages so you can find out exactly how to be more mature and the things you need to focus on.
THE BOTTOM STAGE
Can’t admit responsibility
Has to be right
Takes out problems on others
Knows everything
Takes everything personally
Acts with entitlement
Assume the worst of everyone
Focuses on differences
Scorns others efforts
Sees no flaws
Thinks it’s about age
Blames world for problems
THE MIDDLE STAGE
Is afraid, but does it anyway
Wants to fix flaws
Obsessed with questioning
Knows it’s not about age
Learns to enjoy challenges
Scorns laziness
THE MATURITY FIELD
Wants to help others
Focuses on having friends
Respects others’ intelligence
Obsessed with facts
Talks out problems with others
Knows “nothing”
Tries to understand
Assumes as little as possible
Listens and guides
Knows limits
Isn’t afraid to fail
Grateful
Blames self for world
MOVING FORWARD
So, where do you stand? Most people will have traits in all three stages! Celebrate your strengths and focus on your weaknesses. If you’re truly dedicated, you can list out some activities that would help you build character.
Maturity is a trade off. You lose the ability to be irresponsible or not accountable for your actions, and you will judge yourself harshly at times. You will take on more work, projects, and relationships than ever before. It will be hard… and it will be worth it a thousand times over.
LEAVE A FIELD REPORT BELOW AND COLLECT REAL-LIFE XP!
FIELD REPORTS
Leave a comment!
3 Comments
Submit a Comment
MORE INTEL
Resources to Continue Your Mental Health Upgrade
Thank you for joining us. Browse additional notes and resources to upgrade your mental health.
25 Kaizen Habit Ideas (Super Easy Now, Huge Impact Over Time)
Kaizen makes each task so simple that there is no excuse to put it off. If you can’t, don’t, or won’t get started right away, the task is not small enough. Doing something vs. doing nothing is a 100% increase in progress.
Change Your Outlook on Life Forever with 7 Days and A Rubber Band
Your mind is an amazing tool. But no one gave us the manual! This 7-day challenge will change how positively you think forever with just 7 days and a simple rubber band.
I feel that there’s a point where we need to realize that we have these flaws and only then can we start working to eliminate them. Some people are only stuck in the lowest phase because they aren’t even aware they need to work on themselves. It’s good encouragement to practice self reflection.
The problem for me is that I realize I have problems but am in a constant state of trying to fix them and failing over and over again. But I think if I keep at it, eventually I’ll have to break through.
Thanks for sharing!
“This fantastic graphic we found”? You mean a webcomic by the fantastic artist Winston Rowentree, whose long-running, under-appreciated, genre-breaking “Subnormality” can be found at online at viruscomix? Come on dude, give a little credit where it’s due. Your entire post is about somebody else’s work and you didn’t even mention his name, much less link to the original art. Let’s lift each other up as we climb instead of climbing over people.
Thanks for the callout Geoff, we’ve added links to his work as we’ve had this image saved in our “to share” archives for years!