Human beings go through various stages of their lives. All these phases have their own characteristics and are a necessary path to self-knowledge, self-improvement and to eventually find emotional and psychological maturity.
But… what are mature people like? They are distinguished by a series of traits, reactions, attitudes towards life, problems, people and themselves, which are balanced, prudent, healthy and proactive.
- Recommended article: “The 16 different personality types and their description”.
Who are mature people?
A mature person is not necessarily an adult. Sometimes it is believed that when you reach a certain age, you have reached maturity. This is not so. It is the life experiences, the personality and the disposition to find the balance the elements that allow to reach it..
This is neither exclusive nor limited to age. It is also necessary to understand that maturity is not to remain serious, rigid and inflexible or to have a formal and sober attitude. On the contrary, they usually have the ability to be flexible and relaxed. Mature people are distinguished by these characteristics.
1. They know themselves
Knowing oneself is one of the first traits that distinguishes mature people.. Self-knowledge is hard work that never ends, because we are constantly evolving and learning. However, a mature person knows and recognizes him/herself continuously.
This means that they know and accept their defects and qualities. For this reason, they are self-confident in front of others. They do not try to impose their points of view and before, when they make a mistake, they admit their errors without blaming or reproaching themselves.
2. They control their emotions
Mature people control their emotions and not their emotions to them.. This does not mean that they are cold people. On the contrary, they have the ability to recognize their feelings and reactions to situations and manage them appropriately.
They may feel anger, sadness and frustration, but their ability to control them allows them to have the capacity to process them properly and let them flow without hurting others or themselves. The same is true for joy and elation. They are in control of them and manage them in an effective way.
3. They accept reality
A person who accepts reality has the ability to transform it in his or her favor.. A mature person understands that there are situations in reality that are beyond his reach. This does not cause frustration, because they accept and assume it.
However, they are not conformists. Accepting reality as it is allows them to find ways to adapt and live it to their advantage; they are able to take advantage of the circumstances and feel comfortable and not frustrated.
4. They do not accumulate resentments
Living without resentment is liberating and contributes to a state of fulfillment.. That is why mature people have no resentments. We have all felt hurt or betrayed, but to understand that these situations are part of life and must be left behind is to mature.
Human relationships are complex, living together with different personalities will often lead to conflicts and difficult situations. But having the ability to understand situations, let go of blame, forgive and forget, is a characteristic of mature people.
5. They are patient
Patience is a virtue that mature people have.. They know that things and projects take time to accomplish. They also understand that they require effort and discipline, so they do not rush times and know how to wait.
This trait characterizes them, unlike immature people. People with little maturity want to rush everything, and if they do not succeed they get desperate and have childish and exasperating attitudes. Patience is undoubtedly a sign of maturity.
6. They have a lot of empathy
Mature people have developed a great empathy.. Their own battles and their path to self-knowledge have made them understand that we all go through our own processes, and they are sympathetic to this reality.
Although they know how to set limits so that they do not abuse them, on the other hand, they are empathetic to the reality of others and their reactions and situations. This trait makes them people who, rather than criticize others, understand them without judging them.
7. They know how to set limits
Without being violent or hostile people, they know very well their limits and do not let others exceed them.. The fact that they are understanding, empathetic and patient with others does not mean that they allow others to abuse them.
They recognize very well the aspects that violate them and have the ability to be firm so that those who want to exceed those limits do not cross them. They know how to maintain their dignity and make others respect them, without the need for violence or intimidation.
8. They are responsible for their life and actions
A defining characteristic of mature people is responsibility.. They do not “blame” others, on the contrary, they assume the consequences of their actions and whenever possible seek to repair the damage or apologize if necessary.
They know that this is not an act of weakness. Their self-confidence allows them to assume their responsibilities, they are not afraid of feeling vulnerable and they do not feel guilty or resentful towards themselves for the mistakes they have made.
9. They do not like gossip
When other people talk about or judge others, mature people do not participate in it.. They have reached a state of maturity where they are not interested in participating in gossip. They prefer to stay away from such situations, and whenever possible, stop them.
They know that judgments can do a lot of harm. They are aware that this only generates more problems, which they obviously do not want to be part of. This mature attitude is sometimes not well accepted by others, but they are not affected and continue in their position.
10. They have no problem with being alone
Mature people do not have a problem with spending time alone.. They don’t even have a problem with spending a lot of time alone, or doing activities without being accompanied by anyone else. They like their own company and enjoy those moments without feeling sad.
This is a characteristic trait of mature people. They are not afraid of loneliness, nor do they see it as something sad or negative. They make the most of their time alone and have no problem spending long periods of time without a partner. They know that it is better to wait until they find someone with whom they feel comfortable.