Maturity is Not Age

 It means you can nurture a great relationship. Striving to become more emotionally mature.

If you’re reading this article, you’re open to self-reflection on some level. That's already a win. Emotional generosity.

You realize that your role is to be there for support. Part of emotional maturity is the understanding that vulnerability requires strength. It means shifting your perspective so you put conflict resolution above your desire to be right, and not attacking her when she expresses emotions that may frighten you. The way to learn, as with everything, is to practice. You can become emotionally stronger. Instead, they welcome their feelings, which ebb and flow naturally. We encourage this way of being, so we raise men who are emotionally divided from everyone else in their lives.

1. Signs Of An Emotionally Mature Man:

Growing up in an Indian family and conservative culture, I learned unhealthy emotional habits. Experiencing fear or pain or self-consciousness doesn't mean you're losing and shouldn't trigger aggression. Setting the intention to have a difficult conversation with these parameters is the first step.

2. This leads to increased maturity, stronger relationships, and a more fulfilling life.

3. It's trusting someone else enough not to hurt you and trusting yourself to be able to recover if you do get hurt.

4. Discomfort is a great teacher. It's practicing tolerance and patience.

5. They are incapable of vulnerability and intimacy, which perpetuates our culture of commitment-phobia and the death of the nuclear family.

The good news? It doesn't have to be this way. Maintain some ground rules — keep any arguments on the topic of the current disagreement and always speak respectfully to one another. If, instead, you see this as a way to become a better person, you can begin to take the necessary risk of being more open to feelings and emotions. As a young man, I learned to suppress my feelings, to be a tough guy, a stoic, a soldier. Sharing without hiding.

Emotional maturity requires sharing feelings that might initially make you feel ashamed, bringing up the hidden feelings you'd rather not bring up. But running from them will cause your discomfort to endure even longer.

6. Humility.

Men have a difficult time talking about their emotions because they aren't at ease with vulnerability or interpret it as weakness in themselves. Having vulnerable and emotional conversations is hard for everyone but especially people who are sensitive or inexperienced in the language of emotion. Instead of avoiding feelings or running away from them, commit to welcoming them, feeling them, and working through them.

7. Awareness of harmful patterns.

When life events trigger an undesirable emotional response in you, you can acknowledge and deal with the response or try to ignore it, which tends to result in anger (fight) or self-protective distancing (flight). Respecting boundaries.

Emotionally mature men know not to hurt someone or violate their privacy.

8. It's okay to be seen in fear or fright. 

If you're curious about this world of emotions and feelings, you’re moving toward emotional maturity with intention. Open communication of their feelings.

Once you accept and invite your feelings in, you might not know what to do with them. You must be willing to break through the ego and get comfortable with being a beginner.

9. Surrounding themselves with emotionally mature men.

Men hear that they shouldn’t cry or share their emotions on the sports field or in the workplace, so most of them don’t. Openness to learning and growth.

If you choose to remain in your old patterns once you recognize that they're unhealthy, you will continue to experience the same problems. Being present, available, and open to conversation. You are there to uplift rather than to “win” at all costs. Look to them for guidance.

10. You have to be willing to move into the unknown, into vulnerability. It means not judging or being emotionally ungenerous when someone needs you.

11. But there are almost certainly a handful of emotionally mature men in your life. Creating space for their partners.

Practicing emotional maturity means creating space for a partner. You don’t have to fix someone’s emotional issues or strong feelings. It can be overwhelming. Willingness to have difficult conversations.

An ability to discuss your feelings openly in a safe space is followed by open communication in romantic relationships. Try journaling or discussing your feelings with someone you trust. Once you’ve fully experienced the intensity of uncomfortable feelings like pain or sadness, they will naturally ebb. Listening without fixing.

None of us are therapists – unless, of course, you are one. Your feelings won’t kill you. This isn’t a game and you’re not losing. Acceptance of feelings.

Emotionally mature men don’t hide from, resist, or suppress their feelings. If that doesn't put you at ease enough to continue through the feelings, consider talking to a therapist or counselor. You can change. Being emotionally mature means that you’re caring and comforting. You don’t have to do anything when others are hurt or suffering except listen in love.

12. Communicating your feelings helps you label and appropriately deal with them.

It means staying put when you want to run. You can be more open and vulnerable.

1. Humanity means experiencing these things. Accepting discomfort as a natural state is how you begin to uncover self-sabotaging patterns and learn to manage your responses to triggering situations.

13. Being compassionate and empathetic.

Emotional maturity means trying to understand someone else's feelings.