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Acting Responsibly

Acting Responsibly: Signs Of Maturity And Success

December 31, 2017

In our last post, we took a look at the intricacies of budgeting for a child. Formula, daycare, diapers, clothes, toys, food, and baby gear expenditures can rack up in a hurry, so it’s really important to be aware of the kind of spikes you can expect to happen before your little tike gets here. Knocking out credit card debt as hard as you can before the baby is born is also a wise thing to attempt. Juggling interest charges on your remaining balance while you are buying car seats and cribs isn’t a great way to kick parental life off.

But at the same time, no experience is exactly like another, and we certainly aren’t here to judge at Our Center. We want to provide budgeting tips through our budget counseling, mental health services in Longmont, and a personal development program which puts folks on the road to self-sustainability.

Today’s post is going to depart from the norm just a bit, in that we will be offering some words of maturity and insight in reference to self-sustained, mature people. Let’s take a look at some of the commonalities found between successful folks, in addition to some words of wisdom concerning the same topic. Get ready for some quick-fire signs of maturity and success!

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Mature people know when it’s time to arrive and when it’s time to go. The first part is not a complicated thought; we should all arrive when an event starts, not when we feel like it. While most people aren’t going to give out high-fives simply for the fact that you arrived on time, if you aren’t punctual, it tells people how their time isn’t valuable to you, and you can treat them however you wish. Learning when it is time to go is the sign of a successful person, and we aren’t just talking about getting a vibe that you aren’t wanted at a particular social event. Understanding when it is time to change jobs, move on from certain housing situations, and even turn the page on destructive relationships are all key indicators of someone having maturity.

Organization is absolutely essential. When you hear successful people talk about how they are able to attack each and every day, organization is key to most everyone’s efforts. Giving your mind a map to work with so you can process where you are and where you are going in addition to what your goals are can be invaluable. But, interestingly enough, there isn’t one right way of organizing your things. Many highly successful people have organizational systems that are totally unique, but they are functional. Find what works for you, so as long as it’s not being disorganized to the point where you don’t know where to start when you want to fix things!

Successful people can motivate themselves. That doesn’t mean that successful people have a different gene than everyone else. It means they can fight through the days where they aren’t feeling inspired, when the bed feels incredibly cozy but there is work to be done. Being consistent, steady, and dependable is the first step to being motivated and inspired. Even if you don’t feel like it every day, we are firm believers in faking it until you make it, especially when it comes to work motivation.

This one ties in nicely with what we were discussing above. Successful, mature people are willing to make sacrifices in order to get what they want. When children are faced with a choice between immediate pleasure and a greater amount of pleasure to come at a later date, the immature response is to take advantage of the immediate opportunity. Likewise, a massive part of becoming an adult is the ability to withhold pleasure for something greater. Practically speaking, that can mean not eating out as much or not taking a vacation for a year or two so that you can save up for a downpayment on a home. We aren’t suggesting these are easy by any means, but if there is one thing you remember from this post, it’s that the sign of adulthood and maturity is the willingness to make sacrifices.

Don’t be hypocritical. Whether you are becoming a parent, are applying for a new job, or are moving into some other new phase of life, it’s easy to get caught up in comparisons and unnecessary competitions. Once you start being self-sustainable, make sure you become an advocate for people who have the same kinds of needs as you once had.

Stop procrastinating. We all do it, but that doesn’t make it okay. Procrastinating on homework or doing chores around the house are one thing, but when you become self-sufficient, you have to make doctor’s appointments, set up automatic payments, and set your alarm before you fall asleep in front of the TV. If you want to be mature, you have to sacrifice the moment’s pleasure for future benefit.

Avoid those around you who are negative, destructive forces. When we are faced with the prospect of growing up, it is often the case that current friends will try to dissuade us from making the positive life changes we know we should. Remember that the reason many of these “friends” do this is because your maturity only reveals to them the fact that they aren’t happy with their own choices. That they are trying to keep you in a potentially unhealthy state of being only serves as evidence that they don’t have your best interest in mind. Cutting off ties from people like this isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be harshly done. We recommend being communicative and honest as a starting point.

Wise Quotes

Here are some quotes of wisdom related to the same topics we’ve been talking about. We bet that you’ve heard some of these before!

“Spend a little more time trying to make something of yourself and a little less time trying to impress people.” – The Breakfast Club

“As we grow up, we realize it is less important to have lots of friends, and more important to have real ones.” – Unknown

“Those who are the happiest never did have everything. But rather, they are thankful for everything they do have.” – Unknown

“Making a big life change is pretty scary, but, do you know what’s even scarier? Regret.” – Unknown

“Don’t spend your entire life preparing to live.” – Unknown

“As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn’t supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it’s harder every time. You’ll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You’ll fight with your best friend. You’ll blame a new love for things an old one did. You’ll cry because time is passing too fast, and you’ll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you’ve never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you’ll never get back.” – Unknown

If you are interested in life skills classes, substance abuse help, budgeting tips, or personal development and family assistance programs, reach out to us at Our Center today.

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