1. They don’t equate a bad feeling to a bad life

When you have the emotional maturity to process your emotions in a healthy manner, you know that bad feelings don’t last for a long period of time. Just because you feel down doesn’t mean it’ll define the rest of your life. You let yourself be human and have bad days without putting unnecessary pressure on yourself.

2. They don’t need to feel happy all the time

Life isn’t always composed of sunshine and rainbows, and no matter how optimistic you are, life isn’t going to be smooth sailing. Life has difficulties and struggles alongside happiness. While you know that happiness is a choice, you don’t pressure yourself into feeling happy all the time.

3. They don’t repress their emotions

When you have the emotional maturity for it, you don’t force yourself to feel something you don’t. You let your emotions be and you don’t shut them off because you know this is an unhealthy coping mechanism. In expressing your emotions, you choose the right time in communicating what you feel out loud and not in an impulsive and irrational manner.

4. They don’t confuse indifference with strength

If you’re emotionally mature, you know that indifference is a sign that you care just a little too much about everything and you’re scared of vulnerability. Rather, you let yourself be, and you don’t attempt to harden your heart to appear invincible to the world.

5. They don’t fear failure and mistakes

When you don’t have the maturity for it, you can’t handle failure and mistakes. In fact, you go out of your way just to avoid it. Emotional maturity means that messing up isn’t always a bad thing because you know you can always learn from your mistakes.

6. They don’t always respond to everything

If something bothers you, emotional maturity allows you to see that you don’t always have to give out a response. While you can’t control the things that happen, you can control your response on the matter.

7. They control their emotions

Emotions aren’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, emotions are what fill life up with purpose and meaning. However, when you let emotions get the best of you, things can end badly. Letting your emotions control you is what holds you back from things like success, peace, and happiness.

8. They know their pain isn’t a valid response

You know those people, those that use their grief, trauma, abuse, and pain to validate being a bad person. No matter what you’ve been through, emotional maturity means that you don’t get to treat people badly just because the world hasn’t been fair to you. Life was never fair to begin with, and you have to accept that.