The end of the year is usually a time of reflection. And there can be stress that comes up that highlights your growth over the course of the year. Here are 3 signs you’ve grown this year.
Choosing to accept or move on
Sometimes we try to “fix” people or fix relationships because we just want everyone to be happy. There are situations where you can help resolve an issue so that a person can heal or a relationship can be salvaged. But putting the pressure on yourself to be the one who always saves the day can be exhausting and take a toll on your mental and emotional health. Realizing that some people do not want to change or that some situations cannot be changed, is a sign that you have developed the emotional maturity to accept things out of your control.
This is not to say that you should walk away from people when things get hard or you disagree with them. It is important to put in the effort for people that you care about and try to work through the things that cause discord among you. However, you also need to set boundaries and be willing to move on if those boundaries are not respected. Sometimes there are relationships that we just need to let go of, and that’s okay. It really does take an emotionally mature person to realize that. If that is something you have experienced this year and you chose to accept and move on, then you have definitely experienced growth.
Setting social media boundaries
We all like to think that we are in control of our thoughts and feelings, despite what we see on social media. However, the truth is we can all fall victim to the toxic comparison that it leads to. It takes a mature person to admit that what they consume online can have a direct effect on their mental state, and then to take a step back from it. If that was something you admitted and took action on over this past year, then you have definitely grown emotionally.
Maybe your screen time has decreased and you have reached out to friends and family more when you have a need or feel lonely, versus going to that site where you can see other people living their life. This means you are seeking true human connections and that is so much healthier for you mentally and emotionally. Being with and talking to people gives you something real to relate to, good and bad, not just the perfectly curated scenarios that are portrayed online. Doing this is a choice and it’s a positive one.
Speaking up for yourself
If you find that you are standing up for yourself more and you are no longer willing to be disrespected or devalued by others, then you have taken a big step towards growing emotionally. When you become in tune with your emotions you start to develop the confidence to advocate for yourself, which is a positive thing.
“The more aware you are of your feelings and the feelings of others, the more difficult it becomes to stay silent when something seems off.” (Cooks-Campbell, Allaya. “Speaking up for Yourself is Important – 11 Steps to Get it Right.” Bettup.com. May 20, 2021. www.betterup.com/blog/speaking-up-for-yourself)
If you have worked on yourself and thought about what you truly value in life, then you probably found that it is a little easier to speak up when someone says or does something that goes against what is important to you. This shows growth because not only have you have learned more about yourself, you have begun to take action when it’s important for you and others.
In a past blog we discussed emotional maturity and explained that a lot of it centers around being comfortable and secure with yourself. This can take time so you shouldn’t expect it to happen overnight.
If you have noticed some positive changes in how you handle stress, relationships or other challenges in your life over the past year, then you have grown emotionally and that’s something to be proud of. These signs are just a few common ones but there are definitely others. If there are areas of your life that you still struggle with and it is taking an emotional toll on you, contact us, we can help.
