Wednesday 22 May 2013

....on Maturity.



Maturity is a term that is used in many aspects of life; for example in agriculture, biology, brewery, etc. But maturity in human emotional development is the focus here. The Dictionary defines maturity as: the state of full development. As none of us, I believe, will reach absolute maturity on earth, I prefer sometimes to use the term ‘maturing’ or ‘relative maturity’. For use in this post I put forth a definition of maturity as follows:


Maturity is a developed sense of internal control that keeps a person on the right or appropriate path in life.


The issue of maturity is so important that one can almost not over emphasize it. It is crucial in marriage, leadership, politics, education, family life, church ministry, etc.
 
Ecc 10:16—17.Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning! Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

3 key concepts in definition
  •   Develop(ment)—this communicates a sense of growth; of gradual progress; of stages. It is certainly not a sudden thing. Growth is almost always painful!
  •   Internal control—maturing is essentially inward and independent of social status, academic achievements and sometimes even age. A professor can be very immature while a stark illiterate can be relatively mature, and vice versa.
  •   Right or appropriate path—maturity keeps you on track! One does not get lost in the mob. It frees you from what a friend calls ‘cultural software’.
Since we were all born completely immature I have wondered how some turned out more matured than others. Of course aside from individual choices, parenting is a very important reason. Like begets like. If the parents are relatively matured their children will almost certainly be relatively matured. And vice versa. A Child must necessarily look up to whoever raises him. The impatience, evident lack of self-control or extreme cowardice of parents (or foster parents) becomes a model for the child. This reality highlights the seriousness of parenting! Nevertheless, however you have been raised you can always make a choice to grow up! The first step is saying to yourself, ‘I, alone, have the responsibility for the outcome of my emotional growth.’

There is no way one can walk with God (not just attending church activities) and not steadily mature. No one should graduate from the school of maturing.

Ecc 4:13 .Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive counsel.

Wednesday 15 May 2013

Growth. One of the most fascinating concepts in human experience. All human life began as unified cell at conception. And so we keep growing and growing. Biologically, we stop growing early--at end of adolescence. But growth possibilities in mind and spirit are unlimited.
Most times, growth in the mind and spirit is deliberate. This blog will continue to examine principles and processes of personal and organizational growth.
'In all of life, there are sequential stages of growth and development. A child learns to turn over, to sit up, to crawl, and then to walk and run. Each step is important and each one takes time. No step can be skipped. This is true in all phases of life.'--Stephen Covey.

Post your views and comments and questions. Can't wait to see them!