Getting older is one of those certainties in life, right? There’s nothing we can do to stop it.

One of the good things about getting older is the opportunity to grow and mature as a person. 

And this isn’t just about accumulating years or celebrating more birthdays.

Experiencing personal growth and becoming mature is about getting to know yourself better and evolving emotionally and mentally. 

But how can you really tell if you’ve grown and matured? 

The good news is: we don’t have to figure this out on our own. 

Psychology gives us some pretty clear signs that we’ve legitimately grown and matured as a person. 

And today, I’m sharing 7 of those signs with you. Let’s see how many of these signs ring true for you.

1) You’re responsible for your actions

A big part of growing up is learning to take responsibility for your actions.

It’s easy to hide away or blame others when you’ve messed up, but the truth is, no one can make you do anything. 

You and only you are responsible for the things you do and say. And when you recognize that, it’s a big sign of maturity.

Licensed therapist Loriann Oberlin, MS, LCPC, says, “Taking responsibility for one’s missteps is a hallmark of maturity; crafting villains into one’s story with finger-pointing is the opposite.”

If you’ve tried to blame others and dodge responsibility in the past but these days you own your mistakes, that’s a big sign you’ve legitimately grown and matured as a person. 

And it’s not easy, so kudos to you.

2) You’re open to feedback and see challenges as opportunities

Remember in your younger years when you took feedback as a personal attack and thought challenges were immovable roadblocks? 

I certainly do: a setback or challenge sent me into despair, and I took all constructive criticism very personally.

But not anymore.

As I mature, I’m totally open to feedback because I know it’ll help me grow and become a better version of myself and I see setbacks as opportunities to learn. 

Recognizing that you can learn and improve from experiences and feedback like this is known as having a growth mindset, a concept that psychologist Carol Dweck introduced.

If you’ve become more open to feedback and learning through experiences, you know you’ve genuinely grown and matured as a person. 

3) You’re able to manage and control your emotions

Have you ever seen a toddler throw a tantrum in a supermarket? 

That’s a classic example of not being able to regulate emotions, something even adults struggle with. 

People might snap at coworkers or yell in traffic when emotions run high.

Here’s the thing: managing emotions is a skill, and it gets better with practice. 

Studies show that older adults often handle their emotions better, not just because of their age, but because they’ve learned effective strategies to manage how they react to things over time.

How do you react in high-stress situations? Can you stay calm or do your emotions get the better of you? 

Your response can reveal a lot about your personal growth. Being able to stay composed under pressure is a strong sign of maturity.

4) You’re highly self-aware

One of the biggest indicators of personal growth is self-awareness.

Self-awareness is all about recognizing your strengths, weaknesses, and how your actions affect others. 

Psychologist, Daniel Goleman identifies self-awareness as one of the five key aspects of emotional intelligence (EQ).

Goleman says ​” people tend to become more emotionally intelligent as they age and mature”. 

And studies back this up, showing older people are likely to be a little more self-aware. 

Most of us aren’t born with a strong sense of self-awareness, and even if you start out somewhat self-aware, you can always improve with time and focus. 

If you understand yourself well and realize how you affect others, you’ve matured and grown as a person

5) You show empathy to others

When looking at signs of growth and maturity, self-awareness isn’t the only part of emotional intelligence that shows it. 

Being empathetic to others is also a sign of growth, and just like self-awareness it usually gets better as people get older.

However, waiting to mature with age isn’t the only way to cultivate it. 

According to the American Psychological Association, studies show that being willing and open to personal growth also helps to cultivate empathy. 

Developing empathy takes effort but is worthwhile, putting you in the same league as respected figures like Oprah and Keanu Reeves, known for their empathy.

If you’re already showing empathy to others, it’s a telling sign you’ve been on a journey of personal growth and development. 

6) You embrace vulnerability

When you think of vulnerability, what springs to mind?

Dr. Brené Brown says, “Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity.”

It can be tough to embrace vulnerability because it exposes us and opens us up to the possibility of hurt and rejection.

However, a recent paper suggests that vulnerability is one of the key elements to personal growth. 

It notes that by embracing it and other principles, “individuals can navigate their journey of personal growth more effectively.”

Embracing vulnerability and viewing it as a strength shows that you’ve already grown and are on a path of personal development.

7) You’re independently connected

Remember as a teenager and maybe into your early 20s when you did everything with your friends? It was almost like you guys came as a package deal. 

It was fun, but it was also partly because you hadn’t fully developed your autonomy yet. 

Psychologists might say you were still working on your self-differentiation, the process of forming your own identity and views separate from those around you. 

And it’s really important. 

As outlined by clinical social worker Assael Romanelli Ph.D., “Raising your level of differentiation can help improve your life in different ways” including:

• More personal freedom
• Better quality intimate relationships
• Better social circle

I recently met up with a college friend, and we talked about how we enjoy time to ourselves, traveling alone, and not being too tied to any group.

But we also have close friends, stable relationships, and family ties. We’re independently connected.

If you find yourself in a similar place, enjoying both independence and meaningful connections, it’s a clear sign of your own growth and maturity too.

Final thoughts

Growth and maturity aren’t just about hitting certain life milestones or getting older, they’re about evolving in how we think, act, and interact with the world around us. 

If you see some of these signs in yourself, take a moment to appreciate your own journey. 

Embrace where you’ve come and where you’re headed. After all, personal growth is one of life’s most rewarding achievements.