Maturity does not just apply to someone's age. A mature person is someone who has a good head on their shoulders. A person who seems wise beyond their years. Someone you can count on for good advice and a realistic outlook on life. How do you know if you are mentally mature? Here are some traits to look for in yourself.

You take responsibility

An immature person is never at fault. Whenever there is a problem they look for everyone else to blame. Even if it is apparent that it is their mistake, they will find any way possible to put the blame on someone else. It is almost comical that they cannot see they were the one in the wrong.

A mentally mature person is someone who takes responsibility for their actions. They can admit they are wrong, and they don't look to blame others. They may even take responsibility when it is not their fault. They know that who is at fault is not as important as coming up with a solution.

For some people, they spend more time focusing on how the problem happened then how to overcome it. While it is important to learn from your mistakes so you do not repeat them, it wastes time and energy arguing about whose fault it is. If you find yourself looking for solutions rather than blame, then you are mentally mature.

You keep calm

Staying calm in a stressful situation is a big sign that you are mentally mature. It takes a lot of discipline, maturity and skill to keep calm. So much so, that people have made professions from being able to stay calm in all sorts of situations (doctors, law enforcement, military, etc.). Staying calm means you can think clearly no matter the distractions, separate yourself from the situation emotionally, and perform well under pressure. It also means you know that losing it, when most other people would, is simply not an option.

Keeping calm also applies to parenting. There are some parents that yell, scream and react to things their kids do, rather than staying calm and giving the appropriate consequence to the situation. This is a hard skill to learn, but it can be learned. Take time to meditate, exercise your mind and body and learn what you need in order to quickly calm yourself down.

You know what battles to pick

Sometimes it is not a matter of fighting every battle, but rather the ones that will really make a difference. A mentally mature person will know this. They will know that in the long run, certain things matter and honestly, certain things don't.

In the moment, everything feels like it matters, but not everything does. Being able to pick which battles they fight allows them to have better relationships, a more peaceful life and less stress.

You are grounded

A mentally mature person is also realistic. They don't spend their time up in the clouds, wasting time daydreaming, but rather on the ground getting things done. This does not mean they don't reach for the stars, or that they don't dream big, but rather the opposite is true. They not only dream big, but they know how to make those dreams come true because they're realistic. They know their limits and know when they may need help to continue. They make a plan that is realistic, not just wishful thinking.

You don't jump to conclusions

It is easy to jump to conclusions, but someone who is mentally mature will take time to hear all sides of a story, or get all the information they can before making assumptions. It takes a lot of patience, discernment and good judgement for this skill, something that comes naturally with maturity. They don't judge books by their cover or conclude that the obvious is true. They take the time to really understand and research the issue before coming to a conclusion.

The above qualities are all things that can be learned. If you take time for self-improvement, meditation, learning and understanding that you are not perfect, but constantly growing and progressing, then you are already on the right path for mental maturity.