I began to understand that suffering and disappointments and melancholy are there not to vex us or cheapen us or deprive us of our dignity but to mature and transfigure us. ~ Hermann Hesse (Peter Camenzind)
The sensitive, the complex, the internally restless … If there was one type of person in life that could embody all of these three elements, it would be the Mature Souls of the world.
Mature Souls are the diplomats of this planet, the introspective self-explorers, the existential idealists, the angsty artists and the humanitarian environmentalists. If you can identify with any of these groups of people, you are most likely a Mature Soul.
The Difference Between Old and Mature Souls
While Mature Souls feel an innate sense of disconnection from the elementary, infantile and materialistic views held by other Soul Ages, they feel less at peace than Old Souls do due to their inner turmoil. This may be because Mature Souls are still in the process of transition from the external world to the internal world, the material world to the spiritual world, and the physical world to the psychological world.
As a result, Mature Souls feel a lot of confusion, displacement and uneasiness in their lives, seeking to reconcile their deeper inner dreams, beliefs, and values with their personal, interpersonal and global perceptions of the world.
Just as each Soul Age, or level of conscious evolution, transitions into the next, so too can the Mature Soul share a variety of characteristics with both Young Soul attitudes, as well as Old Soul mentalities.
Living life as a Mature Soul can certainly be challenging and isolating, but there are many of us out there who share the same journey. So if you think you may be a Mature Soul, read the signs below!
1. You ask deep questions about life.
“Why am I here?”, “What happens after death?”, “Am I being authentic to my life purpose?”, “How can I truly find my life calling?” Such are the types of questions asked by Mature Souls in an attempt to understand the truth of their lives, and existence as a whole. Many Mature Souls spend large amounts of their lives pursuing the answers to such complex questions.
2. You crave self-expression.
To live an authentic life, self-expression is not only important, but vital for Mature Souls. Whether through artistic, humanitarian, philosophical, environmental, spiritual or other types of pursuits, Mature Souls must express their deeper, inner passions and callings. Otherwise, without this freedom, Mature Souls feel empty, depressed or caged in.
3. You tend to be a pacifist.
Due to their sensitive natures, Mature Souls rarely support violence, warfare or hostility of any kind, whether inter-personally or inter-racially. For this reason, they rarely get involved in career paths that involve conflict (e.g. law, politics, navy, army, air force, etc.)
4. You are highly compassionate.
Mature Souls are often deeply caring people who are disturbed by the pain and suffering of others. “Your misfortune is my misfortune” is usually an unspoken feeling many Mature Souls carry, and often this leads to the development of Empathic abilities throughout their lifetimes. The ability to feel and experience what other living beings do often adds to their internal conflict.
5. You tend to be moody.
Still identifying closely with their thoughts and feelings, Mature Souls tend to be moody and changeable due to their inability to detach themselves from their ever-changing emotional landscapes. Mature Souls are still in the process of learning awareness of what is, acceptance of what was, and non-identification with their transient emotions.
6. You pursue knowledge for its own sake.
It’s uncommon for Mature Souls to gain high qualifications, diplomas and other certifications merely for monetary or social status incentives. Rather, Mature Souls love to educate themselves to improve, extend and deepen their understanding of other people, the universe and most essentially, themselves. As existential confusion and a sense of “not feeling at ease” constantly plagues the Mature Soul, seeking out knowledge is one of the most favored ways this Soul Age soothes their inner discomfort. Many Mature Souls are avid readers or autodidacts for this reason.
7. You always feel as though you are “searching for something”.
This elusive and pervasive feeling drives a lot of the Mature Soul’s pursuits in life. “Who am I really?”, “What will make me happy and whole?”, “How can I feel fulfilled?” In essence, the Mature Soul feels a constant sense of discontentment and restlessness in their lives. Most are trying to find what, if anything, will make them happy, whole and filled with that mythical sense of inner peace many proclaim to have attained.
8. You are open-minded.
Rarely ever dogmatic or straight-laced, Mature Souls are the free spirits and free thinkers of the world who will often explore many different paths in life in an attempt to find themselves and understand the universe. Many Mature Souls drift for large periods of their lives back and forth between various lifestyles, spiritual traditions and social movements. Very little is off-limits to them.
9. You are prone to excessive psychological stress.
Mature Souls are highly complex people, still learning the best ways to juggle and reconcile the inner and outer worlds, the mundane with the sacred and the meaningless with the meaningful. Their highly sensitive natures, for this reason, are prone to mental, emotional and sensory overload which can result in a variety of psychological stresses and illnesses (e.g. chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, etc.) Unfortunately, this can also lead to drug and alcohol problems for those who don’t learn the appropriate coping mechanisms, as ways to mask their unresolved pain. However, for those who have learnt ways to deal with psychological stress, these Mature Souls often enter the counseling and psychology fields with great success.
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10. You value meaningful relationships.
A warm and supportive family, a loyal and tender friend, an attentive and gentle lover – such is what Mature Souls highly value in life: someone to deeply connect with. This is also what tends to create a lot of strife in the Mature Soul’s life if they are unable to find or establish such harmonious bonds. Nevertheless, the Mature Soul cares greatly about others, and so craves for others to treat them in the same manner.
11. You are an intense person.
Whether mentally or emotionally (or both), Mature Souls are rarely ever the phlegmatic, frigid or apathetic people of life. Rather, their inner angst often fuels their social interactions and personal pursuits. Thus, the Mature Soul may come across as being overly earnest, passionate or even forcible in their daily lives. Their intensity makes them excellent activists, artists, and writers.
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Although complex and moody, Mature Souls like Old Souls often feel older than their age reflects, seeking for meaning, purpose and wholeness in life.
Are you a Mature Soul? I’d love to hear your feelings, thoughts and experiences below. You might also like to take our Mature Soul test!
I’ve been told I’m an “old soul” since I was a late teenager. I’m now in my early 30’s, and I have never read something that so fittingly described me at my most inner core. The more I read, the more I laughed because it all seemed too eerily true.
At 22, I began my search for true meaning after being depressed in my career as a hairstylist. I didn’t fit in with the superficial lifestyle. I moved out of town, and went back to school. I ended up majoring in religious studies out of pure interest and for reasons involving self growth. I then tried on several careers: Montessori teacher-aid, farmhand, customer service agent, social media coordinator, etc. I went back to school again, and just graduated with a degree in dental hygiene. I think I’ve found a meaningful enough career that allows me to make a difference in people’s lives. I still feel as if I’m not at ease though as I constantly listen to podcasts exploring the deeper meaning of life and knowledge simply for the sake of knowledge.
I often wonder why my friendly self has such a hard time really connecting with others my age, and as my wedding approaches, I find it hard to reconcile with the fact that I have no real girlfriends other than a select couple family members to be in my bridal party. Reading this article helped me come to terms with the fact that I’m not the only one out there feeling this way though, and that what I’m experiencing is normal. I feel more comfortable with the fact that I don’t exactly fit in now.
Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your story! Best wishes and Congratulations! :) I’m glad I’ve found this article. Lately I’ve been feeling lonely and find peace in my solitude. Luckily, I’m not the only one feeling this way, I thought it was just some kind of phase or anything and start to question myself. Just like you, I’m going back to school again and maybe I will find what I really want a career to pursue.
And I don’t know how I get here, but I’m really glad I’ve come across this article. Thank you ^^,
I really enjoyed reading your article, it often get told the Im an old soul, however I become conflicted with the spirituality and often am a fence sitter when in come to my values and views on spirituality and the soul. Your article explains why, I believe I sit comfortably on the later end of mature soul, where am still more interested I physiology, sociology, creativity and how to grow as a collective. Then the next stage of consciousness/inlightment.
Your article has mafe my soul feel at ease, for the time being, thank you
As a child I preferred the company of adults. I had some friends, but only one or two I connected with. I am the same now. I connect with very few people. I find most people tedious. I have no need to fit in with a crowd, i usually stand out, unintentionally. But it’s nice when I do fit in. I like learning about myself. I have no desire for academic qualifications, but I do have one. I find the politics in this world to be illogical.
I scored very highly on the old soul and mature soul tests. If this is my last reincarnation here, then good. If not, well I’ll definitely be a mature soul next time!
I am not very young and immature but mature yet confused and tend to get into depressive mood when I am not reading or doing something…. I have no interest in money but I know it matters and I respect it… But I always somehow feel full and happy and connected when I am reading spiritual topics… I don’t know exactly if I am well matured or this is just my another after the young stage… Anyways I loved the article
This is me! Thank you. I find the information your site provides to be so helpful. Blessings
I am not at all activist,artist,writer but all other characteristics are right for me.