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.
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!
This is an amazing article. I’ve been seeking to be understood and to understand myself, and recently it’s been killing me.
Through my journey of 26 years of searching the answers of WHO or WHAT I am I’ve noticed:
that I experience fiery emotions (positive and negative), I have a thirst and hunger to know answers to the deep questions, to a point where others say “stop focusing on such airy things, focus on making money”. But I dismiss them because I really don’t care about becoming rich or living a materialistic life, I just want fulfillment, purpose, serenity and answers!
I’m so sensitive that I can feel other’s emotions and it tends to drain me, especially people carrying deep hurt… but I have a magnetic pull towards people with hurt, because I know how painful it can be and I want to give them some of my energy.
I’ve craved meaningful relationships for a long time as well, just sick of banter, small talk and white noise of society. I wanted connection on a deeper level. I wanted connection with those that are like me, but I didn’t know who or what I was.
I FELT LIKE AN OUTCAST ALL MY LIFE, I THOUGHT I WAS ALONE, I FELT LIKE AN ALIEN ON PLANET EARTH.
BUT I have identified with this article, it truly expresses who I am on so many levels, I finally feel understood. I am also so happy there are many others who are Mature Souls, as seen by the comments section, I feel hope. I am eternally grateful.
I am understood, I am not alone.
Thank you Luna.
came upon this post by Providence… took the test and results show I am a “Mature Soul” — all the 11 signs written here felt exactly spot on on how I feel. Thank you for writing and shedding light.
Every bit of it resonates with me — seeking expression has one of my personal goal and direction the past 8 years, and yes it seems that I am always “searching for something”, so much so others around me advice me to stop searching, yet it is hard for me to explain to them the real feelings behind it. I have always asked deep questions about life since 15, even more so now and yes definitely an INTENSE person, so much so at times, I am afraid of my own “intensity”…..I can go on and on, really what an excellent post here.
Whether or not, souls exists, one thing for sure, the human spirit is far more powerful and amazing than we ever will know. I am still learning to “break-free” from the internal turmoil and confusion at times, that is that one thing that unsettles me the most. Yet I begin to recognize a recurring pattern every few years — perhaps, this time will be my last confusion as I move forward….
Thank you very much for this website. It’s probably the most usefull website I ever seen thanks to its highly valuable content. Thanks again, you deffinitely helped me in my journey.
This seriously just completely described me as a person. I completely relate with the mature soul!
It’s so amazing how this sounds like me. But at this time in my life my soul doesn’t feel its with me. Im half dead an I can’t snap out of it. Im not who I wish I were. Ive become isolated an it feels good most days. I dont feel comfortable around people anymore. To much has happened.
Oh wow, this explains so much about myself. I’m constantly in a state of emotional turmoil and I had already deduced that I was an empath, but I now have an even greater understanding of myself. I’m still in school, and I always feel a certain disconnect from some of my friends, but one of them also sounds like a mature soul and that’s probably why we’re close. Thank you for this article, Luna :)
Like some of the comments before: I do recognize some aspects, but I also consider myself being an old soul…hmmmm… which is it? I think I am more an old soul, due to the fact I have no questions anymore about the meaning of life, I feel at peace with what I have. I do like learning, but not in an extreme way. Although I am stil learning to show my true self to the world and stand up for myself. I tend to adjust my behaviour in front of others with different life styles and I should not care about what they think of me. Due to my sensitivity I have always been focused on the outer world instead of on my inner world. This focus / attitude is changing now, but I am still learning / adjusting, it has never been my go to approuch, so not an easy thing to change, but I will get there!
I can relate to some of these signs, literally thought, after reading some articles about Mature Soul and Old Soul you provided here, I think I’m somewhat combination of them. Some of the Mature Soul characters are with me, and some are not. And so are to the Old Soul. I’ve found myself to be the contrast among the people I know. In other words, I’m very different.
For example: Most of my active school friends are striving to make proud of their school. Some are striving for a community in school. Some of them work in group. While I work alone by myself for my own purpose and community.
I have my own way and I know it. I strive alone and it is better that way. I experience a lot of self doubt and matters in life. Such as comparing myself to people my age that has more advantage than myself. Especially skills. Also, I completely value meaningful relationships. Whether with my family, friends, or even anyone.
I dunno if i qualify as correlation doesn’t equal causation but i have listened to several talks recently given by Marianne Williamson that reflect the Hesse quotation at the beginning. I am finding that my propensity to mature is completely dependent on my ability to love and forgive. I have quite a bit of maturing to do.
Yup fits me too a T I really don’t care for anything really never been interested n anything
But what’s going on with me and why I’m always searching for what is and what it is to be
I get this feeling that I never really belonged here that I’m just some kinda ghost wondering around aimlessly no friends,family, never wanting to comply with any one or anything
Kinda lost in away not knowing where to go or what to do with my life I just keep searching for what I don’t know it just eludes me at every corner I don’t even know what the hell I’m looking for but day after day I keep searching I guess sence I found this site it’s given some insight on who I am but what I am is still unknown but a matured soul fits me really well
So thx fore that infoe.
Is there any chance to get rid of mature or old soul… i mean changing activities, meditation,?
I think I’m just here to help. I’ve done so many different jobs, earned so many degrees, learned so many lanGuages and lived so many great and powerful moments. I have been given everything that 99% of humanity struggles to get all their lives…. and I am still young. So, I choose to be a helper. I am opening a website to charge people a small fee to go on the site, ask their questions and get helpful answers that will get them unstuck in business, life, relationships, etc. The help is not free because I have bills to pay, but the price won’t be outrageous. I am more interested in solving people’s problems than with over charging them. It’s hard out there and folks need a hand. It will all be done over email and chat. I have a guy helping me to set it all up. We think we’re going to help a lot of people.
Well I hope you do Black Bart! The world needs more people like you, eager to help for a reasonable price. I wish you the best of luck. ;)
I scored 96% on the quiz, meaning that I’m a mature soul. Your article has been extremely informative, and I thank you so much for that. i’ve been reading article after article for hours now, and I can’t put in words how much you have helped me. I have a much better sense of who I am as a person. Thank you.
I always knew I had a different perception of life than the others around me and always felt older than my actual age. For about 3 years now I have struggled with different notions, not understanding certain things. As an example, the other day, I was in class when my philosophy teacher said “you know that feeling when you desperately want to hurt someone because they hurt you”… I actually did not know! I have never felt the craving to hurt someone because they hurt me, and expressed this to the class. Everyone thought I was lying, and I could not believe that someone could ever fathom such thoughts. It actually made me cry it perplexed me so much. This article has helped understand that there is a reason why everyone does not see eye to eye, and why someone could actually have such thoughts.
Another one of your articles has also confirmed that I am an empath. I’ve always known, I just could never identify the way I was feeling to an actual concept. And thank you so much. This knowledge will most definitely help me be more comfortable with who I am, be more aware of the way I react to certain situations and help me grow as a person.
There is one thing that perplexes me a little. I am not sure if I am making the right choice in terms of career. I am currently studying engineering, and thus because my parents are influencing this choice greatly. I know that I would be an amazing teacher, as I love children. But my parents have pushed me an convinced me that engineering is the way to go because it promises financial security. Now I know that I wouldn’t mind being a civil engineer, as bridges are one of my great passions, I just dont understand why I can’t follow my heart and become a teacher. Is this part of my journey? To listen to myself instead of others? To not be scared of disappointing my parents? To finally understand that its not about the money, but about the quality of life YOU prefer to live?
I’ve been pondering those questions, and I know that the best option for my happiness is to become a teacher. I could probably do incredible things. But i’m not, and I dont know why. Could you help me with this? Do you have any thoughts that could possibly guide me towards making the right decision?
Once again, I thank you so much for these articles. You have definitely helped me tremendously.
Wow! I am a mature soul to a tee. Very interesting and true to my nature. This article has helped me understand myself even more. Great article.
Ehhh… I’m pretty sure I’m a mature soul. I’ve pretty much felt on par with my parents’ generation. I feel like my entire childhood was a mid-life crisis. I wanted to ENJOY my childhood and not lose the spirit it has. Even at four years old, I felt like half my life was gone. Now, at nineteen, I feel like I’m going through the same mid-life (for me, quarter-life) crisis as my parent’s generation. The difference, I realise, is I’m still young. I don’t have to spend the next twenty years pleasing everyone and working mundane jobs before I realise there’s got to be more to life. My trouble is, I don’t have the life experience to back it up. I don’t have a driver’s licence, or my first job, or gone to college, and I still live with my parents. And I have very little idea how to live life where I’m not conforming to society’s expectations, but I’m not a penniless freeloader either.
ok,so I am not ,bat s**t crazy, I am a mature, Phlegmatic, Empath……and I haven’t even finished the test(all of them}
yet. I do love your blog. This had been a very low kinda day. Your articles are thought provoking and I love the way you write ! Nameste,
Thanks Pierce!
Thanks for this. This is exactly me. My biggest fear in life is being alone.
Thanks for this. This is exactly me. My biggest fear in life is being alone. I like time alone, but not having a significant other puts me in a bad place.
Great insight. I present as INFP on the Myers-Briggs test, though on occasion I have scored INFJ. I am Bipolar too..The above account describes me to a “T”.