Maturity.

In Christian Counseling class today one of the guys (Conrad Baars) we're studying took Thomistic psychology/anthropology and adapted it to counseling. He had a definition of a mature person that is very thought-provoking.

I've been growing in a valueing of maturity- and what it all means- A LOT in the last year to 18 months. From working a real job, choosing a career, looking for a spouse, and the many big things my family has gone through (good and bad) I guess you could say I'm sobering up a bit (losing a bit of the old idealism- and becoming more practical about what has value). I'm still happy and chipper (never more so) but I want to be the type of person who doesn't shirk from shouldering responsibilities and can be a strong support, etc... and valueing more and more people who are at least trying to do that too. In effect- I want to be a MATURE, stable, and holy adult.

Here's the definition that got me thinking from class:

Maturity- the degree to which one is comfortable with all of one's feelings.

None of our emotions are sinful; sin involves an act of the will and emotions come to us without the involvement of our will. Sexual attraction isn't sinful- but willing to fantasize or act upon it disorderly is sinful. Anger isn't sinful- but to express it wrongly, or to not express it because of cowardness is sinful. The mature person acknowledges ALL their emotions- and doesn't have emotional reactions TO their emotions (I'm ashamed that I have that emotion, etc....)

In short- the mature level of comfortability with your emotions is what we know as the VIRTUE of HUMILITY. It's the ackowledgement that you are human. Humans HAVE EMOTIONS! They are wired into us and are good; we should recognize them all (don't repress them- but you don't have to express them either) and learn how to integrate our intellects, wills, and emotions towards virtue and holiness. Being in denial, repression, suppression, or upset by any emotion you have is just a form of pridefulness- being a snob towards humanity and human nature.

Accept who you are and live that in a holy manner.