PROCESS ONE: BECOME AN ADULT

It is important to observe that when the first human couple emerged on earth, they were already adults. One wonders why God did not continue to create human adults and drop on earth as he did in that case. Instead He chose to take the longer route of procreation to populate the earth. Besides the fact that God established the seed principle through human procreation, He also established the laws of process and preparation. Let me infer that He probably brought the first couple as adults because there were no humans to begat them at the time and they were to become the parents of all mankind, hence the name Adam (meaning, Mankind) for the man. It also shows us that to establish a family, people should be adults, because family life is responsibility.
Adulthood is a stage in life when someone is expected to be in control of their life decisions. It is that stage in one’s life when they assume responsibility for their decisions and actions.

Different parts of the world have constitutional legal age when persons are expected to have reached age of personal independence. In most places it is the age at which someone can vote and participate in other civic responsibilities. For instance, it is 21 years of age in the United States of America and 18 years in Nigeria. Though this age appeared to have been 18 years in the United Kingdom, a Keele University research in 2004 showed that it may have risen from 18-24 years of age because of various factors (www.cyc-net.org/today2004/today040816.html).

These only show that humans are expected to evolve and get to the point where they can be trusted to take responsibility of their decisions and actions, independent of their parents.

Let me however submit that year of independence does not automatically equal year of maturity. While independence may mean that the person was now free from the authority and care of the parents, maturity presupposes that the person is capable of taking life decisions and handling responsibilities. This means that maturity should precede independence.

The process of becoming matured should take place in the home, school, place of worship and other avenues of socializing during which the person imbibes values, and understands existing principles and how to apply them. Persons are expected to understand their personalities, their character, and their temperaments as well as develop relationship and social skills relevant for living. This matured person is called an adult and should then gain independence from the parents.

In order to understand the maturity question we consider areas of maturity that should determine adulthood.

PHYSICAL MATURITY
Human development is the process of growing to maturity and reaching full potential. It combines all aspects including, moral, physical as well as social development. In developmental psychology physical maturity is an age related concept and is said to occur where the level of physical development is commensurate with a given age level.
In this context, it means that a person would have attained and passed the age of puberty. It means that the person has also reached a certain age which ordinarily shows visible development on the person’s body structure and appearance, therefore capable of meeting certain physically related demands. Keeping a family is not certainly for babies.

EMOTIONAL MATURITY

The mature person is said to have developed attitudes in relation to himself and his environment which have lifted him above "childishness" in thought and behavior. An anonymous author lists the following as characteristics of an emotionally mature person:

1. He accepts criticism gratefully, being honestly glad for an opportunity to improve.

2. He does not indulge in self-pity. He has begun to feel the laws of compensation operating in all life.

3. He does not expect special consideration from anyone.

4. He controls his temper.

5. He meets emergencies with poise.

6. His feelings are not easily hurt.

7. He accepts the responsibility of his own actions without trying to "alibi."

8. He has outgrown the "all or nothing" stage. He recognizes that no person or situation is wholly good or wholly bad, and he begins to appreciate the Golden Mean.

9. He is not impatient at reasonable delays. He has learned that he is not the arbiter of the universe and that he must often adjust himself to other people and their convenience.

10. He is a good loser. He can endure defeat and disappointment without whining or complaining.

11. He does not worry about things he cannot help.

12. He is not given to boasting or "showing off" in socially unacceptable ways.

13. He is honestly glad when others enjoy success or good fortune. He has outgrown envy and jealousy.

14. He is open-minded enough to listen thoughtfully to the opinions of others.

15. He is not a chronic "fault-finder."

16. He plans things in advance rather than trusting to the inspiration of the moment.

FINANCIAL MATURITY

Financial maturity deals with having the right mindset about the making, keeping and handling of money. It has to do with being willing to save, based on the understanding of compound interest; making money for oneself, no longer depending on someone for money needs; spending on things that add value.

It also involves taking informed decisions about money and being willing to move on when you make money mistakes. It also has to do with believing in yourself and continuing to take steps towards personal financial improvements until you attain financial independence.

MENTAL MATURITY

Mental maturity is when a person has come of age in their mind and feelings. They do not let their emotions run away with them. They can process things that happen in life, deal with them and go on. They are level headed and do not make rash decisions.

Mental maturity is developed through social interactions like travels, belonging to groups and associations as well as schooling. This should also mean that an adult has got some level of education.

SPIRITUAL MATURITY

This deals with the acknowledging the existence of higher power over the affairs of life.  He has faith in this Power greater than himself, which is God.  He feels himself an organic part of mankind as a whole, contributing his part to each group of which he is a member.  He also obeys the spiritual essence of the Golden Rule: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."