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15 Signs You’ve Grown More Than You’re Giving Yourself Credit For

You generally choose to be compassionate towards others, rather than judgmental.

Thought Catalog
5 min readJan 6, 2023
Amina Filkins

By Molly Burford

1. Even though you’re afraid to have difficult conversations with loved ones, you make sure they happen anyway. Even if that makes the other person unhappy, or if feelings get hurt. Honesty and openness will do a lot more for your relationships than suppressing and trying to just “get over” grievances.

It takes maturity and compassion to acknowledge that not everyone is perfect. Giving someone the chance to get it right next time by communicating with them about what has upset you, rather than just talking shit behind their back or leaving passive-aggressive signs that you’re pissed, is a sure sign you’ve grown.

2. You’re holding onto a job you don’t necessarily love. Despite the lack of passion your current gig is providing, you’re still putting forth your best effort to try and make the most of it. More often than not, you’re on time, you meet your deadlines, and are an overall genuine and positive presence on your team. You’re supporting yourself and making a living, and sometimes that’s a victory in and of itself. You don’t have to be in love with your job to be successful.

3. You’re completely and utterly miserable sometimes, but don’t freak out and try to suppress it when you are. You used to think that a life well lived was one that was always happy, happy, happy, and as a result of this belief, you always chased glee and joy and all the “good” feelings and tried to block out the “bad” ones.

Although feeling content and happy is absolutely fundamental to a fulfilling experience here on earth, you need to go through some bullshit, too. When you’re at a point in your life when you actually let yourself feel all of the uncomfortable parts that come with being alive and don’t try to numb these or push them away, you’re on your way to becoming a more self-aware and emotionally intelligent version of yourself.

4. You generally choose to be compassionate towards others, rather than judgmental. You realize that there’s a lot more going on in others’ lives than they are letting on to.

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