In this day and age technology has made it even easier to compare lifestyles, compare statuses and keep up with trends. *Back in the day it was either word of mouth, what you saw or something in a magazine.* If you are like me (a young adult still figuring out how life works) and are just now starting to become the person you were meant to be there may be a psychological explanation.

The Setback

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs is something I was taught while being trained how to instruct people to snowboard. I thought to myself “Why would this stop at snowboarding. What about with learning in school, in LIFE?”

This five-stage model can be divided into deficiency needs and growth needs. The first four levels are often referred to as deficiency needs (D-needs), and the top level is known as growth or being needs (B-needs).

Growth needs do not stem from a lack of something, but rather from a desire to grow as a person. Once these growth needs have been reasonably satisfied, one may be able to reach the highest level called self-actualization.

Every person is capable and has the desire to move up the hierarchy toward a level of self-actualization. Unfortunately, progress is often disrupted by a failure to meet lower level needs. Life experiences, including divorce and loss of a job, may cause an individual to fluctuate between levels of the hierarchy.

Therefore, not everyone will move through the hierarchy in a uni-directional manner but may move back and forth between the different types of needs.

Bottomline: If your basic needs aren’t met it may be hard for you to grow.

Basic needs

• Food, water, warmth, rest

• Security, safety (emotionally and physically)
  

Likewise, if your psychological needs aren’t met it may be hard for you to grow.

Psychological needs

• Loving relationships, friends

• Feeling of accomplishment

• Prestige

Now we have an idea of why we may have bloomed late. And why others have excelled faster than us - perhaps their needs were always met growing up. There are many perks to being a late bloomer if you look at it right - here are a few:

Pros

1. You can pursue more interests

As a child, or adolescent, you're mainly introduced to activities your parents or school shows you. Even if said kid wanted to pursue a new interest it may not be reasonable, for example: a Mt. Everest trip leader. While we should encourage a child to pursue their mountaineering interest, they may lack the physical strength, skill and experience to do so. As an adult you have free reigns to move to Nepal tomorrow and begin acclimating to the journey and altitude.

Whatever you want to do is 100% in your hands as an adult. Make fun choices for yourself as you would your child!

2. You‘ve felt the opposite of blooming

Instead of enjoying the smooth ride of ‘becoming‘ you may have been on a bumpy road, or a road that led to Nowhere, USA. They always say you don’t know what you got till it’s gone. Well when the clouds are gone, one can really appreciate the sunshine after all that stormy weather. 🌞

3. Blooming can be fun with a mature brain

Kids have the one-up when it comes to imagination, but adult brains can handle more complex algorithms. Hence why a child’s math word problem may be simpler than an adults. We can learn and handle more as time goes on. That being said, faced with the problem of discovering who we are can be approached cunningly, swiftly, logically and wisely using the skills that only come with brain maturity.

4. THERE’S STILL TIME

Contrary to how it may feel, there is always time to pursue something new and start over. Wether you’re 55 and learning to paint for the first time, or 27 and changing professions from the tech industry to outdoor recreation. The in-between minutes spent warming up something in the microwave could be spent making moves towards your dreams, your “I should do this’,” your “I wish I could do that’s.”

Start small.

Don’t get discouraged.

Be patient with yourself.

Of All Trades,

Amber