With age comes wisdom, or so they say. But not everyone gets wiser and more thoughtful as they grow older. For some, the opposite happens, and they become insufferably closed-minded, stuck in their ways, and judgmental.
So how do you know which category you’re falling into? Here are 9 signs you’re thinking more deeply as you get older.
1. You question everything.
As you get older, you find that the truth isn’t always well presented, or even the truth for that matter. Instead, you come to learn that most sources of media and information are working some angle. They have some ulterior motive that they are pitching.
Wading through misinformation is difficult because it tends to get picked up by a lot of people, then spread far and wide. Once you realize that, it makes sense to start questioning motives, information presented, and the quality of opinions not only from media but the people around you. If you’re doing this and keeping an open mind, rather than accepting everything that you hear or read at face value, you’re a deeper thinker than most.
2. You are quicker to empathize.
The world is a complicated place where most people live complex lives. Deep thinkers tend to realize just how complicated life can be, not only for themselves but for everyone. Sometimes, this realization can take some years to arrive, though. Everyone has their own struggles, traumas, and challenges that they are trying to overcome to create a little happiness.
People who have become deep thinkers will look to empathize because they understand that the world isn’t good to a lot of people. Many of the fears and concerns people experience are valid in the face of the world we live in. Dr. Elizabeth A. Segal points out that it’s easier to develop empathy with age because you understand life much better than when you were young.
3. You value alternative perspectives.
After a while, everyone should eventually learn that they can’t know everything. Of course, some people are a bit too dense to realize that, which is why it is an attribute of a deep thinker. Intellectually honest people want to know the truth.
If you’ve become a deep thinker, you’re likely more welcoming of alternative perspectives. You understand that other people have other experiences that give different contexts to knowledge and experience. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you will just accept what other people say. No, you will question and explore the perspective and draw conclusions on it based on a reasoned approach.
4. You detach from superficiality.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting or enjoying things. What’s problematic is attributing too much meaning or value to these things. Deep thinkers tend to realize that most of what we want or enjoy can be quite superficial. That could be anything from watching trash television to wanting the newest release of a smartphone. They might enjoy it, but they don’t attach their self-worth, or too much value, to it.
Superficiality can extend to relationships of all kinds, too. If you’ve become a deeper thinker with age, you might come to realize you have a wide group of casual friends that you want to pare down to a few really good friends instead. Or perhaps you’ve changed your perspective on what you feel are good qualities of a romantic partner. Age often changes these things. As you get older, you might start to reject things or ideas you once held dear.
5. You’re not as easily influenced as you once were.
Social pressure to conform is something many struggle with. Society wants you to be one particular, easy-to-understand way. And if you’re not like that, well, the nail that sticks out gets hammered. You may feel targeted, misunderstood, or shamed for being who you are.
As you get older, you come to realize that many people have given up their unique identity to be a part of the crowd, and you no longer want to be a part of that. According to Psych Mechanics, deep thinkers resist social pressure because they take the time to think about and understand themselves. They know that succumbing means sacrificing their unique identity and, ultimately, their happiness with themselves. They’d rather be alone than fake.
6. You’ve become more comfortable with uncertainty.
There’s a saying, “The only two guarantees in life are death and taxes.” The more wisdom and worldly experience you gain, the more you come to understand that phrase. Life can be crazy. One minute, everything can be fine, and the next, it isn’t – and vice versa.
Nothing is certain; nothing is promised. Uncertainty is just part of life. Not only that, but it’s part of personal progress, too. You need to take risks if you want the most out of life, and taking a risk is inherently uncertain. It may go well, it may not, but you won’t know until you try. Deep thinkers realize that and don’t let fear hold them back from living a fulfilling life.
7. You are comfortable alone.
To be alone doesn’t mean you’re lonely. In fact, alone time has so many benefits that many people overlook. It can give you the valuable space you need for introspection, recharging, and creating some peace for yourself. Deep thinkers will make quality use of their alone time because they understand the need for balance.
You can’t always be going all the time. Life can be fast-paced and busy, but when you’re alone, you can have some quality time to slow down. There are so many challenges and responsibilities that come with relationships that sometimes you just need to be by yourself.
8. You’re highly introspective.
Deep thinkers will find that the most complicated puzzle is often themselves. They spend time thinking about who they are and why they do what they do. That level of introspection and self-reflection helps bring them closer to themselves, facilitating happiness or pointing out what needs to be worked on.
A person who has been dissatisfied with themselves or their life for a long time will need to become more self-aware in order to identify these shortcomings to cultivate a happier relationship with themselves. Maintaining happiness comes from understanding what decisions you make and why, so you can make better decisions.
9. You have a strong sense of wonder and curiosity.
The world is a big place with so much to learn and so many interesting experiences. Even the small things in life can show you new perspectives, like watching a bug go about its day. After a while, deep thinkers learn that it’s wonder and curiosity that provide fulfillment, satisfaction, and joy.
People who are becoming deeper thinkers will often stop to ask more questions or explore issues more thoroughly because of their intellectual curiosity. They will, as the saying goes, “stop to smell the roses” because they find there is more to discover when they take the time to indulge their curiosity.
