I have a childish personality sometimes. how can i act more mature?

Question

i find myself joking around and acting ignorant, silly, stupid, and immature. i want to be looked at as a normal person. how can i show that im not, well, weird?

i act this way at school a lot and i think people see me as strange. in a bad way.

i am 15 years old.

Answer 1

Well, to start with, the fact that you have enough self-honesty to ask the question shows a lot of maturity. Put another way, you don't have a serious problem.

But what you are talking about is what sociologists call "presentation of self." Below are a few suggestions--but first a MAJOR caution: don't base your behavior on what everyone else thinks. In the first place, you can't pelase everyone, and in the second, you need to be "true to yourself"--for wan t of a better phrase--or you won't be happy with yourself. And that means you--not your friends--have to be the final judge.

Now--suggestions:

Pick one behavior (or habit) that you have--and focus on trying to change that so that how you act is the way you want to act. After you get a handle on one thing, start to work on the next. Don't try to change everything at once--you'll just overwhelm yourself. For exampe, if you feel you make "dumb jokes"--try to stop doing that--and let other things go until you break that habit.

Ask a frient (or family member) you TRUST to be your mentor--to help you by pointing out how you are presenting yourself in a way that 's immature, etc. Fair warning--takingcriticism, even from a friend you've asked--can sting. So be prepared for that--and to take their advice.

Also--focus on doing your schoolwork and other activities (sports, clubs,etc) reallywell. Besides the fact that that's a good idea--the better you do the better your options (colleges, etc.) wil be, there's another reason. Brace yourself--this may be one of those "stings" I mentioned: You (or anyone) who acts as you describe yourself is doing so for one reason (when you strip away all the superficial reasons)--its a way of getting attention because you are unsure of yourself. BUT THAT'S OKAY--everyone goes through that as a teenager--its normal. But focusing on doing things WELL will build real confidence in yourself and your abilities--and that is the best way of getting over being unsure of yourself.

Finally--don't get TOO serious! You should have fun--and be "silly" and make jokes, etc--some of the time. You just want to reach the point where your doing it by choice to have fun.

Good luck! Basically, you're doing great! :)

Answer 2

You mean childlike or childish? There is a big difference between these 2 words. I am already 37, but I am childlike, not childish.

If you're really childish, hardships,difficulties, adversities in your life journey can make you mature. Leave your parents and, see, join the army ? the police ?? or simply relocate to another city to find a new job ?

Answer 3

Sorry, but please stop being so hard on yourself. Did someone tell you that you were being childish, or say you had a childish personality? Do you want to be more mature for yourself or someone else?

You are NORMAL. You are not weird. You may be feeling a little too self-conscious because of what someone else said to you.

Everyone acts childish sometimes, it's part of being human.

Answer 4

im silly and im 30. its not a bad thing to retain childlike qualities and childlike wonder. yes, im a little strange, but i enjoy my life i think more than some other people do.

have you ever heard of the saying, "dance like no one is watching?" there is a reason why older people say this and that is because people become self conscious and dull when they are adults. most adults wish they could regain that childlike sensibility of silliness and happiness.

dont change! :)

Answer 5

i was like this for a while, and sometimes i still am. you just have to watch yourself and stop to think before you talk. you'll grow out of it eventually. im wayyy more calm now.


a good piece of advice actually that works to mellow me out, is read an interesting book that you wont be able to put down that talks about serious stuff lol, it really works. a short one thats really good and you can read through in like one day is called ANTHEM by Ayn Rand. its GREAT. I read it in high school just for fun and it had me thinkin for days.

Answer 6

Stop acting ignorant, silly, stupid, and immature. Quit ACTING at all. Be yourself, even if you are...weird.

Answer 7

I grew up thinking one day no one will notice , well so much for that plan . Now I'm into plan 2 , I no longer let what other people think bother me ( childish laughter ) ha, ha . See what I mean , some of us are just cursed . lol

Answer 8

Its just who you are. As you grow older you'll become more serious as life becomes more serious and then you will start to revert back to a lot of childlike and childish ways when you become elderly. Enjoy youth while you can.

Answer 9

Volunteer at a children's cancer center --- you'll grow and help others in the process. Good Luck and God Bless you for wanting to improve. That shows a lot of maturity in and of itself.

Answer 10

I've the same problem. Just try to stop yourself sometimes and think before doing anything. But it depends really, who you're with. If you're around friends, maybe it's alright, it makes the conversation interesting (not unless, of course, if they keep reminding you to stop it). But if it's around strangers, then you have to stop and think of what to say.