Even the most advanced and self-aware person can sometimes “slip up” and use a clever manipulative trick to achieve what they want as quickly as possible. Why? First of all, because we are living human beings, not robots, and secondly, because situations vary. The key point, however, is that when we do slip up and resort to manipulation, we need to be aware of it, acknowledge it and apologise if necessary.

Such a lapse may occur, but only as a rare, isolated case — not as a pattern. As one of my favourite teachers at school used to say: if something happens once, it is an accident; twice, it is a coincidence; three times, it is a pattern. After all, if communication based on constant, total manipulation becomes the norm, then any counterpart is automatically viewed as a tool for achieving a desired result, rather than as a self-sufficient individual.

Moral maturity and immaturity become particularly evident at the moment when a person either acknowledges or denies the obvious. If someone who has been caught red-handed begins to squirm like a fish out of water, denying the fact that they exerted pressure, while simultaneously trying to change their manipulative tactics or, even worse, increase the pressure, this is a clear sign of entrenched immaturity. By contrast, the ability to stop in time and, having acknowledged one’s mistake, adjust one’s behaviour to a calmer and more appropriate approach is a clear sign of inner growth and, consequently, inner strength, maturity and awareness.

While a person’s physical growth ends around the age of nineteen or twenty, there are no age limits to moral growth — it can continue throughout one’s entire life. However, this requires more than simply lying on the sofa picking one’s nose; it requires real effort and action.

So what are we doing here, exactly? We are doing precisely that. And if you would like to continue along the same path, like and subscribe to my channel — because tremendous opportunities for profound inner growth lie ahead, and that is truly magical, isn’t it, dear friends?