Maximalism is most often inherent in adolescents, although this feature is common to many adults. An approach to life by this principle means extremeness in everything: in claims, requirements and views. Maximalism is when for a person there is only “black” or “white”, and he basically does not recognize any other shades.
Maximalism in adolescents
Typically, pure maximalism is manifested in children aged 13 to 17 years. At this time, the person is not yet an adult, but no longer a child. In such a period, a person leaves his little childhood world and begins to actively communicate with the outside world. Teenage maximalism is an unbridled pursuit of its imaginary ideal and excessive demands on life in general. This concept also implies uncompromising choice of actions and measures that are designed to bring the teenage goal closer.
In other words, teens are beginning to deny all the values of their parents, teachers, or just older acquaintances. They often adjoin any subcultures or radical youth movements, believing that their ideas are very close in spirit. In adolescence, many people think that adults make life too complicated, but in fact, everything is much simpler. Young people tend to live more fun, more interesting and carefree. Maximalism is short temper, ardor and selfishness. Such qualities inevitably lead to many mistakes in life.
Maximalism in adults
If youthful maximalism can still be understood, then it’s completely different when such views are already characteristic of an adult, an established person. Agree, it’s rather strange when a person who already has a certain experience rushes from one extreme to another. In this case, maximalism is a kind of protective reaction of the individual. To distinguish a large number of shades of events and feelings is rather difficult and energy-consuming.
People simply don’t know what to do with many situations and emotions that cannot be categorized as good or bad. Some things are very difficult to explain, because they are much wider, multifaceted and come out of the white-black paradigm. In order not to bother themselves particularly, such people simply at their discretion determine this or that question in the “right” folder or in the “wrong” folder.
How to benefit from this?
Despite the fact that maximalism is still a negative quality, fortunately, you can find positive aspects in it. As a rule, people who are inherent in maximalism have uncontrollable energy. If you send it in the right direction, then at a young age you can prepare yourself a good start in adulthood. Children's maximalism is good because a child can achieve great success in his beloved business, because maximalists are often very purposeful people.
The main thing is that such qualities as uncompromisingness and hot temper, should not be your constant companions in later life. In addition, the use of extreme measures is not an option. With these methods you can’t change anything in yourself or the world around you. Only the ability to accept the world as it is, plus an in-depth analysis of the problems that have arisen can help you change your life for the better.