Looking back at who you were as a teenager/young adult and comparing it with yourself at the moment- is there any change in emotional maturity, independence, social ability, communication skills etc?
Even looking back 4 years ago I can see, in myself, a change in maturity, independence, confidence. However-

Is this because of the natural passing of time or because of choices you have made to be this way?

For example, if you were a particularly socially anxious or unconfortable child/teen and now enjoy a life of social grace, flexibity, ease and grace, is that because you have consciously worked through your problems and purposefully sorted them out, almost like adapting. OR is it just because you have 'grown up'?

The second option may seem unlikely, however when you look back upon how you used to behave, view yourself and your future when you were much younger (teens) lots of people dismiss their behaviour and think "God look at me when i was younger, I can't believe i used to act like that/ think that of myself/ believe that of my future...".
So would you say that that teenager's unwanted and unuseful behaviour (like social awkwardness) is just an infantile phase and something they will 'grow out of' as they grow up, or something which they should change for themselves?

What do you think?

P.S- I hope this questions was clear, I've tried to express it as clearly as i could without unecessary rambling. Just ask if you need me to explain more, i just didn't want to subject you to endless paragraphs.