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Understanding Gifted Individuals

This article is part of a series on Giftedness. Check out the other articles on these links:-
  1. Understanding Gifted Individuals – Overview
  2. Characteristics of Gifted Individuals
  3. Harnessing Potential of Gifted Individuals
  4. Challenges of Gifted Individuals: Living With Giftedness

Overview

While the developed world is advanced in identifying and accommodating gifted persons, these individuals experience much suffering in developing countries as people don’t understand them; their unique traits and reasoning are met with bewilderment and hostility for they are often perceived as misfits. In self-defense and confusion they retreat to their cocoons or settle for average living, which is in constant clash with their true self. As a result their lives are fully packed with relational and developmental challenges.
For instance, gifted persons are perfectionists; they see things as they ought to be and when standards are not met they become frustrated. On the opposite extreme, gifted persons fear failure and humiliation and will safeguard their dignity from perceived humiliation even if it calls for rebellion or rubbing others the wrong way. Gifted individuals who do not have clear comprehension of their uniqueness will expect people to live by certain standards or see things in an ideal and intuitive manner but because the rest of the population does not operate at their level they become socially alienated due to their ‘strange’ ideas and behavior.
Failing to appreciate their unique personas compounds their problems as they grow into adulthood. From failing to connect in relationships with the average person to not finding a fulfilling career where they can optimally channel their potential. Challenges in career development are caused by various factors. One of the factors being they are multi-talented and therefore confining them to simple and routine roles under-utilizes their potential causing them to feel unfulfilled, as they thrive in handling complex issues. The other reason could be due to mismatch of roles versus their abilities. Gifted people excel more in advisory roles, problem-solving, innovative, creative etc.; roles that the average person considers complex. They also do well in running their own businesses.
Prolonged subjection to isolation and incomprehension of what they really are, may lead to health problems like depression (existential depression) and lifestyle diseases sparking from long-term depression while some may resort to destructive behaviors e.g. drug abuse, crime, suicide attempts etc.
What gifted individuals need is one; self-knowledge – this will help them understand there is nothing wrong with them as they are often made to believe. It also helps them in understanding people hence show more tolerance for their unequally intelligent brothers and sisters. Second, when they become comfortable with themselves and the world, they are able to identify the right platforms for channeling their potential and release their gifts to the world. Counselors and mentors also play a great role in pointing out their unique gifts and advising them on the best platforms to channel their potential for fulfilling careers and life.
Characteristics of gifted individuals are vast and distinct from one person to another and so are the challenges. Do you know a gifted person or are you one? Share the unique traits you’ve spotted in them or in yourself. What are some of the challenges you know that affect gifted persons? Share with other readers by commenting below.

Series
  1. Understanding Gifted Individuals – Overview
  2. Characteristics of Gifted Individuals
  3. Harnessing Potential of Gifted Individuals 
  4. Challenges of Gifted Individuals: Living With Giftedness

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