The term ‘highly gifted’ or ‘gifted’ is often used to describe individuals who possess special skills, knowledge, or talents that most others don’t. At the same time, however, it can be difficult to determine if someone is highly gifted or not, as the signs and traits of a highly gifted person are not always obvious. To help clarify the situation, here is a look at some of the signs and traits of a highly gifted individual.
Cognitive Abilities
The most common and general signs of a highly gifted person are their superior cognitive abilities. Highly gifted people often have a much higher IQ than their peers and can have an easier time learning new concepts and understanding complex ideas.
They also tend to have a much better memory than most people, being able to remember and recall information much more quickly and easily. Additionally, many highly gifted individuals are able to think abstractly, often arriving at solutions to complex problems faster and easier than those who aren’t as gifted. At the same time, however, highly gifted people often have difficulty bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
For example, they may have an advanced understanding of a subject, but they may still struggle with the practical application of that knowledge. As such, it can take a highly gifted person longer to learn practical skills than it does for others.
Creativity and Innovation
Highly gifted individuals often demonstrate greater levels of creativity and innovation than those who aren’t as gifted. They can look at a problem in a way that no one else can, seeing angles and solutions that no one else has even considered. This can result in highly creative solutions, often times with the added bonus of improved effectiveness.
At the same time, however, highly gifted individuals can often take this creativity too far. While they are able to think outside the box, they often times lack the practical experience needed to make sure that their ideas can actually work in the real world.
As a result, a highly gifted person can easily become frustrated with their lack of progress in certain tasks and endeavors.
Extremely High Standards
Highly gifted individuals often have incredibly high standards for themselves and their work. They want to do things perfectly, and sometimes even the slightest imperfection can keep them from reaching their goals. This can cause them to become obsessive over details and can sometimes even lead to perfectionism.
This can be problematic as it can prevent a highly gifted individual to take risks and explore new possibilities. At the same time, this tendency can make it difficult for highly gifted individuals to collaborate with others.
For example, they may have difficulty accepting any criticism as they feel that it threatens their perfect standards. Additionally, they may also have difficulty delegating tasks to others, as they may perceive that they have to do everything themselves in order to meet their perfect standards.
Discipline, Focus and Intensity
Highly gifted individuals often have a lot of self-discipline and can devote most of their attention and energy to one task or idea for an extended period of time. They also tend to avoid distractions and can stay focused on a task for hours or days at a time. This ability to stay focused and intense dedication is often what allows a highly gifted person to make progress where other can’t.
At the same time, these same intense focus and dedication can cause highly gifted individuals to become too focused and miss out on other activities or opportunities. As a result, their intense focus can cause them to miss out on social experiences or potential educational opportunities.
Additionally, these individuals can also become overwhelmed by their own intensity and can potentially be at a greater risk for burnout and exhaustion.
Exceptional Problem Solving Ability
Highly gifted individuals often have an exceptional problem solving ability. They are often able to quickly understand and analyze a problem and are able to arrive at an effective and innovative solution.
This problem solving ability allows them to quickly process and understand issues that most other people wouldn’t be able to even begin to comprehend. At the same time, a highly gifted person’s problem solving ability can also make it hard for them to look at problems from multiple angles. As such, they can often become too focused on finding the “right” solution, rather than trying to explore different options and creative alternatives.
This can, at times, be problematic as it can cause a highly gifted individual to become too closed off to potentially better solutions.
Spiritual and Artistic Interests
Highly gifted individuals often have an interest in spiritual topics and artistic activities. They usually have an eye for beauty, and are often able to appreciate the deep meanings that can be found in art and literature. Additionally, they also often have an interest in philosophy and contemplation and enjoy delving deep into the meaning of life and the universe.
At the same time, however, this interest in spiritual and artistic activities can make it difficult for highly gifted individuals to relate to their peers. For example, most of their peers may not be able to understand or appreciate the same topics that a highly gifted person is interested in, and this can cause them to become isolated and alone.
Additionally, highly gifted individuals may also be prone to retreating from the outside world in order to further explore their own spiritual and artistic interests.
Risk Taking Attitude
Highly gifted individuals tend to have a risk taking attitude. While they are aware of the potential risks involved in any situation, they still believe that taking some risks can ultimately lead to great rewards.
As such, they tend to be more inclined to explore new realms and challenge themselves, often times pushing their own limits and boundaries in order to achieve their goals. At the same time, however, this risk taking attitude can also be problematic. Highly gifted individuals may become too reckless in their pursuits, risking their safety and security in pursuit of their goals.
Additionally, they may also have difficulty understanding the potential consequences of their actions, making it easy for them to make mistakes or push too hard.
Conclusion
Overall, the signs and traits of a highly gifted person can vary from individual to individual. Additionally, even the same person may exhibit different traits in different situations. As such, it can be difficult to accurately determine if someone is highly gifted or not.
However, by paying attention to these signs and traits, you may be able to better identify highly gifted individuals.