Attributes Of A Self-Actualized Person.

Here is an interesting list of the characteristics of self-actualized, gifted or mature adults. Isn’t it amazing how many of these characteristics our gifted children already possess? These traits can be the goals for their development as successful adults.

1. Sensitive and empathetic with individuals of all classes or temperaments.

2. Confucius says the superior human exhibits magnanimity towards all. Tell your gifted children that they should be kind to those who aren’t as smart as they are. Everyone has areas of strengths and weaknesses.

3. Knowledge of data, concepts and generalizations from observation, learning and research. Can correlate materials using logic, analysis and common sense (defined as using the simplest solution).

4. Listens well without making assumptions, Sees and deals with reality and exhibits objective, non-distorted thinking.

5. Organizational skills to be productive with goal setting, analysis, evaluation, application and plans with reasonable priorities and timing. The priorities and timing come with experience and gifted children need to be taught this skill.

6. Synthesizes materials with facility and habitually deal with multi-dimensional universes of thought. This skill has some problems for students. If they are born gifted and creative, then they may have trouble with the tunnel vision required for some testing. (They think outside the box.) Also, the teachers and other adults may claim they have ADD if they are also energetic. Remember, multi-tasking with facility is a requirement for high leadership positions in the adult society.

7. Physically superior and typically rapid reaction time. Again, this sometimes causes trouble in the classroom because the gifted children are done “too quickly”. Give them problems or projects to fill their spare time with fun, useful and perhaps educational experiences.

8. Verbal wit is one of the highest markers of gifted persons.

9. Charisma and the ability to teach to others those things necessary for a project of any magnitude to be completed. This, again, is a leadership gift.

Share this with your gifted children so they can learn that their traits that make them out of step with the classroom will be their best assets in adult life.

P. S. What other characteristics would you like to add?