What is Giftedness?

Giftedness is about more than a high IQ. It is a different way of thinking, feeling, and experiencing the world. Many gifted adults notice they process information quickly, think deeply, are highly sensitive to injustice or overstimulation, and struggle with routine or superficiality. They often have a strong need for autonomy, depth, and meaning.

Yet not everyone immediately identifies with the word “gifted.” Doubt or resistance is common — often due to persistent myths: that gifted people always excel, are socially awkward, or cannot have mental health challenges. In reality, giftedness shows up in many forms. It is not about proving anything — it is about gaining insight into how you think, learn, feel, and navigate life.

A Different Way of Being

Gifted adults tend to experience the world with intensity and complexity. They are often curious, intuitive, reflective, and intrinsically motivated — but may also struggle with perfectionism, restlessness, or feeling out of place.

Giftedness is not about performance. It is about perspective.

Common characteristics may include:

• Fast, associative, and complex thinking

• A deep need for meaning and authenticity

• Emotional intensity and high sensitivity

• Originality and creative drive

• Resistance to superficiality or inefficiency

Understanding Adult Giftedness

Most models of giftedness are developed for children. But giftedness does not fade with age — it evolves. Many gifted adults were never identified as such, especially if they adapted, masked their needs, or didn’t fit traditional expectations.

One model that centers adult experience is the Delphi Model of Giftedness. Developed in 2007 by twenty experts based on ten years of research with gifted adults, it describes giftedness not as a label, but as a full-spectrum experience: a dynamic interplay between how you think, feel, perceive, and act.

According to the Delphi Model, a gifted person is a “quick and clever thinker, able to deal with complex matters. Autonomous, curious and passionate. A sensitive and emotionally rich individual, with great imagery, living intensely. He or she enjoys being creative.” 

The model identifies six key aspects:

• Being – Autonomous and self-guided

• Thinking – Fast, complex, and associative

• Feeling – Emotionally intense and vivid

• Willing – Curious, driven to explore

• Perceiving – Highly sensitive and attuned

• Doing – Creative and constructive

These traits often reinforce each other, but can also create inner imbalance or tension. The model helps recognize and reflect on this dynamic — supporting personal growth and self-understanding.

Why It Matters

Giftedness does not necessarily lead to problems. In fact, it often comes with powerful strengths: creativity, intuition, vision, and originality. But in order to thrive, it is essential that both your environment — and you — understand your unique wiring and needs.

Giftedness is not a label. It is a lens. A way to view yourself more clearly and compassionately. Every gifted profile is different. The journey begins by discovering what giftedness means for you.