Unlocking the Potential: The Freedom of Gifted Children Unleashed

Gifted children, particularly those who value harmony, quickly learn that they must suppress some of their natural reactions, even if they feel justified. A common challenge arises in the classroom, where they know the answer instantly but must wait for the teacher to present it instead. In such instances, a gifted child learns restraint, holding back from eagerly shouting out the answer and instead, must silently manage their impatience.

They choose to curb their enthusiasm to avoid criticism for being overly eager or appearing to show off, which is far from their intention. Indeed, they aim to demonstrate their engagement in the subject matter, but their excessive participation often draws rebuke. Their quickness denies peers, who might eventually reach the same conclusion but at a slower pace, the opportunity to respond.

Teachers may express concerns to parents, suggesting the child should moderate their passionate interest in subjects, as overt enthusiasm can seem out of place in the classroom. The gifted child, who may border on being hyperactive, finds solace in daydreaming and thus does not get bored. This scenario, though somewhat exaggerated, illustrates how often they must self-censor, even among friends where they avoid using uncommon, albeit literary, vocabulary to prevent misunderstandings. The child yearns for a place where they can express themselves freely and naturally, confident of being understood and receiving relevant responses.

They do not want to feel as though their words vanish into a void—as they’re already familiar with the concept—devoid of significance or meaning. Like Alceste in Molière’s “The Misanthrope,” they dream of a space “where being a gifted child is truly free.” They find it odd to be the only one desiring just a small haven where they can feel the liberating sensation of being themselves, without tailoring their behavior to anticipate others’ reactions. If they have the opportunity to draw freely or write with the elegance they admire in their favorite books, they experience the joy of freedom following their inspiration, yet this joy often comes in solitude.

While their parents may praise their drawings or writings, there could be a hidden motive to spare their feelings; they similarly praise the scribbles of a younger sibling, which are visibly unimpressive. The child imagines a small window that opens to infinite possibilities and myriad paths; though cautious, they find the idea of unfettered thought and movement in even the most austere or abstract realms exhilarating, without fear of criticism or ridicule.

Wise and sensible, the child understands that some constraints are necessary for social harmony, which is why they quickly learn that one is often more imprisoned by uncontrolled emotions and reactions than by external rules. They have observed that feelings like jealousy or anger can provoke regrettable actions, clouding judgment and empathy, leading to behaviors one might later rationalize with clearly flawed arguments. The gifted child avoids these weak justifications, which only highlight irrational behaviors that escape well-reasoned thought. Freeing oneself from primitive emotions allows mastery over one’s reactions, ensuring that basic impulses do not hinder free will, a concept the child values from an early age.

Thus, they can follow their intuition and explore lesser-known fields, building their personality on a foundation of carefully chosen elements. They successfully combat any dark emotions that might have overwhelmed them, spurred by primitive reactions they never expected. True freedom comes at this cost, and indeed, people often describe those driven by impulse or addiction as “slaves.”

Therefore, they understand that their well-supported judgments, based on logic and reason, are impervious to skewed arguments. They will proceed on their path, facing only those obstacles they have willingly accepted because they promote peace and serenity, allowing forward movement without fear of deviation due to unreasoned reactions. This freedom is a precious asset, hard-won and deeply fulfilling.

Advice: Freedom is not built through whims that prevent full self-control. Efforts should be made to nurture it within boundaries that enable it. It’s not about taking reckless risks because one followed impulses without thought or understanding of their origins. Properly understood, freedom supports a robust personal development.