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The High Cost of Being 'Gifted'

Aug 6, 2024

2 min read

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Many people hear from an early age that they are "gifted." It feels great to be seen as special, but over time, this label can turn into a heavy burden. The pressure to live up to this high potential creates a strong inner critic, a voice that constantly points out how far short they fall from their own expectations. This critic keeps reminding them that they should be achieving more, making it hard to celebrate any accomplishment. Instead of feeling proud, they feel like failures, sinking into depression.


This inner critic doesn’t just stay internal. It can also lash out at others, making the "gifted" person difficult to be around. They may criticize friends, family, or colleagues for not measuring up to their high standards, becoming toxic in their relationships. So, how can they break free from this cycle?


The first step is understanding that being "gifted" isn't just a blessing. It means their nervous system has devoted a lot of resources to a specific area of their life. Their self-worth becomes tied to their performance in this area, while other aspects of their life might get neglected. Recognizing the costs associated with this so-called gift is crucial.


Developing self-awareness helps. They need to question the validity of the belief that they must always be exceptional. Is it really true that they need to achieve constantly to be worthy? Shifting their identity away from this narrow definition of success can be liberating. By embracing a broader, more balanced view of themselves, they can start to silence the inner critic and find joy in their accomplishments, big or small. This process is about finding new ways to measure self-worth and discovering that they are enough, just as they are.


Aug 6, 2024

2 min read

1

20

0

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