Today, Emma-Claire Fierce shares her vision of giftedness through the Gifted Interview. Thank you, Emma-Claire! She is an artist, an entrepreneur and is completing a PhD in health and sports sciences. As an extreme swimmer she is publicly known for completing the Tsugaru Channel in July 2019 (swimsuit) settling a world record in the swimming world. She is the 1st French to swim across the Oceans 7. She currently lives in Paris.
.IF I COULD CHOOSE, WOULD I STILL BE GIFTED?
YES.
.WHAT BEING GIFTED MEANS TO ME
Having a potentially faster-than-average mind.
.IF I HAD TO CHOOSE AN IMAGE OR A KEYWORD THAT SUMS UP WHAT GIFTEDNESS MEANS
To shine!
.HOW LONG HAVE I KNOWN ABOUT IT?
4 years ago.
.WHAT PHASES HAVE I GONE THROUGH SINCE MY DISCOVERY?
I’ve been through different phases.
The first was denial, with the famous “No way, it must be a joke, not me”.
Then, of course, I’m curious, so I delved into the subject by reading several dozens of books, both French and international, recent and not-so-recent, as well as social networks and other research on the subject. It’s all very well to laugh about it, but that alone, with this method of research, was already proof of my atypical way of functioning.
Then I went through a phase where I completely detached myself from the subject and it was out of the question for me to talk about it, meet people connected to it, or anything else that reminded me of it.
I have to admit that it also happened at a time when I made a kind of quantum leap with the awakening of my energetic consciousness and my personal history. Again, there’s a lot more to say about this, and that’s why I write books. It allows me to go much deeper into what I understand through my body or my work.
All in all, I felt liberated when, after having traveled to other continents, I said to myself “it’s true” and “It won’t stop” and above all “In fact, it’s all very well like that”.
.HOW DO I EXPLAIN IT TO SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER HEARD OF IT?
Giftedness is the ability to dig deeper more quickly into certain subjects that fascinate us.
.THE REMARK WHICH BLEW ME AWAY MOST WHEN I TALKED ABOUT IT
I didn’t really get any comments, at least none expressed verbally. It was mainly the looks on people’s faces that showed their surprise at the discovery.
Then the population splits into different categories. There are those who love it, and that feels good, especially in the discovery-growth phase. There are those who hate it because they feel they have already completed the development of their being, have built up a layer of ego and are closed in on themselves. These people generally give us looks or comments like “Who does she think she is?”
Obviously, this doesn’t affect us because we know that these people are simply using us as a mirror for their own projections and judgments. I think it’s good to remember that using people is objectifying them and therefore choosing to dehumanize them. This simple reminder makes it easy to know who will be by our side next. It’s a matter of logic and, above all, of life!
.HOW IT CHANGED MY LIFE (TO KNOW IT)
Knowing has certainly given me more understanding and empathy for those who are not affected by the subject work.
It’s also made me aware of the pretense and acting-out of some people who try to pretend that they’re intelligent or that they function in the same way when they’re not. It’s the same as sticking a Porsche sticker on a truck, it doesn’t work.
And anyone who’s gifted knows that you don’t choose that feeling of deep peace and all those palpable sensations when you do and share what you love.
.WHAT I HAVE ALLOWED MYSELF TO DO EVER SINCE
Since I’ve known, I’ve stopped pressuring myself and started allowing myself to be me! This was already the case before, and it’s even stronger now.
For example, I know I need a lot of intellectual nourishment through books and research articles on subjects I’m passionate about, so I just do it.
Since then, I’ve also been sleeping in peace! When I say I sleep in peace, it means that even if something close to my heart isn’t finished, I sleep. There’s tomorrow and plenty to play with!
.WHAT IT CREATES TO OTHERS WHEN I TALK ABOUT IT
When I talk about it – if I talk about it – the reactions depend on the person. Most people are silent. Then they act differently depending on where they are in their lives.
Those who are happy and feel good about themselves are open and it’s nice to talk with them.
Those who are unhappy or dissatisfied generally project or reject their problems or negativity (not great in terms of relationships). They reject what they don’t want to see in themselves. In general, what I’ve noticed is that they don’t react to me: they react to themselves.
.WHAT IRRITATES ME WITH GIFTEDNESS
What annoys me about giftedness is above all when those who aren’t gifted don’t even try to understand, not only do they reject it but they don’t even make an effort.
.WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE ABOUT GIFTEDNESS
It’s a gift to be used consciously and positively.
.WHAT I PERSONALLY FIND TO BE THE MOST DIFFICULT
For me, the most difficult thing was my private life.
For years, until I broke the family circle and cycle, I was the one who received all their projections without even understanding why.
I’ve learnt that this is often the case with highly sensitive people.
Once I realized that they weren’t thinking things through and were simply projecting onto me their life, their bias, their wishes, or what they thought was true in their world, I freed myself.
What a big work!
.WHAT I PERSONALLY LOVE
Painting and being happy.
.MY WELL-BEING TOOL OR PRACTICE THAT HELPS ME MOST
Sports.
.A MISREPRESENTATION THAT I WANT TO CALL INTO QUESTION
It’s a burden that makes you unhappy. It is not true. It’s a gift that allows us to explore things that no one else dares to do.
.WHAT I WANT TO SAY TO GIFTED PEOPLE
Accept yourselves. It’s better to spend a lifetime loving yourself as you are rather than trying to be someone others will perhaps accept one day.
.WHAT I WANT TO SAY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT CONCERNED
Accept the difference, there’s no need to comment on it. In the English-speaking world, we say “Gifted”, literally a gift, in the Arabic world, “a grace”. It’s time for the French lexicon to evolve towards positive recognition (Emma-Claire Fierce refers to the French word that doesn’t include that perspective).
.WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO SOMEONE WHO IS WONDERING
Take the necessary steps to stop wondering.
.THE MISTAKE NOT TO MAKE FOR A GIFTED PERSON
Forget your instincts (the real ones, the ones that lead you to do something positive).
.MY PROFESSIONAL ADVICE FOR GIFTED PEOPLE
Be proud of yourselves and dare to take on ideas that others would call “crazy”. One goal: to not regret anything.
.MY PERSONAL ADVICE FOR GIFTED PEOPLE
Communicate within the framework of clear, established routines.
.A BOOK TO READ ON THE SUBJECT
“Love“, by Roger Hargreaves.
.MY OPINION ABOUT THE WAIS IQ TEST
I’ve seen that it has helped several people to understand, so it can be useful as a tool to move forward.
.IS IT A WASTE NOT TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE GIFTED?
Yes.
.WHEN I MEET ANOTHER GIFTED PERSON, DO I RECOGNIZE HIM.HER? BY WHAT?
They recognize me right away, but it takes me longer.
.WHAT DO GIFTED PEOPLE HAVE IN COMMON?
The intellectual depth and the idea of death outside of that.
I think that what brings gifted people together is above all the depth of analysis and projection into the world, which is not a desire but a need. What is also true for all gifted people is the feeling of being incomplete or even empty in situations where there is no depth and where we don’t use our full potential. I’ve often found myself saying to myself, “Is it really that simple?!” In fact, it’s perhaps above all a matter of natural skills and accepting the fact that we’re comfortable with some subjects.
.THE CRUCIAL STEPS NOT TO BE MISSED IN THE JOURNEY OF A GIFTED PERSON?
Acceptance.
.THE LAST THING I LEARNED ON THE SUBJECT (THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE)
The impact of food on how we function. Everything we ingest has a real impact on our body, our thoughts and our overall functioning. As gifted people, we are already very receptive to external sensory stimuli. If on top of this we add sources of excitement through food, then this can lead us to completely change our behavior and reactions to the outside world (compared with if we had not eaten any exciting foods).
It’s important to remember that the brain, like our thoughts or our skin, is permeable to whatever we agree to give it.
To avoid going into one of my lectures on food, I would simply say that if you put LPG in a petrol car, the trip won’t be very long.
.AN INSPIRATION FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY ON GIFTEDNESS
In countries other than France, giftedness is considered a gift or a grace from God and is more highly valued in companies. We deserve the same in France.
.A WISH FOR THE FUTURE
Healthy use of potential with respect for the people.
.A HUNCH ON THE SUBJECT
It may be confirmed later in life, but in reality, it is visible very early on, and to ignore it is to lose time, but also life force. The only result is a ticking time bomb.
.THE MISSING QUESTION, WHICH I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO ANSWER ON THE SUBJECT?
How can I get the best out of my giftedness?
By respecting and fully fulfilling their needs, however specific they may be, for healthy long-term development.
