Today, Fusée Nai shares his vision of giftedness through the Gifted Interview. Thank you, Fusée! He is a content designer and lives in Montréal, Canada.
.IF I COULD CHOOSE, WOULD I STILL BE GIFTED?
It depends on the day… Being in the norm allows you to effortlessly live the experience created for the majority. In fact, when I think about it, being different has pushed me to double expertise: to be able to live my difference and to merge into the norm. Imagine you are a star, you develop a talent for being incognito.
.WHAT (MY OWN) GIFTEDNESS MEANS TO ME
It’s being normal. For me, it’s the world that’s weird. When I was younger, I used to wonder why people didn’t understand things right away or how they could accept arbitrary truths without questioning them.
There are 2 aspects: Being gifted is already being in the minority. In addition to this, the more differences one accumulates from the norm, the more one feels out of step, especially in systems created to favor the majority.
The second aspect is the ability to see things differently naturally. I don’t have to make any effort. When you are different, you develop the ability to put yourself in the shoes of people you don’t understand. In the end, combining several visions allows you to see in perspective.
.IF I HAD TO CHOOSE AN IMAGE OR A KEYWORD THAT SUMS UP WHAT GIFTEDNESS MEANS
The movie X-Men sums up very well what we are, different from others, different from each other, but more than ever aware of the respect of differences. I like this image because it’s as if everyone has developed mutations that give them superpowers.
That said, it doesn’t prevent you from having normal life problems.
.HOW LONG HAVE I KNOWN ABOUT IT?
I always knew I was different, I was often told that I had different approaches. I made the connection with the term “gifted” 8 years ago.
.WHAT PHASES HAVE I GONE THROUGH SINCE MY DISCOVERY?
In fact, I was mostly surprised at how I had developed a normal functioning in parallel. But I was not shocked. Maybe because I thought my difference was due to cultural differences.
.HOW DO I EXPLAIN IT TO SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER HEARD OF IT?
X-men, we are mutants with different superpowers but also with very common problems in life.
.THE REMARK WHICH BLEW ME AWAY MOST WHEN I TALKED ABOUT IT
I say it in a way that comes across well. I like the fact that people are doubtful. I don’t mind when people don’t believe me. The most important thing for me is to help other people who would be in my situation to accept it.
.HOW IT CHANGED MY LIFE (TO KNOW IT)
It made me read a lot of books and try to meet other gifted people.
.WHAT I HAVE ALLOWED MYSELF TO DO EVER SINCE
Since I discovered it late, I didn’t have any trauma or big change. I had the time to find my own adaptations to my differences. However, I am aware that with great power comes great responsibility and I devote my energy to helping the right people and causes that speak to me.
.WHAT IT CREATES TO OTHERS WHEN I TALK ABOUT IT
I don’t talk about it systematically, only with the people I suspect of being gifted, so they don’t talk about me, which suits me.
.WHAT IRRITATES ME WITH GIFTEDNESS
Being different in a world that is sinking into norms is exasperating. Seeing people make mistakes when you have the solution right from the start is exasperating. Seeing people make the same mistakes over and over again is discouraging. It’s annoying to be associated with mistakes that sink the collective when the solution is so obvious. There are also those ubiquitous situations where you see others shoot themselves in the foot with the smile of the one who thinks he is right. It is very disturbing to observe.
You have to get used to seeing and letting people experience it, I have learned to be patient and detach myself.
.WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE ABOUT GIFTEDNESS
Giftedness is a difference to be transformed into wisdom.
Being different has taught me to respect differences. That is to say that for me humility, patience, and tolerance can allow us to transform this intelligence, to make it wisdom at the service of others and of oneself.
.WHAT I PERSONALLY FIND TO BE THE MOST DIFFICULT
Being a compass on boats that are going in the wrong direction.
.WHAT I PERSONALLY LOVE
To know instinctively where North and South are and to explore universes to create coherence.
.MY WELLBEING TOOL OR PRACTICE THAT HELPS ME MOST
Video games, music, travel, and friends. The coherent mental landscape that I have built.
.A MISREPRESENTATION THAT I WANT TO CALL INTO QUESTION
We are not better, we are different, which leads us to run races alone. We are less the first place than the trajectory of the race.
.WHAT I WANT TO SAY TO GIFTED PEOPLE
Forrest Gump is “under-gifted” but he has lived a rich life.
.WHAT I WANT TO SAY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT CONCERNED
A world of gifted people would be hellish, thank you for being there.
.WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO SOMEONE WHO IS WONDERING
To continue to wonder, it is an excellent engine for existence.
.THE MISTAKE NOT TO MAKE FOR A GIFTED PERSON
To not accept the difference of people who are not concerned.
.MY PROFESSIONAL ADVICE FOR GIFTED
We can rarely give you what you are worth, but we can give you the conditions for your well-being. Give your bosses a chance, if they are the right ones, they will take it. Give your employees a chance, if they are the right ones, they will take it.
Our time is limited, let’s not waste it living someone else’s life.
.MY OPINION ABOUT THE IQ WAIS TEST
It is like measuring the beauty of the world in centimeters, inadequate.
.IS IT A WASTE NOT TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE GIFTED?
No
.WHEN I MEET ANOTHER GIFTED PERSON, DO I RECOGNIZE HIM·HER? BY WHAT?
It’s like meeting another child in the schoolyard. You don’t have to get along, but you can get along very well.
.WHAT DO GIFTED PEOPLE HAVE IN COMMON?
Living on the fringe.
.WHICH ARE THE CRUCIAL STEPS NOT TO BE MISSED IN A GIFTED JOURNEY?
The same as for everyone else, getting to know and accept oneself.