--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was desperately unhappy trying to…" description: "\"I was desperately unhappy trying to adjust to the world.\" — Al Purdy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06d/al-purdy-39939_trying_i-was-desperately-unhappy-trying-to-adju_1269821.png" --- # I was desperately unhappy trying to adjust to the world. ![“I was desperately unhappy trying to adjust to the world.” quote by Al Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06d/al-purdy-39939_trying_i-was-desperately-unhappy-trying-to-adju_1269821.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06d/al-purdy-39939_trying_i-was-desperately-unhappy-trying-to-adju_1269821.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06d/al-purdy-39939_trying_i-was-desperately-unhappy-trying-to-adju_1269821.png) > “I was desperately unhappy trying to adjust to the world.” [Al Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-purdy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feeling out of place signals a need for self‑discovery and change. **In simple terms:** Unhappiness shows we need change. Key Takeaway Seek new perspectives to find belonging. Themes identity mental health growth existence Mood thoughtful hopeful Type poetic self‑help When to use this quote - career transition - relocation - therapy sessions Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to feel more aligned? - Who can support you in this search? A Different Perspective Unhappiness can be a symptom of deeper issues requiring professional help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Unhappy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I will not adjust myself to the world. I am adjusted to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-will-not-adjust-myself-to-the-world-i-am-adjusted-to-myself/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [The easiest way to end up unhappy, is trying to impress and please everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/the-easiest-way-to-end-up-unhappy-is-trying-to-impress-and-please/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [The only reason why you are unhappy is because you are trying to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/the-only-reason-why-you-are-unhappy-is-because-you-are-trying-to-be/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [“I'm neurotic--in the sense that I live in my world. I will not adjust myself to the world. I am adjusted to myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-m-neurotic-in-the-sense-that-i-live-in-my-world-i-will-not-adjust/) [Anaïs Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [The electric guitar was a big step for me, but I didn't spend a lot of time trying to adjust. It wasn't like, 'Hey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/the-electric-guitar-was-a-big-step-for-me-but-i-didn-t-spend-a-lot-of/) [Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/) > [I tried college for three months but I was desperately unhappy. I just wanted to perform. I was getting straight As but I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/i-tried-college-for-three-months-but-i-was-desperately-unhappy-i-just/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [I consider my teenage years as being desperately unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-kirk/i-consider-my-teenage-years-as-being-desperately-unhappy/) [Tommy Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-kirk/) > [As I've written a million times before - women who've tried everything to fix a marriage but still feel desperately unhappy, have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coleen-nolan/as-i-ve-written-a-million-times-before-women-who-ve-tried-everything/) [Coleen Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coleen-nolan/) > [“It’s good if you can accept your life—you’ll notice Your face has become deranged trying to adjust To it. Your face thought your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bly/it-s-good-if-you-can-accept-your-life-you-ll-notice-your-face-has/) [Robert Bly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bly/) > [“I have been very unhappy , Anna—for all the obvious reasons," she said. "But in a strange way, that very fact is encouraging, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/i-have-been-very-unhappy-anna-for-all-the-obvious-reasons-she-said/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [The world is changing. I'm trying to adjust to it, just like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blackbear/the-world-is-changing-i-m-trying-to-adjust-to-it-just-like-everyone/) [Blackbear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blackbear/) > [My freshman and sophomore years in high school, I spent a lot of time trying to get back on the right track. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/my-freshman-and-sophomore-years-in-high-school-i-spent-a-lot-of-time/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [The first record I made, when I listen to it, I understand. I understand perfectly well why certain musicians were unhappy with me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/the-first-record-i-made-when-i-listen-to-it-i-understand-i-understand/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) ## More by Al Purdy > [In my own mind, I was sort of a desperate kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-purdy/in-my-own-mind-i-was-sort-of-a-desperate-kid/) [Al Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-purdy/) > [At a certain age you're always uncertain how other people will take you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-purdy/at-a-certain-age-you-re-always-uncertain-how-other-people-will-take/) [Al Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-purdy/) > [Uneasily the leaves fall at this season, forgetting what to do or where to go; the red amnesiacs of autumn drifting thru the graveyard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-purdy/uneasily-the-leaves-fall-at-this-season-forgetting-what-to-do-or/) [Al Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-purdy/) > [A collected poems' is either a gravestone or a testimonial to survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-purdy/a-collected-poems-is-either-a-gravestone-or-a-testimonial-to-survival/) [Al Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-purdy/) > [And it occurs to me that if I were aboard a rowboat floating in the middle of all the beer I've drunk in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-purdy/and-it-occurs-to-me-that-if-i-were-aboard-a-rowboat-floating-in-the/) [Al Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-purdy/) > [I'm not religious in any formal sense, not in any God sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-purdy/i-m-not-religious-in-any-formal-sense-not-in-any-god-sense/) [Al Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-purdy/) > [Things were so bad we ate rabbits that neighbours had run over and gave to us because they knew we were broke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-purdy/things-were-so-bad-we-ate-rabbits-that-neighbours-had-run-over-and/) [Al Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-purdy/) > [For me, the vast marvel is to be alive. For man, or for flowers or beast or bird, the supreme triumph is to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-purdy/for-me-the-vast-marvel-is-to-be-alive-for-man-or-for-flowers-or-beast/) [Al Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-purdy/) > [I started writing when I was about thirteen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-purdy/i-started-writing-when-i-was-about-thirteen/) [Al Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-purdy/) > [I don't think I do have a soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-purdy/i-don-t-think-i-do-have-a-soul/) [Al Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-purdy/) [Explore all 11 Al Purdy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-purdy/) ## More Trying quotes > [I would tell kids not be like me, but to try and be better than me. Because I always wanted to be better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-patrick/i-would-tell-kids-not-be-like-me-but-to-try-and-be-better-than-me/) [Danica Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-patrick/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I train my muscles, and I do a lot of stretching, and try to kick higher. But for me, practicing kung-fu is a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chow/i-train-my-muscles-and-i-do-a-lot-of-stretching-and-try-to-kick/) [Stephen Chow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chow/) > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Pain is meant to wake us up. People try to hide their pain. But they're wrong. Pain is something to carry, like a radio.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/pain-is-meant-to-wake-us-up-people-try-to-hide-their-pain-but-they-re/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [I would drink gallons of coffee a day. Even now, off caffeine, I talk faster than anyone you've ever met. I finally recognized that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-englander/i-would-drink-gallons-of-coffee-a-day-even-now-off-caffeine-i-talk/) [Nathan Englander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-englander/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [I'm not here trying to convince anybody to vote for Donald Trump. I think every Christian needs to make up his own mind about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-m-not-here-trying-to-convince-anybody-to-vote-for-donald-trump-i/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [ Brad \[Dourif\] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-was-not-intentionally-trying/) [David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [People who try to predict the future by extrapolating in a line of more of what exists - they are always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/people-who-try-to-predict-the-future-by-extrapolating-in-a-line-of/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [The only thing I try to watch carefully is that I never lose the love for the instrument. That's also why I decided against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-frahm/the-only-thing-i-try-to-watch-carefully-is-that-i-never-lose-the-love/) [Nils Frahm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-frahm/) Browse all 43,167 Trying quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was desperately unhappy trying to adjust to the world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Al Purdy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-purdy/i-was-desperately-unhappy-trying-to-adjust-to-the-world/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Trying" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-purdy/i-was-desperately-unhappy-trying-to-adjust-to-the-world/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06d/al-purdy-39939_trying_i-was-desperately-unhappy-trying-to-adju_1269821.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06d/al-purdy-39939_trying_i-was-desperately-unhappy-trying-to-adju_1269821.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06d/al-purdy-39939_trying_i-was-desperately-unhappy-trying-to-adju_1269821.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was desperately unhappy trying to adjust to the world.” — Al Purdy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Al Purdy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-purdy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was desperately unhappy trying to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-purdy/i-was-desperately-unhappy-trying-to-adjust-to-the-world/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-purdy/i-was-desperately-unhappy-trying-to-adjust-to-the-world/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```