--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought I had to be perfect. I would…" description: "\"I thought I had to be perfect. I would often make choices I thought would make everyone else happy. I lived at a pace that was \"good for my career,\" wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b35/alicia-keys-1094_careers_i-thought-i-had-to-be-perfect-i-would-of_374714.jpg" --- # I thought I had to be perfect. I would often make choices… ![“I thought I had to be perfect. I would often make choices I thought would make everyone else happy. I lived at a pace that was "good for my career," whether it was good for me or not. I have learned how important it is to check in with myself and listen, really listen.” quote by Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b35/alicia-keys-1094_careers_i-thought-i-had-to-be-perfect-i-would-of_374714.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b35/alicia-keys-1094_careers_i-thought-i-had-to-be-perfect-i-would-of_374714.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b35/alicia-keys-1094_careers_i-thought-i-had-to-be-perfect-i-would-of_374714.jpg) > “I thought I had to be perfect. I would often make choices I thought would make everyone else happy. I lived at a pace that was "good for my career," whether it was good for me or not. I have learned how important it is to check in with myself and listen, really listen.” [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Realizing perfectionism harms self‑care; self‑reflection and honest listening guide healthier choices. **In simple terms:** Perfectionism blocks self‑care; listening to yourself helps. Key Takeaway Prioritize inner needs over external expectations. Themes self‑care authenticity boundaries growth mindfulness Mood reflective hopeful determined Type advice personal development inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - personal relationships - mental health routines - creative projects - daily self‑check‑ins Key Concepts psychology self‑awareness emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - What internal signals are you ignoring? - How can you set boundaries without guilt? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can be rooted in fear of judgment, making change difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career-good-304062/) [Careers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careers/) [Checks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/checks/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Choices Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices-thought-1595871/) [Good Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-career/) [I have learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-have-learned/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Make Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-choices/) [Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pace/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Thought Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-perfect-1893123/) ## Related quotes > [I've had a good career, some good experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-haise/i-ve-had-a-good-career-some-good-experiences/) [Fred Haise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-haise/) > [I was kicked off a record label and didn't get picked up again. It was devastating at first because I thought, 'Oh my God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-houston/i-was-kicked-off-a-record-label-and-didn-t-get-picked-up-again-it-was/) [Thelma Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-houston/) > [Your choices of action may be limited, but your choices of thought are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/your-choices-of-action-may-be-limited-but-your-choices-of-thought-are/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [But now I wonder--what if everyone is pretty much the same and it's just a thousand small choices that add up to the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/but-now-i-wonder-what-if-everyone-is-pretty-much-the-same-and-it-s/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [Truth is, something that I thought was perfect was taken away from me, and I never wanted perfect again. I wanted middle of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/truth-is-something-that-i-thought-was-perfect-was-taken-away-from-me/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [I'm single again! Back on the prowl. Thought it was perfect, but I don't know how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-single-again-back-on-the-prowl-thought-it-was-perfect-but-i-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When Marvel got the rights to Namor, I thought I'd be the perfect fit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tee/when-marvel-got-the-rights-to-namor-i-thought-i-d-be-the-perfect-fit/) [Brian Tee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tee/) > [“Something out of nothing, she thought. The perfect parallel to pregnancy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-starkman/something-out-of-nothing-she-thought-the-perfect-parallel-to-pregnancy/) [Monica Starkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-starkman/) > [You never thought that we could be the perfect tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghost-town/you-never-thought-that-we-could-be-the-perfect-tragedy/) [Ghost Town](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghost-town/) > [Dont torture yourself everyday trying to think about what you did wrong. Sometimes relationships fail and it had nothing to do with you. Yeah,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerhia/dont-torture-yourself-everyday-trying-to-think-about-what-you-did/) [Jerhia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerhia/) > [Just when you thought everything would be perfect, everything falls apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas-2/just-when-you-thought-everything-would-be-perfect-everything-falls/) [Ryaj Ablando-Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas-2/) > [Drifting off to sleep, I thought about her. How nobody is perfect. How you just have to close your eyes and breathe out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/drifting-off-to-sleep-i-thought-about-her-how-nobody-is-perfect-how/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [I think initially we wanted to use the first letter of the character's name. We thought S was perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-shuster/i-think-initially-we-wanted-to-use-the-first-letter-of-the-character/) [Joe Shuster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-shuster/) > [Even if I thought he as perfect for her." She turned to face him. "What were we thinking?" "We weren't," he said. "We were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/even-if-i-thought-he-as-perfect-for-her-she-turned-to-face-him-what/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“You really know how to screw up a perfect night, don’t you?” “You thought it was perfect, huh? Does that mean you had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/you-really-know-how-to-screw-up-a-perfect-night-don-t-you-you-thought/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) ## More by Alicia Keys > [I want to continue to produce film, television, and theater, and to make the most amazing music that I've made in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/i-want-to-continue-to-produce-film-television-and-theater-and-to-make/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [I like to incorporate classical songs that people know and throw a beat and some guitars on it to make it real crazy. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/i-like-to-incorporate-classical-songs-that-people-know-and-throw-a/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [I really like to live my life in a low-key fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/i-really-like-to-live-my-life-in-a-low-key-fashion/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [There's too much darkness in the world. Everywhere you turn, someone is tryin' to tear someone down in some way; everywhere you go, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/there-s-too-much-darkness-in-the-world-everywhere-you-turn-someone-is/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [I've seen so many lives turn around from the impossible. I have come to embrace the idea that even the simplest act of understanding,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/i-ve-seen-so-many-lives-turn-around-from-the-impossible-i-have-come/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [I find myself to be truly primal and passionate. Everything I do comes from a primal place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/i-find-myself-to-be-truly-primal-and-passionate-everything-i-do-comes/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [I've stepped more into my business and really... taken control for how I want that to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/i-ve-stepped-more-into-my-business-and-really-taken-control-for-how-i/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [There's something so powerful about being my own gorgeous, beautiful, individual, unique self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/there-s-something-so-powerful-about-being-my-own-gorgeous-beautiful/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [Hand me the world on a silver platter, and what good would it be?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/hand-me-the-world-on-a-silver-platter-and-what-good-would-it-be/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [I'm definitely a nerd. I'm a cool-ass nerd, but I am definitely a nerd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/i-m-definitely-a-nerd-i-m-a-cool-ass-nerd-but-i-am-definitely-a-nerd/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [I've learned that while I'd be a fool not to stay open to the advice and experiences of the smart, amazing people in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/i-ve-learned-that-while-i-d-be-a-fool-not-to-stay-open-to-the-advice/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [He broke my heart, and now it's raining, just to rub it in...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/he-broke-my-heart-and-now-it-s-raining-just-to-rub-it-in/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [My mom always said, 'Don't date a guy who thinks he's prettier than you.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/my-mom-always-said-don-t-date-a-guy-who-thinks-he-s-prettier-than-you/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [All of us are different. That's what makes us interesting and special. I don't want to be anything like another person. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/all-of-us-are-different-that-s-what-makes-us-interesting-and-special/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [Business can change you, and chew you up, and spit you out, and be rid of you, and on to the next thing. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/business-can-change-you-and-chew-you-up-and-spit-you-out-and-be-rid/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) [Explore all 294 Alicia Keys quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) ## More Careers quotes > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to \[when I started my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-powell/i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s-one-reason-why-i-don-t-work/) [Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-powell/) > [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/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [The truth is I've just never had any kind of plan at all for my career, which is probably not a very flattering thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-burrell/the-truth-is-i-ve-just-never-had-any-kind-of-plan-at-all-for-my/) [Ty Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-burrell/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [ The young man \[Turgot\] destined for an ecclesiastical career was placed within walls carefully designed to keep out all currents of new thought; his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dickson-white/the-young-man-turgot-destined-for-an-ecclesiastical-career-was-placed/) [Andrew Dickson White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dickson-white/) > [What has drug addiction done for me? It's cost me my career, my fortune and basically my sex life when I found out I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbin-crosby/what-has-drug-addiction-done-for-me-it-s-cost-me-my-career-my-fortune/) [Robbin Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbin-crosby/) > [There is so much temptation to hold on to my career even more now. To try to micromanage and dictate every little aspect. 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