--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I try to define myself through my own…" description: "\"I try to define myself through my own choices rather than just accepting society's kind of you're that, you're that, let me put you in a box kind of th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/gugu-mbatha-raw-8335_accepting_i-try-to-define-myself-through-my-own-ch_2693628.jpg" --- # I try to define myself through my own choices rather than… ![“I try to define myself through my own choices rather than just accepting society's kind of you're that, you're that, let me put you in a box kind of thing.” quote by Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/gugu-mbatha-raw-8335_accepting_i-try-to-define-myself-through-my-own-ch_2693628.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/gugu-mbatha-raw-8335_accepting_i-try-to-define-myself-through-my-own-ch_2693628.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/gugu-mbatha-raw-8335_accepting_i-try-to-define-myself-through-my-own-ch_2693628.jpg) > “I try to define myself through my own choices rather than just accepting society's kind of you're that, you're that, let me put you in a box kind of thing.” [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑definition comes from personal choices rather than societal labels that confine identity. **In simple terms:** Define yourself through choices, not boxes. Key Takeaway Make autonomous decisions to shape identity. Themes identity formation social conformity personal agency Mood empowering reflective Type personal motivational When to use this quote - career planning - personal branding - social activism Key Concepts self‑determination empowerment Questions to Reflect On - What choices have defined you? - How do you resist labeling? A Different Perspective May underestimate systemic constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Define Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/define-myself/) ## Related quotes > [Ours is an open and accepting society, and has historically provided an avenue for lawful immigration to all those willing to accept the responsibilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-bachus/ours-is-an-open-and-accepting-society-and-has-historically-provided/) [Spencer Bachus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-bachus/) > [I'm a very outside-the-box kind of guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/i-m-a-very-outside-the-box-kind-of-guy/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [I try not to define myself. Other people are going to do that for you anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/i-try-not-to-define-myself-other-people-are-going-to-do-that-for-you/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [Every choice we make will either impact us positively or it can seriously have a negative affect on you. Choices are everything, you just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/every-choice-we-make-will-either-impact-us-positively-or-it-can/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [What are your choices? Whom are your choices for? Not just for yourself. Chose now whom you will serve, and that choice is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-schaeffer/what-are-your-choices-whom-are-your-choices-for-not-just-for-yourself/) [Edith Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-schaeffer/) > [When You Face Choices ¦ Just Toss a Coin ... Not Just Because It Settles The Question … But While The Coin Is In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/when-you-face-choices-just-toss-a-coin-not-just-because-it-settles/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“They believe that life is filled with a bunch of choices and we just have to pick good, better, or best. We can settle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-grey/they-believe-that-life-is-filled-with-a-bunch-of-choices-and-we-just/) [Marilyn Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-grey/) > [Not all the times we can take whatever we want... There are times in our lives that we can't change the things the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reolope/not-all-the-times-we-can-take-whatever-we-want-there-are-times-in-our/) [Janet Reolope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reolope/) > [“Love should'nt make our choices for us; it should just add importance to our choices.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-glines/love-should-nt-make-our-choices-for-us-it-should-just-add-importance/) [Abbi Glines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-glines/) > [“It seemed like things either stayed just the same or changed irrevocably. And like most times I found myself with hard choices, I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/it-seemed-like-things-either-stayed-just-the-same-or-changed/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Not everything comes along just when you want it. There are times when choices just have to be made or you'll simply miss out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/not-everything-comes-along-just-when-you-want-it-there-are-times-when/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [I don't believe we own our children, they're their own souls who make their own choices, we just guide and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-macpherson/i-don-t-believe-we-own-our-children-they-re-their-own-souls-who-make/) [Elle Macpherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-macpherson/) > [“It's up to you today to start making healthy choices. Not choices that are just healthy for your body, but healthy for your mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquita-herald/it-s-up-to-you-today-to-start-making-healthy-choices-not-choices-that/) Marquita Herald > [“Sometimes we need to do things we'd rather not do, in order to get the peace that we need; to look after our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/sometimes-we-need-to-do-things-we-d-rather-not-do-in-order-to-get-the/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“Those seem to be the two choices, everything else is just killing time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/those-seem-to-be-the-two-choices-everything-else-is-just-killing-time/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## More by Gugu Mbatha-Raw > [I think being biracial is a different experience. I think that, and coming from the U.K., I feel as much white as I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/i-think-being-biracial-is-a-different-experience-i-think-that-and/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [It is important to be conscious of the message that you're putting out there. It takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/it-is-important-to-be-conscious-of-the-message-that-you-re-putting/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [I didn't really grow up on hip-hop. Ella Fitzgerald and the old school jazz divas are more my comfort zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/i-didn-t-really-grow-up-on-hip-hop-ella-fitzgerald-and-the-old-school/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [Because of my job, my hair gets played with a lot on set, so I try to give it little bit of breathing space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/because-of-my-job-my-hair-gets-played-with-a-lot-on-set-so-i-try-to/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [Don't worry about society's conditioning and the labels that are put on you by external forces. Hold onto your true self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/don-t-worry-about-society-s-conditioning-and-the-labels-that-are-put/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [I've always had an ear for languages and music so it's something I'm continually working on but it's fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/i-ve-always-had-an-ear-for-languages-and-music-so-it-s-something-i-m/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [In my own life, when I'm not working, I do wear a lot of black. I think I do feel very comfortable in black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/in-my-own-life-when-i-m-not-working-i-do-wear-a-lot-of-black-i-think/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [I like to choose things that fit my body for sure; you learn to find the things that complement your shape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/i-like-to-choose-things-that-fit-my-body-for-sure-you-learn-to-find/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [I definitely grew up to Nina Simone and a lot of Ella Fitzgerald. And I loved Amy Winehouse. I loved that sort of soulful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/i-definitely-grew-up-to-nina-simone-and-a-lot-of-ella-fitzgerald-and/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [One of my favourite places is Hampstead Heath. When I first moved to London, I lived in Highgate, and I would walk on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/one-of-my-favourite-places-is-hampstead-heath-when-i-first-moved-to/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [I think, irrespective of your race, everybody has moments in life where they don't fit in, or where they try to puzzle through who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/i-think-irrespective-of-your-race-everybody-has-moments-in-life-where/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [I prefer to focus on the future. There are a lot of new stories to be heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/i-prefer-to-focus-on-the-future-there-are-a-lot-of-new-stories-to-be/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [My personal style is somewhat androgynous and simple. With my lifestyle, I've become more of a minimalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/my-personal-style-is-somewhat-androgynous-and-simple-with-my/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [Because I had grown up with Jane Austen novels and period dramas, I was very familiar with that period and that world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/because-i-had-grown-up-with-jane-austen-novels-and-period-dramas-i/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [I never wanted to be like anyone growing up. It's always been about the enjoyment, and I've just never wanted to imitate anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/i-never-wanted-to-be-like-anyone-growing-up-it-s-always-been-about/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) [Explore all 82 Gugu Mbatha-Raw quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I try to define myself through my own choices rather than just accepting society's kind of you're that, you're that, let me put you in a box kind of thing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gugu Mbatha-Raw" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/i-try-to-define-myself-through-my-own-choices-rather-than-just/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/i-try-to-define-myself-through-my-own-choices-rather-than-just/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/gugu-mbatha-raw-8335_accepting_i-try-to-define-myself-through-my-own-ch_2693628.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/gugu-mbatha-raw-8335_accepting_i-try-to-define-myself-through-my-own-ch_2693628.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/gugu-mbatha-raw-8335_accepting_i-try-to-define-myself-through-my-own-ch_2693628.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I try to define myself through my own choices rather than just accepting society's kind of you're that…” — Gugu Mbatha-Raw", "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": "Gugu Mbatha-Raw", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I try to define myself through...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/i-try-to-define-myself-through-my-own-choices-rather-than-just/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/i-try-to-define-myself-through-my-own-choices-rather-than-just/#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 } } ] } ```