--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Growing up without a dad and not having a…" description: "\"Growing up without a dad and not having a father figure - I noticed a hole in my life. For the longest time, I would run away from my problems instead ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55d/henry-cejudo-4399_dad_growing-up-without-a-dad-and-not-having_2256293.jpg" --- # Growing up without a dad and not having a father figure… ![“Growing up without a dad and not having a father figure - I noticed a hole in my life. For the longest time, I would run away from my problems instead of confronting them. I felt empty at one point. Not depressed, but empty.” quote by Henry Cejudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55d/henry-cejudo-4399_dad_growing-up-without-a-dad-and-not-having_2256293.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55d/henry-cejudo-4399_dad_growing-up-without-a-dad-and-not-having_2256293.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55d/henry-cejudo-4399_dad_growing-up-without-a-dad-and-not-having_2256293.jpg) > “Growing up without a dad and not having a father figure - I noticed a hole in my life. For the longest time, I would run away from my problems instead of confronting them. I felt empty at one point. Not depressed, but empty.” [Henry Cejudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cejudo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A lack of paternal guidance creates a void, leading to avoidance and emptiness; confronting issues fills that gap. **In simple terms:** Missing a father figure can cause emptiness and avoidance. Key Takeaway Face problems directly to heal the void. Themes family identity psychology growth Mood reflective empathetic Type advice personal development When to use this quote - therapy - mentorship - support groups - self‑reflection Key Concepts void avoidance self‑discovery emotional health Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to build supportive relationships? - How does confronting pain change self‑perception? A Different Perspective Confrontation can be painful and may not fully replace a father figure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Depressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressed/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Father figure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-figure/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [As a young man, you get to a point in your life where you feel like you have grown up and have to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-starks/as-a-young-man-you-get-to-a-point-in-your-life-where-you-feel-like/) [John Starks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-starks/) > [I grew up not really having a father figure, and it didn't bother me, because he wasn't there in the first place. But then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/labrinth/i-grew-up-not-really-having-a-father-figure-and-it-didn-t-bother-me/) [Labrinth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/labrinth/) > [I don't want to blame it on not having a father figure in my life, but that has a lot to do with it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-starks/i-don-t-want-to-blame-it-on-not-having-a-father-figure-in-my-life-but/) [John Starks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-starks/) > [My dad is more credible than almost anybody I know. Growing up, I think I took for granted having a father in my life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabari-parker/my-dad-is-more-credible-than-almost-anybody-i-know-growing-up-i-think/) [Jabari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabari-parker/) > [It was really complicated, I used to think 'who is my dad?' 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I actually think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-nusslein-volhard/i-had-a-very-intense-relationship-with-my-father-who-was-always/) [Christiane Nusslein-Volhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-nusslein-volhard/) > [When we're home sometimes, she'll put on mascara. And sometimes I'll let her wear something out to dinner - but just a little dab.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/when-we-re-home-sometimes-she-ll-put-on-mascara-and-sometimes-i-ll/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [It's pretty cool, having my father be such a great player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domantas-sabonis/it-s-pretty-cool-having-my-father-be-such-a-great-player/) [Domantas Sabonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domantas-sabonis/) > [Having robbed children of any sense that their Father is in Heaven and that they are His creation, we then launched an experiment in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/having-robbed-children-of-any-sense-that-their-father-is-in-heaven/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [Not having a father helping you grow into manhood and teaching you those things about how to be a man hurts. It hurt my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-starks/not-having-a-father-helping-you-grow-into-manhood-and-teaching-you/) [John Starks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-starks/) ## More by Henry Cejudo > [I'm an Arizona boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cejudo/i-m-an-arizona-boy/) [Henry Cejudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cejudo/) > [I got a huge target on my back. But you know what, I'm going to embrace that, and everybody is on notice - flyweights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cejudo/i-got-a-huge-target-on-my-back-but-you-know-what-i-m-going-to-embrace/) [Henry Cejudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cejudo/) > [Give me a sport that is greater than wrestling, that's more dominant than wrestling and with more champions in fighting than with wrestling. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cejudo/give-me-a-sport-that-is-greater-than-wrestling-that-s-more-dominant/) [Henry Cejudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cejudo/) > [I always wanted to become a student of the game and at least get six to eight fights before coming to the UFC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cejudo/i-always-wanted-to-become-a-student-of-the-game-and-at-least-get-six/) [Henry Cejudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cejudo/) > [I've actually picked up a lot of good habits from just watching film from Demetrious Johnson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cejudo/i-ve-actually-picked-up-a-lot-of-good-habits-from-just-watching-film/) [Henry Cejudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cejudo/) > [Look at Colby Covington. The guy can fight, and the guy can talk. 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I boxed for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cejudo/i-took-my-time-with-the-sport-of-mma-i-wrestled-won-the-olympics-i/) [Henry Cejudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cejudo/) > [The sacrifice always has to be greater than the dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cejudo/the-sacrifice-always-has-to-be-greater-than-the-dream/) [Henry Cejudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cejudo/) > [If you think you're higher than UFC, if you think you're better than all the other fighters, then maybe you should get pulled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cejudo/if-you-think-you-re-higher-than-ufc-if-you-think-you-re-better-than/) [Henry Cejudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cejudo/) > [I'm a big Conor McGregor fan. I really am, man. 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