--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But my strength was in singing and…" description: "\"But my strength was in singing and songwriting, which was a new discovery for me when I was 18. And I decided if I pursued songwriting, which is what w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41f/jason-mraz-975_being_but-my-strength-was-in-singing-and-songw_1380756.jpg" --- # But my strength was in singing and songwriting, which was… ![“But my strength was in singing and songwriting, which was a new discovery for me when I was 18. And I decided if I pursued songwriting, which is what was closest to my heart, then there would be no competition. I would just live my life being myself and living my dream.” quote by Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41f/jason-mraz-975_being_but-my-strength-was-in-singing-and-songw_1380756.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41f/jason-mraz-975_being_but-my-strength-was-in-singing-and-songw_1380756.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41f/jason-mraz-975_being_but-my-strength-was-in-singing-and-songw_1380756.jpg) > “But my strength was in singing and songwriting, which was a new discovery for me when I was 18. And I decided if I pursued songwriting, which is what was closest to my heart, then there would be no competition. I would just live my life being myself and living my dream.” [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He discovered his true passion for music as a teen and chose authenticity over competition, embracing self‑expression. **In simple terms:** He followed his heart to music, avoiding rivalry. Key Takeaway Pursue what feels authentic. Themes self‑discovery creativity authenticity Mood hopeful determined Type motivational career quote When to use this quote - choosing art over conventional paths - living true to oneself - ignoring external pressures Key Concepts passion pursuit career choice personal fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What passion have you ignored? - How can you balance dream and practicality? A Different Perspective Risk of financial instability when ignoring market realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Songwriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriting/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) ## Related quotes > [I discovered at 18 that singing and songwriting was my strength. I decided that it was closest to my heart and if I pursued…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-discovered-at-18-that-singing-and-songwriting-was-my-strength-i/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [“I love you. I promise you don’t need to worry about anybody else stealing my heart because there is no competition. You won a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-ostler/i-love-you-i-promise-you-don-t-need-to-worry-about-anybody-else/) Heather Ostler > [I really like and singing, and songwriting and producing. It depends on the song and the mood and who I'm working with, what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lalah-hathaway/i-really-like-and-singing-and-songwriting-and-producing-it-depends-on/) [Lalah Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lalah-hathaway/) > [When I was 15, all I knew was that I had to be somebody and that I could be somebody. So I exploited the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-gabriel/when-i-was-15-all-i-knew-was-that-i-had-to-be-somebody-and-that-i/) [Juan Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-gabriel/) > [“Believe in yourself. Determine to pursue your goals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/believe-in-yourself-determine-to-pursue-your-goals/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [There are three kinds of men: those who are preceded by their shadow, those who are pursued by it, and those who have never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerd-de-ley/there-are-three-kinds-of-men-those-who-are-preceded-by-their-shadow/) [Gerd De Ley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerd-de-ley/) > [Hollywood hasn't aggressively pursued me. Neither have I aggressively pursued Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/hollywood-hasn-t-aggressively-pursued-me-neither-have-i-aggressively/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [Salvation is not some felicitous state to which we can lift ourselves by our own bootstraps after the contemplation of sufficiently good examples. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-farrar-capon/salvation-is-not-some-felicitous-state-to-which-we-can-lift-ourselves/) [Robert Farrar Capon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-farrar-capon/) > [“A phrase began to beat in my ears with a sort of heady excitement: "There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/a-phrase-began-to-beat-in-my-ears-with-a-sort-of-heady-excitement/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [For my first gig, I got $75. I could make money being funny, so I pursued it as a career and have turned it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/for-my-first-gig-i-got-75-i-could-make-money-being-funny-so-i-pursued/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [“But happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/but-happiness-cannot-be-pursued-it-must-ensue/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [And all of these together, as much as any campaign the Marine Corps has ever pursued, have brought an unrelenting, never-ceasing pride to all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-webb/and-all-of-these-together-as-much-as-any-campaign-the-marine-corps/) [Jim Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-webb/) > [“All my life I have been pursued by the black dogs of unaccountable gloom”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-pyper/all-my-life-i-have-been-pursued-by-the-black-dogs-of-unaccountable/) [Andrew Pyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-pyper/) > [Only by being suspended aloft, by dangling my mind in the heavens and mingling my rare thought with the ethereal air, could I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/only-by-being-suspended-aloft-by-dangling-my-mind-in-the-heavens-and/) [Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristophanes/) > ["Spirituality" wrongly understood or pursued is a major source of human misery and rebellion against God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/spirituality-wrongly-understood-or-pursued-is-a-major-source-of-human/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) ## More by Jason Mraz > [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [There's a certain feeling of giving, a certain feeling of generosity in love songs. When you sing a song of love, you're actually giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/there-s-a-certain-feeling-of-giving-a-certain-feeling-of-generosity/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I was raised playing music in coffeehouses and I feel that was the foundation for my career. I think it is important that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-was-raised-playing-music-in-coffeehouses-and-i-feel-that-was-the/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The best thing for you to do is shop at your local farmer's market and support the organic growers who are there. Because those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/the-best-thing-for-you-to-do-is-shop-at-your-local-farmer-s-market/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [In my relationship, I was giving myself away to make the relationship better, but in actuality, wasn't doing better by doing that. I became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/in-my-relationship-i-was-giving-myself-away-to-make-the-relationship/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [It's our God forsaken right to be loved, loved, loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/it-s-our-god-forsaken-right-to-be-loved-loved-loved/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The measure of your character is not what you do when people are looking. It’s what you do when you think no one is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/the-measure-of-your-character-is-not-what-you-do-when-people-are/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [Being out in nature inspires me as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/being-out-in-nature-inspires-me-as-a-writer/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I get my most creative energy after a show, so I love to go back to the hotel and compose new material. I generally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-get-my-most-creative-energy-after-a-show-so-i-love-to-go-back-to/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [Whenever I'm in need of inspiration and mantras, I go straight to simple affirmations. 'I am strong', 'I am brave', 'I can do this'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/whenever-i-m-in-need-of-inspiration-and-mantras-i-go-straight-to/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [Everything in life influences my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/everything-in-life-influences-my-music/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [Growing up as a singer, and a cast member, and now as an adult, a songwriter, I get the luxury of choosing the kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/growing-up-as-a-singer-and-a-cast-member-and-now-as-an-adult-a/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I had a gig in Sweden. There were thousands of people there, and when I launched into 'I'm Yours,' they were all singing along.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-had-a-gig-in-sweden-there-were-thousands-of-people-there-and-when-i/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [“I won't give up on us”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-won-t-give-up-on-us/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I have a very awesome seat in the house every time I play. When the lights come up, and the sound turns on, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-have-a-very-awesome-seat-in-the-house-every-time-i-play-when-the/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) [Explore all 316 Jason Mraz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) ## More Being quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) [Browse all 18,139 Being quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But my strength was in singing and songwriting, which was a new discovery for me when I was 18. And I decided if I pursued songwriting, which is what was closest to my heart, then there would be no competition. 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