---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even if we try to conform to ideals and…"
description: "\"“Even if we try to conform to ideals and strive for perfection, we will always be pulled back to our core identity because it’s the path of least resis..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/jennifer-elisabeth-11351_advice_even-if-we-try-to-conform-to-ideals-and_1032738.jpg"
---

#  Even if we try to conform to ideals and strive for…

![“Even if we try to conform to ideals and strive for perfection, we will always be pulled back to our core identity because it’s the path of least resistance for our souls – an energy force that wants nothing more than for us to honor and accept who we are and discover what we’re meant to do in the…” quote by Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/jennifer-elisabeth-11351_advice_even-if-we-try-to-conform-to-ideals-and_1032738.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/jennifer-elisabeth-11351_advice_even-if-we-try-to-conform-to-ideals-and_1032738.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/jennifer-elisabeth-11351_advice_even-if-we-try-to-conform-to-ideals-and_1032738.jpg)

> ““Even if we try to conform to ideals and strive for perfection, we will always be pulled back to our core identity because it’s the path of least resistance for our souls – an energy force that wants nothing more than for us to honor and accept who we are and discover what we’re meant to do in the world.””

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote suggests that despite striving for ideals, our true nature pulls us back, urging us to accept ourselves and find our purpose.

**In simple terms:** We are drawn to our true selves despite perfection attempts.

Key Takeaway

Embrace authenticity to discover purpose.

Themes

self‑acceptance identity purpose resistance energy

Mood

introspective motivational

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- career counseling
- personal growth workshops
- therapy sessions
- creative projects

Key Concepts

psychology existentialism self‑actualization

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you balance aspirations with authentic self?
- What steps help honor your core identity?

A Different Perspective

May idealism cause conflict with genuine needs.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Big sister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-sister/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Born-ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-ready/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Girl power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl-power/) [Girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girls/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Guidance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guidance/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Jennifer-elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mentor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentor/) [Nonfiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonfiction/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Path of least resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path-of-least-resistance/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) [Self help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-help/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Strive For Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive-for-perfection/) [Teens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teens/) [Young adult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-adult/)

## Related quotes

> [I don't strive for perfection, because it doesn't exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mya/i-don-t-strive-for-perfection-because-it-doesn-t-exist/)

[Mya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mya/)

> [When you strive for perfection, you compare different versions of what could be instead of being present with what is. Perfectionism is an attempt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/when-you-strive-for-perfection-you-compare-different-versions-of-what/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [“Rule 4 Accept yourself You don't have to improve or change or strive for perfection. Quite the opposite. Just accept.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-templar/rule-4-accept-yourself-you-don-t-have-to-improve-or-change-or-strive/)

[Richard Templar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-templar/)

> [What I've learned is you don't have to strive for perfection, but you do have to strive to be a very hard worker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-pearce/what-i-ve-learned-is-you-don-t-have-to-strive-for-perfection-but-you/)

[Lindsay Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-pearce/)

> [“She could strive for perfection only in certain, few things; beyond that, it was important only to be tidy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-coplin/she-could-strive-for-perfection-only-in-certain-few-things-beyond/)

[Amanda Coplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-coplin/)

> [“You can make amends of your flaws and faults if you strive for perfection and succeed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandile-sean-mntla/you-can-make-amends-of-your-flaws-and-faults-if-you-strive-for/)

Sandile Sean Mntla

> [I strive for perfection, but of course it can never be perfect. I'm never satisfied at the end of a performance. But the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-warlow/i-strive-for-perfection-but-of-course-it-can-never-be-perfect-i-m/)

[Anthony Warlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-warlow/)

> [So we strive for perfection in the areas in which we can control, and that isn't necessarily what provides contentment and joy for ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jessica-parker/so-we-strive-for-perfection-in-the-areas-in-which-we-can-control-and/)

[Sarah Jessica Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jessica-parker/)

> [“Religion requires perfection, but the kingdom values excellence. If we strive for perfection and don’t allow ourselves room to be wrong, we will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hazlett/religion-requires-perfection-but-the-kingdom-values-excellence-if-we/)

Bob Hazlett

> [As the leaders and decision-makers of this great state, it is our responsibility to strive for perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-barnes/as-the-leaders-and-decision-makers-of-this-great-state-it-is-our/)

[Roy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-barnes/)

> [“it is much easier to strive for perfection when you are never bored.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/it-is-much-easier-to-strive-for-perfection-when-you-are-never-bored/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [Entrepreneurs are never satisfied. They want to do things better. They strive for perfection and use all the ingenuity to their command to achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-marriott/entrepreneurs-are-never-satisfied-they-want-to-do-things-better-they/)

[J. Willard Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-willard-marriott/)

> [And with a few moments like that, with doubt from here and there, and within ourselves we were just striving for excellence. We had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-rn-utzon/and-with-a-few-moments-like-that-with-doubt-from-here-and-there-and/)

Jørn Utzon

> [Strive for perfection in everything. Take the best that exists and make it better. If it doesn't exist, create it. Accept nothing nearly right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-royce/strive-for-perfection-in-everything-take-the-best-that-exists-and/)

[Henry Royce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-royce/)

> [Strive for perfection, but settle for excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-shula/strive-for-perfection-but-settle-for-excellence/)

[Don Shula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-shula/)

## More by Jennifer Elisabeth

> [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

> [“Let this time in your life cut you open and drain all of the things that are holding you back. I’m going to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/let-this-time-in-your-life-cut-you-open-and-drain-all-of-the-things/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

> [“Standing naked on the beach with all of my secrets between my legs, I look out into the water and up deep into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/standing-naked-on-the-beach-with-all-of-my-secrets-between-my-legs-i/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

> [“Something, somewhere, knows what’s best for me and promises to keep sending me people and experiences to light my way as long as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/something-somewhere-knows-what-s-best-for-me-and-promises-to-keep/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

> [“He looked at me, that first day, like he had just found something he’d lost a thousand years ago.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/he-looked-at-me-that-first-day-like-he-had-just-found-something-he-d/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

> [“Everything hurts right now and nothing is helping because as the pain is getting worse — so is the love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/everything-hurts-right-now-and-nothing-is-helping-because-as-the-pain/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

> [“But I love you and I want you and I need you. Can’t you see that? This world has nothing to offer me if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/but-i-love-you-and-i-want-you-and-i-need-you-can-t-you-see-that-this/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

> [“I’m going to follow this invisible red thread until I find myself again… until I finally figure out… who I’m meant to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-m-going-to-follow-this-invisible-red-thread-until-i-find-myself/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

> [“In the old days, when travelers would get lost, they would follow the stars and I love that idea. I wish that I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/in-the-old-days-when-travelers-would-get-lost-they-would-follow-the/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

> [“I know that your soul is on life support and that you feel lost and like you’re completely spinning out of control, but you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-know-that-your-soul-is-on-life-support-and-that-you-feel-lost-and/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

> [“I met a boy whose eyes showed me that the past, present and future were all the same thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-met-a-boy-whose-eyes-showed-me-that-the-past-present-and-future/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

> [“Does our purpose on Earth directly link to the people whom we end up meeting? Are our relationships and experiences actually the required dots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/does-our-purpose-on-earth-directly-link-to-the-people-whom-we-end-up/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

> [“I’m going inside of myself and never coming out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-m-going-inside-of-myself-and-never-coming-out/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

> [“Falling in love for the first time is like an instant realization of just how old your soul is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/falling-in-love-for-the-first-time-is-like-an-instant-realization-of/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

> [“I just want your voice aimed at me again. I want to absorb the direction of your eyes…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-just-want-your-voice-aimed-at-me-again-i-want-to-absorb-the/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

[Explore all 60 Jennifer Elisabeth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

## More Advice quotes

> [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/)

Mak\_786

> [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/)

[Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/)

> [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/)

[Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/)

> [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/)

[Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/)

> [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/)

[Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/)

> [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/)

[Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/)

> [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/)

[Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/)

> [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/)

[Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/)

> [My relationship with Ibrahimovic was completely neutral. He is not the type of player to approach the younger players and give them advice. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/)

[Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/)

[Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Even if we try to conform to ideals and strive for perfection, we will always be pulled back to our core identity because it’s the path of least resistance for our souls – an energy force that wants nothing more than for us to honor and accept who we are and discover what we’re meant to do in the world.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jennifer Elisabeth"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/even-if-we-try-to-conform-to-ideals-and-strive-for-perfection-we-will/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Advice"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/even-if-we-try-to-conform-to-ideals-and-strive-for-perfection-we-will/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/jennifer-elisabeth-11351_advice_even-if-we-try-to-conform-to-ideals-and_1032738.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/jennifer-elisabeth-11351_advice_even-if-we-try-to-conform-to-ideals-and_1032738.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/jennifer-elisabeth-11351_advice_even-if-we-try-to-conform-to-ideals-and_1032738.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Even if we try to conform to ideals and strive for perfection, we will always be pulled back to our core…” — Jennifer Elisabeth",
                "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": "Jennifer Elisabeth",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Even if we try to conform...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/even-if-we-try-to-conform-to-ideals-and-strive-for-perfection-we-will/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/even-if-we-try-to-conform-to-ideals-and-strive-for-perfection-we-will/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
