--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I still catch myself trying to become the…" description: "\"I still catch myself trying to become the object someone imagines me to be, but then there are other times, when I am free, when I am fluent, when I am..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/jenny-zhang-7725_feel_i-still-catch-myself-trying-to-become-th_359607.jpg" --- # I still catch myself trying to become the object someone… ![“I still catch myself trying to become the object someone imagines me to be, but then there are other times, when I am free, when I am fluent, when I am unimaginable, that I start to feel like somewhere out there is the decolonized love for me, somewhere out there, there is a love that doesn't let…” quote by Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/jenny-zhang-7725_feel_i-still-catch-myself-trying-to-become-th_359607.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/jenny-zhang-7725_feel_i-still-catch-myself-trying-to-become-th_359607.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/jenny-zhang-7725_feel_i-still-catch-myself-trying-to-become-th_359607.jpg) > “I still catch myself trying to become the object someone imagines me to be, but then there are other times, when I am free, when I am fluent, when I am unimaginable, that I start to feel like somewhere out there is the decolonized love for me, somewhere out there, there is a love that doesn't let any of us be so lonely.” [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker feels tension between conforming to others' expectations and experiencing a liberated, authentic self‑love that defies loneliness. **In simple terms:** Balancing external expectations with inner freedom and self‑love. Key Takeaway Embrace authentic self beyond societal pressures. Themes identity self‑love freedom loneliness decolonization Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - creative expression - mental health - community building Key Concepts authenticity psychological liberation social expectations Questions to Reflect On - What does “decolonized love” mean to you? - How can you nurture authentic self‑love? A Different Perspective Self‑love can be challenged by external judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [If I went for too long without writing, I would start to feel like something inside me was dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/if-i-went-for-too-long-without-writing-i-would-start-to-feel-like/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [“The thing is, you can cut off a couple passions and only focus on one, but after a while, you’ll start to feel phantom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-kleon/the-thing-is-you-can-cut-off-a-couple-passions-and-only-focus-on-one/) [Austin Kleon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-kleon/) > [“How far from the beginning are we? 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I start to feel like I have everything all wrong, and that everyone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/as-i-pedal-i-start-to-get-a-bad-feeling-i-start-to-feel-like-i-have/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [We got naked and stud on top of each others head when does it start to feel good?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/we-got-naked-and-stud-on-top-of-each-others-head-when-does-it-start/) Author Name > [If you're a serious actor, it's when you know you're going to die tomorrow that you really start to feel it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/if-you-re-a-serious-actor-it-s-when-you-know-you-re-going-to-die/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [I just try to be in tune with my body. 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Like I don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-o-porter/i-feel-like-a-waste-of-space-like-my-whole-life-has-been-building-up/) [Dawn O'Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-o-porter/) ## More by Jenny Zhang > [I grew up in a Chinese American enclave where the person who lived down the street had literally lived down the street from my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/i-grew-up-in-a-chinese-american-enclave-where-the-person-who-lived/) [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) > [I think it was really important for me before I 'debuted myself' in front of the world to have a private life with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/i-think-it-was-really-important-for-me-before-i-debuted-myself-in/) [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) > [When it comes to love, maturity often gets a bad rap - second love is boring; it's practical. It's what our parents feel for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/when-it-comes-to-love-maturity-often-gets-a-bad-rap-second-love-is/) [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) > [I seem to be drawn to these smaller forms, and I seem to be drawn to things that can be written and also read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/i-seem-to-be-drawn-to-these-smaller-forms-and-i-seem-to-be-drawn-to/) [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) > [Asian American success is often presented as something of a horror - robotic, unfeeling machines psychotically hellbent on excelling, products of abusive tiger parenting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/asian-american-success-is-often-presented-as-something-of-a-horror/) [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) > [When I was writing stories about Chinese American characters in my fiction classes, I'd get comments like, 'You should consider writing more universal stories.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/when-i-was-writing-stories-about-chinese-american-characters-in-my/) [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) > [I wish it wasn't so natural for me to dwell on the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/i-wish-it-wasn-t-so-natural-for-me-to-dwell-on-the-past/) [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) > [We lived in one of those half-basement apartments, and on our first night of being in America, someone reached through the grate that protects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/we-lived-in-one-of-those-half-basement-apartments-and-on-our-first/) [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) > [That's what people expect: They don't want to read a slight novel. People don't want to waste their time on anything less than 'great.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/that-s-what-people-expect-they-don-t-want-to-read-a-slight-novel/) [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) > [My privileged upbringing and education and linguistic fluency gave me such proximity to whiteness that it stung all the more to still find myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/my-privileged-upbringing-and-education-and-linguistic-fluency-gave-me/) [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) > [How do we form a coalition of resistance without obliterating our differences? Not all lives matter, and we are not all the same immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/how-do-we-form-a-coalition-of-resistance-without-obliterating-our/) [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) > [It's like a weird mindset to wake up and want to be wanted. Like, I want to be wanted so much already... and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/it-s-like-a-weird-mindset-to-wake-up-and-want-to-be-wanted-like-i/) [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) > [Does self-acceptance ultimately require another person, or is there a kind of love that does not dabble in the dream of a perfect twinship?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/does-self-acceptance-ultimately-require-another-person-or-is-there-a/) [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) > [It's okay if someone is disgusted or offended by my performance. It's just a performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/it-s-okay-if-someone-is-disgusted-or-offended-by-my-performance-it-s/) [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) > [Of course I want the things I write to reflect well on me or anyone who might feel represented by me, but also, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/of-course-i-want-the-things-i-write-to-reflect-well-on-me-or-anyone/) [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) [Explore all 88 Jenny Zhang quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) ## More Feel quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [I feel I handle the pressure situations well, and that's why I want to be there at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-feel-i-handle-the-pressure-situations-well-and-that-s-why-i-want-to/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [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 feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I feel as though I've fooled the world into thinking I'm an adult and now they're letting me procreate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-feel-as-though-i-ve-fooled-the-world-into-thinking-i-m-an-adult-and/) [George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/) > [I feel like I could eat the world raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-feel-like-i-could-eat-the-world-raw/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [I like to wear bodysuits and things that make me feel really active and athletic and also really sensual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/i-like-to-wear-bodysuits-and-things-that-make-me-feel-really-active/) [Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/) > [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/) [Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/) > [You make me feel brand new today. Even my day is full of trials and pain…Thanks for everything...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lantapi/you-make-me-feel-brand-new-today-even-my-day-is-full-of-trials-and/) [Richard Lantapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lantapi/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I don't know how people feel,that's the beauty of TV, is they can see us, but we can't see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-don-t-know-how-people-feel-that-s-the-beauty-of-tv-is-they-can-see/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) Browse all 26,675 Feel quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I still catch myself trying to become the object someone imagines me to be, but then there are other times, when I am free, when I am fluent, when I am unimaginable, that I start to feel like somewhere out there is the decolonized love for me, somewhere out there, there is a love that doesn't let any of us be so lonely.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jenny Zhang" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/i-still-catch-myself-trying-to-become-the-object-someone-imagines-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feel" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/i-still-catch-myself-trying-to-become-the-object-someone-imagines-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/jenny-zhang-7725_feel_i-still-catch-myself-trying-to-become-th_359607.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/jenny-zhang-7725_feel_i-still-catch-myself-trying-to-become-th_359607.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/jenny-zhang-7725_feel_i-still-catch-myself-trying-to-become-th_359607.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I still catch myself trying to become the object someone imagines me to be, but then there are other times…” — Jenny Zhang", "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": "Jenny Zhang", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I still catch myself trying to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/i-still-catch-myself-trying-to-become-the-object-someone-imagines-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/i-still-catch-myself-trying-to-become-the-object-someone-imagines-me/#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 } } ] } ```