--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not like a choice to have an…" description: "\"It's not like a choice to have an identity politics discussion when you're living it all the time. And if it's uncomfortable, well then maybe the way t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/564/julien-baker-6187_identity_it-s-not-like-a-choice-to-have-an-identi_1409135.jpg" --- # It's not like a choice to have an identity politics… ![“It's not like a choice to have an identity politics discussion when you're living it all the time. And if it's uncomfortable, well then maybe the way that we need to deal with that is by letting things be uncomfortable.” quote by Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/564/julien-baker-6187_identity_it-s-not-like-a-choice-to-have-an-identi_1409135.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/564/julien-baker-6187_identity_it-s-not-like-a-choice-to-have-an-identi_1409135.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/564/julien-baker-6187_identity_it-s-not-like-a-choice-to-have-an-identi_1409135.jpg) > “It's not like a choice to have an identity politics discussion when you're living it all the time. And if it's uncomfortable, well then maybe the way that we need to deal with that is by letting things be uncomfortable.” [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identity politics is unavoidable when lived daily; discomfort should be embraced, not avoided. **In simple terms:** Living identity politics is inevitable; accept discomfort. Key Takeaway Embrace uncomfortable discussions. Themes identity politics discomfort growth Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - activism - education - personal relationships Key Concepts self-awareness social dialogue personal development Questions to Reflect On - What uncomfortable topics do you avoid? - How can discomfort lead to growth? A Different Perspective Avoiding discomfort can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Identity politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity-politics/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Uncomfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable/) ## Related quotes > [My family was very apolitical. We were just lower-middle class working people - and sitting around at the dinner table, politics was never a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wahl/my-family-was-very-apolitical-we-were-just-lower-middle-class-working/) [Ken Wahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wahl/) > [Do things that are uncomfortable to do. I say that because women tend to step back from things that they don't know about. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-haley/do-things-that-are-uncomfortable-to-do-i-say-that-because-women-tend/) [Nikki Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-haley/) > [I don't like things that are uncomfortable - everything we do, however structured or detailed, needs to be made so that when someone wears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-packham/i-don-t-like-things-that-are-uncomfortable-everything-we-do-however/) [Jenny Packham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-packham/) > [As the CEO running my life, running Meghan Trainor, I have to say 'no' to things all the time, and it's been very uncomfortable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-trainor/as-the-ceo-running-my-life-running-meghan-trainor-i-have-to-say-no-to/) [Meghan Trainor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-trainor/) > [I think romance is something that you don't clock or keep track of... you don't manage it in that way. It's something that happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-kutcher/i-think-romance-is-something-that-you-don-t-clock-or-keep-track-of/) [Ashton Kutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-kutcher/) > [“If your comfort zone is misery, it's time to get uncomfortable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/if-your-comfort-zone-is-misery-it-s-time-to-get-uncomfortable/) [Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/) > [She left me then, surrounded by my extravagantly simple finery and I sat for a long time, uncomfortable both with the person I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-raybourn/she-left-me-then-surrounded-by-my-extravagantly-simple-finery-and-i/) [Deanna Raybourn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-raybourn/) > [Things that are uncomfortable and demand time and effort and patience we can switch off to. And I am intrigued by that concept. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-dyche/things-that-are-uncomfortable-and-demand-time-and-effort-and-patience/) [Sean Dyche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-dyche/) > [My biggest growth has been sitting with things that are uncomfortable and dealing with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-swank/my-biggest-growth-has-been-sitting-with-things-that-are-uncomfortable/) [Hilary Swank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-swank/) > [You have to tell the whole truth, the good and the bad, maybe some things that are uncomfortable for some people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/you-have-to-tell-the-whole-truth-the-good-and-the-bad-maybe-some/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [“One of the burdens of leadership is to say things that are uncomfortable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helio-fred-garcia/one-of-the-burdens-of-leadership-is-to-say-things-that-are/) [Helio Fred Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helio-fred-garcia/) > [Fondness for people can be terrifying, because it's intangible and it can disappear, or it can be taken away, or you can say the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-loeb/fondness-for-people-can-be-terrifying-because-it-s-intangible-and-it/) [Damian Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-loeb/) > [Sometimes people go through things and it's uncomfortable for us to watch. But it ain't bothering them, and it ain't our business to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabitha-brown/sometimes-people-go-through-things-and-it-s-uncomfortable-for-us-to/) [Tabitha Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabitha-brown/) > [Because you're a crime writer you're asked to have a point of view on a lot of things, and I'm uncomfortable having public opinions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sa-larsson/because-you-re-a-crime-writer-you-re-asked-to-have-a-point-of-view-on/) [Asa Larsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sa-larsson/) > [I was asked to go in to the ring and perform things I was very uncomfortable with - doing jumps from high ropes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sable/i-was-asked-to-go-in-to-the-ring-and-perform-things-i-was-very/) [Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sable/) ## More by Julien Baker > [Writing from life is how I feel most comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/writing-from-life-is-how-i-feel-most-comfortable/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [The more blessings or resources you have at your disposal, the more I become aware of... how should I steward this? It's supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/the-more-blessings-or-resources-you-have-at-your-disposal-the-more-i/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [All my heroes are teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/all-my-heroes-are-teachers/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [If I can say so without sounding presumptuous, I want to model women being collaborative instead of competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/if-i-can-say-so-without-sounding-presumptuous-i-want-to-model-women/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [I had a hot-pink mohawk in high school, and when I came out everyone was like, 'We don't care.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/i-had-a-hot-pink-mohawk-in-high-school-and-when-i-came-out-everyone/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [The thing that is comforting about being a touring musician is whenever I say bye to my friends, I'm like, 'I don't know when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/the-thing-that-is-comforting-about-being-a-touring-musician-is/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [There are people who are explicit and people who are implicit, right? Like I say, 'I think there is a God,' but I've seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/there-are-people-who-are-explicit-and-people-who-are-implicit-right/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [There are still men in the professional or behind the scenes world that are controlling women to build credibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/there-are-still-men-in-the-professional-or-behind-the-scenes-world/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [My parents were always playing records: My mom was really into the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac, and my dad was more Billy Squire, Whitesnake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/my-parents-were-always-playing-records-my-mom-was-really-into-the/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [Some songs just fall out of you. And some you have to wrestle out like an abscess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/some-songs-just-fall-out-of-you-and-some-you-have-to-wrestle-out-like/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [I feel like it's a necessary part of musical development to go through that phase where you think that your favorite style of music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/i-feel-like-it-s-a-necessary-part-of-musical-development-to-go/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [Connecting with people who are able to maintain a sense of humility is really useful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/connecting-with-people-who-are-able-to-maintain-a-sense-of-humility/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [I hate those articles - this is a pet peeve of mine - like move over X, here's the new Y. And it's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/i-hate-those-articles-this-is-a-pet-peeve-of-mine-like-move-over-x/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [I was a very emotional teenager. But I wish that I could tell myself that I matter more than I think. Things are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/i-was-a-very-emotional-teenager-but-i-wish-that-i-could-tell-myself/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [Ultimately, I feel like there is just a pervasive evidence of God. Though I know that is maybe a controversial thing to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/ultimately-i-feel-like-there-is-just-a-pervasive-evidence-of-god/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) [Explore all 98 Julien Baker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) ## More Identity quotes > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [You have expressive nationalism, I mean very identity driven, which shaped each other a lot of that in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/you-have-expressive-nationalism-i-mean-very-identity-driven-which/) [Subrahmanyam Jaishankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/) > [Family over friends, because real friends are family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-over-friends-because-real-friends-are-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think everybody, or the great majority of human beings, have this aspiration to become other: to live a different identity, at least for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/i-think-everybody-or-the-great-majority-of-human-beings-have-this/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [Tell me how much a nation knows about its own language, and I will tell you how much that nation knows about its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/tell-me-how-much-a-nation-knows-about-its-own-language-and-i-will/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-intoxication-of-the-ego-of-i-am/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“At the moment, then, of Man’s victory over Nature, we find the whole human race subjected to some individual men, and those individuals subjected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/at-the-moment-then-of-man-s-victory-over-nature-we-find-the-whole/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [She might be without country, without nation, but inside her there was still a being that could exist and be free, that could simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-maas/she-might-be-without-country-without-nation-but-inside-her-there-was/) [Sharon Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-maas/) > [“Self-realization or self-knowing or awakening is about knowing/ becoming conscious of our true nature and living in harmony with the universe in an ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-vazhakunnathu/self-realization-or-self-knowing-or-awakening-is-about-knowing/) [Thomas Vazhakunnathu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-vazhakunnathu/) > [“There are some things that one individual can do for another, and there are some things that one race can do for another. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/there-are-some-things-that-one-individual-can-do-for-another-and/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“Why were there no words that spoke positively about being concerned about the self? Why was there only negative connotation in terms like "selfish",…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-dalton/why-were-there-no-words-that-spoke-positively-about-being-concerned/) A.J. Dalton [Browse all 11,949 Identity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not like a choice to have an identity politics discussion when you're living it all the time. 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