--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think I've been on a path ever since I…" description: "\"I think I've been on a path ever since I was born, a path of high stress. I put myself, my career, it was a big old juicy carrot right in front of me f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/melissa-etheridge-2952_bigs_i-think-i-ve-been-on-a-path-ever-since-i_2609124.jpg" --- # I think I've been on a path ever since I was born, a path… ![“I think I've been on a path ever since I was born, a path of high stress. I put myself, my career, it was a big old juicy carrot right in front of me for all of my life.” quote by Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/melissa-etheridge-2952_bigs_i-think-i-ve-been-on-a-path-ever-since-i_2609124.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/melissa-etheridge-2952_bigs_i-think-i-ve-been-on-a-path-ever-since-i_2609124.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/melissa-etheridge-2952_bigs_i-think-i-ve-been-on-a-path-ever-since-i_2609124.jpg) > “I think I've been on a path ever since I was born, a path of high stress. I put myself, my career, it was a big old juicy carrot right in front of me for all of my life.” [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A lifelong high‑stress career feels like a tempting carrot that drives you forward. **In simple terms:** Career stress feels like an alluring goal. Key Takeaway Balance ambition with well‑being. Themes career pressure stress ambition Mood reflective determined Type advisory inspirational When to use this quote - job promotion - entrepreneurial ventures - creative projects Key Concepts psychology work-life balance Questions to Reflect On - How can you reduce stress while pursuing goals? - What alternative motivations could replace the “carrot”? A Different Perspective Risk of burnout if stress remains unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Career Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career-big-1098659/) [Careers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careers/) [Carrots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carrots/) [High Stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-stress-833481/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Juicy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/juicy/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Path Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path-born-2011703/) [Stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stress/) [Stress Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stress-career-2011702/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Stress is part of your career. You have to accept it and deal with it because there is a lot of emotion in tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-wawrinka/stress-is-part-of-your-career-you-have-to-accept-it-and-deal-with-it/) [Stan Wawrinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-wawrinka/) > [We all have to acknowledge the life and the path we were born into. And the things that define us, they're often somewhat narrow:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-granik/we-all-have-to-acknowledge-the-life-and-the-path-we-were-born-into/) [Debra Granik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-granik/) > [“You did not fit---the mold that they shoved you into. the path you were born upon and forced to walk. You tried, and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/you-did-not-fit-the-mold-that-they-shoved-you-into-the-path-you-were-2/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“You did not fit—the mold that they shoved you into. The path you were born upon and forced to walk. You tried, and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/you-did-not-fit-the-mold-that-they-shoved-you-into-the-path-you-were/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [ In my career, whether it's a big or a small movie, when I've worked on something for a long time, like \[Ivan\] Drago in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-lundgren/in-my-career-whether-it-s-a-big-or-a-small-movie-when-i-ve-worked-on/) [Dolph Lundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-lundgren/) > [A film can be big or small - I have to just fall in love with it. To connect with the character, the script,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-green/a-film-can-be-big-or-small-i-have-to-just-fall-in-love-with-it-to/) [Eva Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-green/) > [I don't think anyone's career is so big that they can't know where their major synchs are or where their publishing is going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deadmau5/i-don-t-think-anyone-s-career-is-so-big-that-they-can-t-know-where/) [Deadmau5](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deadmau5/) > [It's incredible to have been part of fashion history - my whole career has been one big highlight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helena-christensen/it-s-incredible-to-have-been-part-of-fashion-history-my-whole-career/) [Helena Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helena-christensen/) > [It's great to start your career in the big leagues, start the season in the big leagues, if you can. If not, make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-semien/it-s-great-to-start-your-career-in-the-big-leagues-start-the-season/) [Marcus Semien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-semien/) > [Playing at Juventus is an important step in my career. It is a very big club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-quagliarella/playing-at-juventus-is-an-important-step-in-my-career-it-is-a-very/) [Fabio Quagliarella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-quagliarella/) > [I want a big career, a big man, and a big life. You have to think big - that's the only way to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-farrow/i-want-a-big-career-a-big-man-and-a-big-life-you-have-to-think-big/) [Mia Farrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-farrow/) > [Hopefully, I've established a career, but you can be a big sensation one day, and the next day everyone's going, 'Who? ... Who?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-darwish/hopefully-i-ve-established-a-career-but-you-can-be-a-big-sensation/) [Tiffany Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-darwish/) > [Inter is a big step in my career. They're a big club and I'll do my best to perform well here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-perisic/inter-is-a-big-step-in-my-career-they-re-a-big-club-and-i-ll-do-my/) [Ivan Perisic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-perisic/) > [I spent my career at big clubs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/i-spent-my-career-at-big-clubs/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [In the end my playing career would not have been as big as my career as a manager. I was a talented guy but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-nagelsmann/in-the-end-my-playing-career-would-not-have-been-as-big-as-my-career/) [Julian Nagelsmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-nagelsmann/) ## More by Melissa Etheridge > [Once I overcame breast cancer, I wasn't afraid of anything anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/once-i-overcame-breast-cancer-i-wasn-t-afraid-of-anything-anymore/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [My friends have always told me that rock stardom was wasted on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/my-friends-have-always-told-me-that-rock-stardom-was-wasted-on-me/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [The sign says do not enter, no trespassing allowed. With visions of redemption I walk against the crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/the-sign-says-do-not-enter-no-trespassing-allowed-with-visions-of/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Our society, where we are right now, our minds are junkyards. 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She filled you with fear some kind of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/i-know-your-friend-you-told-her-about-me-she-filled-you-with-fear/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Empty and cold, but it keep me alive. I gave it my soul, so that I could survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/empty-and-cold-but-it-keep-me-alive-i-gave-it-my-soul-so-that-i-could/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [I am what I am and I am what I am afraid of. Oh what am I afraid of I need a fearless love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/i-am-what-i-am-and-i-am-what-i-am-afraid-of-oh-what-am-i-afraid-of-i/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [I don't have a bucket list because it is my dedication to live every day of my life there. I don't have a bucket…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/i-don-t-have-a-bucket-list-because-it-is-my-dedication-to-live-every/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [“Bruce has always been so nice to me, which is crazy, because he's one of my heroes. I'll never forget being at a Rock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/bruce-has-always-been-so-nice-to-me-which-is-crazy-because-he-s-one/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Pursuing all my happiness I want a fearless love I won't settle for anything less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/pursuing-all-my-happiness-i-want-a-fearless-love-i-won-t-settle-for/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Nothing fills the blackness that has seeped into my chest. I need you in my blood I am forsaking all the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/nothing-fills-the-blackness-that-has-seeped-into-my-chest-i-need-you/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Can I survive all the implications? Even if I tried could you be less than an addiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/can-i-survive-all-the-implications-even-if-i-tried-could-you-be-less/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) [Explore all 144 Melissa Etheridge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) ## More Bigs quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't want this to be a distraction. This has been distracting enough. I'm not going to rehash this going forward. I'm sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-werth/i-don-t-want-this-to-be-a-distraction-this-has-been-distracting/) [Jayson Werth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-werth/) > [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. 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