--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always had that chip on my shoulder…" description: "\"I've always had that chip on my shoulder. I've just always been super hard on myself.\" — Mindy Kaling" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/mindy-kaling-672_chip_i-ve-always-had-that-chip-on-my-shoulder_998865.png" --- # I've always had that chip on my shoulder. I've just always… ![“I've always had that chip on my shoulder. I've just always been super hard on myself.” quote by Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/mindy-kaling-672_chip_i-ve-always-had-that-chip-on-my-shoulder_998865.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/mindy-kaling-672_chip_i-ve-always-had-that-chip-on-my-shoulder_998865.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/mindy-kaling-672_chip_i-ve-always-had-that-chip-on-my-shoulder_998865.png) > “I've always had that chip on my shoulder. I've just always been super hard on myself.” [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑criticism stems from an internalized chip on the shoulder. **In simple terms:** Hard on self due to internal pressure. Key Takeaway Practice self‑compassion to ease self‑judgment. Themes self‑criticism confidence self‑esteem Mood humorous introspective Type personal motivational When to use this quote - career setbacks - creative pursuits Key Concepts psychology inner dialogue Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your inner critic? - How can you reframe self‑talk positively? A Different Perspective Excessive self‑criticism can hinder progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chip/) [Chip Shoulder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chip-shoulder/) [Chips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chips/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Shoulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoulders/) [Super Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/super-hard-2094623/) [Ve Chip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-chip-2094624/) ## Related quotes > [I've had a chip on my shoulder every year that I've played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nnamdi-asomugha/i-ve-had-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-every-year-that-i-ve-played/) [Nnamdi Asomugha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nnamdi-asomugha/) > [He always had a chip on his shoulder that he was ready to use to kindle an argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-allen/he-always-had-a-chip-on-his-shoulder-that-he-was-ready-to-use-to/) [Fred Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-allen/) > [I really had a chip on my shoulder, ... and it still comes out every now and then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-really-had-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-and-it-still-comes-out-every-now/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [We came in today with a chip on our shoulder to prove who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/we-came-in-today-with-a-chip-on-our-shoulder-to-prove-who-we-are/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) > [Obama's an angry guy. He's got a chip on his shoulder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/obama-s-an-angry-guy-he-s-got-a-chip-on-his-shoulder/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [It's a big chip on my shoulder that I have not been to any of his parties - P. Diddy, Diddy Puff. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-blunt/it-s-a-big-chip-on-my-shoulder-that-i-have-not-been-to-any-of-his/) [Emily Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-blunt/) > [Yeah, I have animosity, a chip on my shoulder. But I love, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yelawolf/yeah-i-have-animosity-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-but-i-love-too/) [Yelawolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yelawolf/) > [A lot of people thought I was going to be a one-hit wonder, so I had that chip on my shoulder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-sparxxx/a-lot-of-people-thought-i-was-going-to-be-a-one-hit-wonder-so-i-had/) [Bubba Sparxxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-sparxxx/) > [The traditional dress of the Australian cricketer is the baggy green cap on the head and the chip on the shoulder. Both are ritualistically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-barnes/the-traditional-dress-of-the-australian-cricketer-is-the-baggy-green/) [Simon Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-barnes/) > [I got a chip on my shoulder from the Draft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-clarkson/i-got-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-from-the-draft/) [Jordan Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-clarkson/) > [The only thing that big chip on your shoulder needs is some good dip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-thing-that-big-chip-on-your-shoulder-needs-is-some-good-dip/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think I have a little bit of a chip on my shoulder, but I think that's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cage/i-think-i-have-a-little-bit-of-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-but-i-think-that/) [Christian Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cage/) > [In 2011, I had a big chip on my shoulder, and I felt like I had a lot to prove every time I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyson-kidd/in-2011-i-had-a-big-chip-on-my-shoulder-and-i-felt-like-i-had-a-lot/) [Tyson Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyson-kidd/) > [I've just got this huge chip on my shoulder because I've been out for three years and people think I'm dead and buried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-hargreaves/i-ve-just-got-this-huge-chip-on-my-shoulder-because-i-ve-been-out-for/) [Owen Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-hargreaves/) > [People do the eye test and underestimate me, so I do play with a chip on my shoulder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mccaffrey/people-do-the-eye-test-and-underestimate-me-so-i-do-play-with-a-chip/) [Christian McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mccaffrey/) ## More by Mindy Kaling > [I think women in general like men that don't give them the thing that we want. We want a chase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-think-women-in-general-like-men-that-don-t-give-them-the-thing-that/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [When you're "East Coast" person, you are so insufferable, and you have no idea. And I was. One, because I was miserable, and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/when-you-re-east-coast-person-you-are-so-insufferable-and-you-have-no/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [..I find it incredible impossible not to cry when I hear Stevie Nicks's "Landslide," especially the lyric: "I've been afraid of changing, because I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-find-it-incredible-impossible-not-to-cry-when-i-hear-stevie-nicks-s/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [I must have been 10 or 11, but anything Dana Carvey ever did, I just really loved. He was on for a long time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-must-have-been-10-or-11-but-anything-dana-carvey-ever-did-i-just/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [“As it is, I guess I find “Jack & Diane” a little disgusting. As a child of immigrant professionals, I can’t help but notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/as-it-is-i-guess-i-find-jack-diane-a-little-disgusting-as-a-child-of/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [“As it is, I guess I find "Jack and Diane" a little disgusting. As a child of immigrant professionals, I can't help but notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/as-it-is-i-guess-i-find-jack-and-diane-a-little-disgusting-as-a-child/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [True love is singing karaoke 'under pressure' and letting the other person sing the Freddie Mercury part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/true-love-is-singing-karaoke-under-pressure-and-letting-the-other/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [I had these kind of unrealistic expectations that were fueled by romantic comedies, and it has both helped me and hurt me in many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-had-these-kind-of-unrealistic-expectations-that-were-fueled-by/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [There's a female writer-performer thing going on in TV right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/there-s-a-female-writer-performer-thing-going-on-in-tv-right-now/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [Almost every college playwright or sketch or improv comedian was sort of aware of Christopher Durang - even kids in high school. His short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/almost-every-college-playwright-or-sketch-or-improv-comedian-was-sort/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [More than half the questions I am asked are about the politics of the way I look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/more-than-half-the-questions-i-am-asked-are-about-the-politics-of-the/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [“Even though Mavis was my secret friend, she is the only one I hope I see again. She’s the only one I wonder about.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/even-though-mavis-was-my-secret-friend-she-is-the-only-one-i-hope-i/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [I regard romantic comedies as a subgenre of sci-fi, in which the world operates according to different rules than my regular human world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-regard-romantic-comedies-as-a-subgenre-of-sci-fi-in-which-the-world/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [“Be like Allan Pearl. Sit next to the class clown and study him. Then grow up, take everything you learned, and get paid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/be-like-allan-pearl-sit-next-to-the-class-clown-and-study-him-then/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [“Don’t be closer to twice a friend’s weight than to her actual weight,” I told myself. This little mantra has helped me stave off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/don-t-be-closer-to-twice-a-friend-s-weight-than-to-her-actual-weight/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) [Explore all 415 Mindy Kaling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) ## More Chip quotes > [People do the eye test and underestimate me, so I do play with a chip on my shoulder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mccaffrey/people-do-the-eye-test-and-underestimate-me-so-i-do-play-with-a-chip/) [Christian McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mccaffrey/) > [I've just got this huge chip on my shoulder because I've been out for three years and people think I'm dead and buried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-hargreaves/i-ve-just-got-this-huge-chip-on-my-shoulder-because-i-ve-been-out-for/) [Owen Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-hargreaves/) > [In 2011, I had a big chip on my shoulder, and I felt like I had a lot to prove every time I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyson-kidd/in-2011-i-had-a-big-chip-on-my-shoulder-and-i-felt-like-i-had-a-lot/) [Tyson Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyson-kidd/) > [I think I have a little bit of a chip on my shoulder, but I think that's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cage/i-think-i-have-a-little-bit-of-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-but-i-think-that/) [Christian Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cage/) > [Chip maker Nvidia is the new old thing, an overnight success story years in the making that is having its moment and then some.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/chip-maker-nvidia-is-the-new-old-thing-an-overnight-success-story/) [Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) > [Me and a buddy of mine would make up this saying, 'Just land it on the green and keep it on the green.' We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-hovland/me-and-a-buddy-of-mine-would-make-up-this-saying-just-land-it-on-the/) [Viktor Hovland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-hovland/) > [If you're wanting something salty, do air-popped popcorn. That, to me, would be a healthier choice than having any kind of fried chip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-harper/if-you-re-wanting-something-salty-do-air-popped-popcorn-that-to-me/) [Bob Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-harper/) > [The only thing that big chip on your shoulder needs is some good dip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-thing-that-big-chip-on-your-shoulder-needs-is-some-good-dip/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I have the brain of a malfunctioning supercomputer!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-have-the-brain-of-a-malfunctioning-supercomputer/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Chip Kelly, he is a great guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/chip-kelly-he-is-a-great-guy/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [The chip comes from people saying I'm not good enough, or I can't score, or I'm not a real basketball player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/the-chip-comes-from-people-saying-i-m-not-good-enough-or-i-can-t/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [PRINGLES: The only chip company in the world that doesn't sell air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pringles-the-only-chip-company-in-the-world-that-doesn-t-sell-air/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The Vanishing Chip”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-vanishing-chip/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We came in today with a chip on our shoulder to prove who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/we-came-in-today-with-a-chip-on-our-shoulder-to-prove-who-we-are/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) > [When I fought Hall, people thought it was a fluke. I left that fight with a chip on my shoulder and said, well, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-gastelum/when-i-fought-hall-people-thought-it-was-a-fluke-i-left-that-fight/) [Kelvin Gastelum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-gastelum/) [Browse all 162 Chip quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chip/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always had that chip on my shoulder. 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