--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was very young, my background as a…" description: "\"When I was very young, my background as a Sikh-American made me aware of the tensions that underlie choice.\" — Sheena Iyengar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75b/sheena-iyengar-2596_aware_when-i-was-very-young-my-background-as-a_1523321.png" --- # When I was very young, my background as a Sikh-American… ![“When I was very young, my background as a Sikh-American made me aware of the tensions that underlie choice.” quote by Sheena Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75b/sheena-iyengar-2596_aware_when-i-was-very-young-my-background-as-a_1523321.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75b/sheena-iyengar-2596_aware_when-i-was-very-young-my-background-as-a_1523321.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75b/sheena-iyengar-2596_aware_when-i-was-very-young-my-background-as-a_1523321.png) > “When I was very young, my background as a Sikh-American made me aware of the tensions that underlie choice.” [Sheena Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-iyengar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Growing up as a Sikh‑American highlighted how personal identity shapes decision‑making and reveals hidden cultural tensions. **In simple terms:** Identity influences choices. Key Takeaway Recognize cultural lenses in decisions. Themes identity culture decision‑making conflict awareness Mood reflective thoughtful Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - family discussions - career planning - community leadership - cross‑cultural negotiation - personal reflection Key Concepts intersectionality social psychology bias Questions to Reflect On - How do your cultural roots affect your daily decisions? - What tensions arise when personal values clash with societal expectations? A Different Perspective Identity is only one factor among many influencing choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ## Related quotes > [I am aware of the tensions and the great burden placed on the citizens of Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoav-gallant/i-am-aware-of-the-tensions-and-the-great-burden-placed-on-the/) [Yoav Gallant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoav-gallant/) > [In the World Cup, much depends for every team on how it develops during the tournament. There are always rising tensions. They come from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/in-the-world-cup-much-depends-for-every-team-on-how-it-develops/) [Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/) > [I'm concerned with China growing at double or triple the rate of the West, that there will be tensions. One needs to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/i-m-concerned-with-china-growing-at-double-or-triple-the-rate-of-the/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [“When we stay locked up in the spectrum of unsolved life stories and keep hiding in an arcane prism, life remains a mystery behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/when-we-stay-locked-up-in-the-spectrum-of-unsolved-life-stories-and/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [There is no life without work, anxieties or tensions. Peace is not found in avoiding these but in understanding them and controlling their force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-beckett/there-is-no-life-without-work-anxieties-or-tensions-peace-is-not/) [Wendy Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-beckett/) > [Ethnic divisions can definitely be exacerbated by a lack of natural resources, but those tensions become violent when people manipulate them for their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinaw-mengestu/ethnic-divisions-can-definitely-be-exacerbated-by-a-lack-of-natural/) [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) > [We must do what we can to reduce, not increase, tensions. We must do what we can to present only the facts as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-spender/we-must-do-what-we-can-to-reduce-not-increase-tensions-we-must-do/) Percy Spender > [Often in companies, you'll see tensions between sales and marketing. 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Invariably that's what's responsible for its energies, its tensions, its being interesting or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/it-s-got-to-do-with-the-contention-between-content-and-form/) [Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/) ## More by Sheena Iyengar > [“Personal happiness is always a very serious matter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-iyengar/personal-happiness-is-always-a-very-serious-matter/) [Sheena Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-iyengar/) > [Then, the other thing that affected my interest in choices growing up was the fact that I was going blind and that meant that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-iyengar/then-the-other-thing-that-affected-my-interest-in-choices-growing-up/) [Sheena Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-iyengar/) > [“move. For one thing, you’re going to start paying more attention. 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It doesn't tell me how I feel about it tomorrow or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-iyengar/so-gut-tells-you-how-do-i-feel-about-this-right-now-it-doesn-t-tell/) [Sheena Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-iyengar/) > [I put out a good 10 different types of drinks for them and they just said, "Oh, okay, so it's just one choice." One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-iyengar/i-put-out-a-good-10-different-types-of-drinks-for-them-and-they-just/) [Sheena Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-iyengar/) > [Like, people are less likely to invest in their retirement when they have more options in their 401K plans than when they have fewer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-iyengar/like-people-are-less-likely-to-invest-in-their-retirement-when-they/) [Sheena Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-iyengar/) [Explore all 158 Sheena Iyengar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-iyengar/) ## More Aware quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. 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She's more aware. It's like you carry a frequency she can tune into.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-laurens/whenever-you-re-around-her-she-s-calm-she-s-more-aware-it-s-like-you/) [Jennifer Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-laurens/) > [I thought being in the wheelchair might be kind of limiting for me as an actor. It turned out cool in a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-beaver/i-thought-being-in-the-wheelchair-might-be-kind-of-limiting-for-me-as/) [Jim Beaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-beaver/) > [As all of us are only too aware, the loud and frantic voices of the outer world easily drown out the small, still loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/as-all-of-us-are-only-too-aware-the-loud-and-frantic-voices-of-the/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I'd just like to see athletes awake. And aware. There's so much going on and so much to know... 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