Quotes About Self-discovery

I think I am looking as an actor to find ways to push myself into places I haven't been before as a human being.

I faced a certain amount of violence. It taught me that I had to learn to protect myself - and it made me stronger. It could have made me step backwards with my self-discovery. Instead, it pushed me further.

I never fought because of my father. I started to box before he pushed me. It had nothing to do with him.

When I was young, I had this feeling that there was this handbook that I had never gotten that explained how to be, how to laugh, what to wear, how to stand by yourself in the hallway. Everyone looked so natural - like they all practiced and knew exactly what to do - even the way they pushed their hair out of their face.

I hated it when people tried to force me out when I wasn't ready. It was very painful, and it actually pushed me away from doing so.

I don't like having to be pushed into a box.

I believe that every fight we've had is a big fight, and every fight we've had is a fight where I've learned a lot of things in the ring, I learn about myself, and it's sort of pushed me to know where I can go.

As an actor, to be able to experiment and grow and be pushed, it's been phenomenal for me, and it's given me confidence to move forward.

I don't like being pigeonholed. Why would you want to limit yourself to one style or one genre? Labels are something I want to avoid. I've had it my whole life, being pushed into a place, a circumstance or situation I didn't want to be in. My motivation has always been to get away from it.

I believe if you are not rediscovering yourself and pushing boundaries, then you are not alive.

I'm attracted to seeing how different I can be, pushing the boat out.

Write a story a great writer would write. Because part of becoming an artist is pushing through all the disbelief of those around you, deciding that you are a writer when you have no idea what a plot is or whether what you've written is any good, or anything.

No one could put my personality in a box. I didn't necessarily fit in.

Three trans women came up to me separately to tell me they had felt such a connection with Ava in 'Ex Machina' and her dream of finally coming to full female fruition. They had all cried; one said she was very emotional during the scene where Ava finally puts her skin on for the first time.

When I came here in 2008, nobody knew who I was. I didn't know who I was. I was just enjoying the moment and I won. So, now, coming back being the person I am with all the accomplishments, it kind of puts things in perspective.

When you play characters, you shouldn't just be putting on their characteristics - you should be finding it inside yourself.

I think a bit of mystery is good, and I used to feel like an eccentric person pretending to be normal. But I am actually just a normal person seeming eccentric, by what I'm putting myself through.

I was nervous and hesitant about putting myself out there for the pie scene. But I went for it and the results were wonderful.

Little things in my past that I really thought were over and done with were still elements of the puzzle that weren't pieced together, and so she helped me do that.

I remember being in high school, and you had to draw those lines and define yourself. I don't think when I was in high school I would have been willing to admit that I liked the Shins. I was into TSOL and Black Flag. I probably would have listened to the Shins secretly in my bedroom.

In the business world, I did fairly well, but wasn't happy. A bout of sciatica put me flat on my back. All I could do was read, listen to my mother's stories about the Sandovals, and daydream: a return to self. My writing career had begun.

I think, personally, it's our flaws that define us to us - or maybe it's just me.

I travel on my own and try to - I float along to music.

I love my flops. Look at my life: my failure that broke my heart made me stronger.