Angelina Jolie Never Went Through a ‘Rebel’ Phase – She Was Finding Her Voice

When you think of Angelina Jolie’s youth, you may think of the vial of Billy Bob’s blood she wore around her neck, or her making out with her brother at the Oscars. And then when you think of Angelina now: humanitarian, mother, Mrs. Brad Pitt. You may wonder: Is that the same person?

In a recent interview with Elle magazine, Angelina explains her youth, claiming she was never going through a rebellious phase, rather she was just finding her voice.

Jolie said these actions came from a place that was not destructive, but rather the need to, “find a full voice and push open the walls,” around her. And as a young curious person she wanted to be free and felt she was being lead to a certain life and she wanted to push against it and find out who she was.

I get it. Growing up is terrifying. I’m sure that if every moment of my 20s was in the spotlight, people may think I’m crazy too. Your 20s is the time to find out who you are. For all of your life there was always a plan and people telling you what to do: Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College. And when college is over and you move out of your parents’ house and maybe across the country, there’s no plan anymore. The plan is now up to you. So you want to break the routine. You want to do things you’ve never done before. Sure, some may interpret this as rebelling, but how are you supposed to figure out who you are, if you don’t create your own path?

That’s what Jolie did. She went on to explain, “a life where you don’t live to your full potential, or you don’t experiment, or you’re afraid, or you hesitate, or there are things you know you should do but you just don’t get around to them, is a life that I’d be miserable living, and the only way to feel that I’m on the right path is just to be true to myself, whatever that may be, and that tends to come with stepping out of something that’s maybe safe or traditional.”

I love that. Yes, experiment (but safely). Now is the time. Why rush to be an adult when you might not even know who you are yet? How at 26 are you supposed to know who you are and what you want? No relationship is a waste of time (even the jerks). People come in and out of our lives and we learn from them. With each experience and mistake, we learn and we grow. And who are we to judge someone else’s journey?

Jolie also revealed that she never thought she would find true love, “I never thought I’d have children, I never thought I’d be in love, I never thought I’d meet the right person.” Remember Before Brad, Angelina had been divorced twice.

This makes me smile. To think someone as beautiful, charismatic and talented as Angelina Jolie, a woman who men everywhere are in love with, thought she would never find true love, is comforting. If you’re going through a break-up and you think your world is over, it’s not. Remember Angelina went through two divorces until she found her match. You’re just finding your voice. A voice that someone will love as much as you love them.

What do you think? Is finding your voice different then being a rebel?

Image via here