--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The real reason you struggling with…" description: "\"The real reason you struggling with letting go is because you keep holding on to what they use to be.\" — Ash Sweeney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/ash-sweeney-731_holding_the-real-reason-you-struggling-with-lett_62107.jpg" --- # The real reason you struggling with letting go is because… ![“The real reason you struggling with letting go is because you keep holding on to what they use to be.” quote by Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/ash-sweeney-731_holding_the-real-reason-you-struggling-with-lett_62107.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/ash-sweeney-731_holding_the-real-reason-you-struggling-with-lett_62107.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/ash-sweeney-731_holding_the-real-reason-you-struggling-with-lett_62107.jpg) > “The real reason you struggling with letting go is because you keep holding on to what they use to be.” [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attachment to past identities creates resistance to change, making it hard to release old expectations. **In simple terms:** Clinging to former selves blocks growth. Key Takeaway Letting go requires redefining expectations. Themes identity change attachment growth psychology Mood reflective hopeful Type advice insight When to use this quote - relationship breakup - career transition - personal reinvention - grieving loss Key Concepts self-perception emotional resilience Practical Applications - coaching counseling - self-help writing Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of your identity are you holding onto? - How could redefining expectations improve your wellbeing? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Holding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holding/) [Holding Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holding-use-841031/) [Letting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letting/) [Letting go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letting-go/) [Letting Holding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letting-holding-477650/) [Struggling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggling/) [Struggling Letting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggling-letting-841032/) ## Related quotes > [“The art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/havelock-ellis/the-art-of-living-lies-in-a-fine-mingling-of-letting-go-and-holding-on/) [Havelock Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/havelock-ellis/) > [I will never know which to chose, letting go or holding on. They both end the same, but only one is worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-will-never-know-which-to-chose-letting-go-or-holding-on-they-both/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Happiness in all walks of life is often more about stopping than starting. More about subtracting than adding. More about letting go than holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/happiness-in-all-walks-of-life-is-often-more-about-stopping-than/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [I'm letting go because holding on hurts too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie/i-m-letting-go-because-holding-on-hurts-too-much/) [Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie/) > [“You spend years swaying between letting go and holding on, only to finally realise that letting go off - someone you truly loved is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drishti-bablani/you-spend-years-swaying-between-letting-go-and-holding-on-only-to/) [Drishti Bablani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drishti-bablani/) > [All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on. --Havelock Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/havelock-ellis/all-the-art-of-living-lies-in-a-fine-mingling-of-letting-go-and-2/) [Havelock Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/havelock-ellis/) > [So I'm moving on letting go, holding onto tomorro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-montana/so-i-m-moving-on-letting-go-holding-onto-tomorro/) [Hannah Montana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-montana/) > [The spiritual life is always about letting go. It is never about holding on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/the-spiritual-life-is-always-about-letting-go-it-is-never-about/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-the-art-of-living-lies-in-a-fine-mingling-of-letting-go-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We need, in love, to practice only this: letting each other go. For holding on comes easily; we do not need to learn it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/we-need-in-love-to-practice-only-this-letting-each-other-go-for/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [Happiness is always possible, but we have to be willing and open to receive it--and sometimes that means letting go of what we're holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-is-always-possible-but-we-have-to-be-willing-and-open-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God has ordained that Satan have a long leash with God holding on to the leash because he knows that when we walk in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/god-has-ordained-that-satan-have-a-long-leash-with-god-holding-on-to/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [There comes a point in every struggling relationship, when letting go becomes easier than trying to hold on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/there-comes-a-point-in-every-struggling-relationship-when-letting-go/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [Why was I holding on to something that would never be mine? But isn't that what people do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-easton-ellis/why-was-i-holding-on-to-something-that-would-never-be-mine-but-isn-t/) [Bret Easton Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-easton-ellis/) > [Hold tenderly that which you cherish, for it is precious and a tight grip may crush it. Do not let the fear of dropping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-alberti/hold-tenderly-that-which-you-cherish-for-it-is-precious-and-a-tight/) [Bob Alberti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-alberti/) ## More by Ash Sweeney > [You can close the windows and darken your room, and you can open the windows and let light in. It is a matter of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/you-can-close-the-windows-and-darken-your-room-and-you-can-open-the/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Tomorrow can be better or worse but will never be same as today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/tomorrow-can-be-better-or-worse-but-will-never-be-same-as-today/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [What is it with people nowadays, you claim you want something real' when it's staring at your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/what-is-it-with-people-nowadays-you-claim-you-want-something-real/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [It's one of those things that people say, you can't move on until you let go of the past. Letting go is the easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/it-s-one-of-those-things-that-people-say-you-can-t-move-on-until-you/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Half of being happy is being happy with what you've got, the other half is being happy no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/half-of-being-happy-is-being-happy-with-what-you-ve-got-the-other/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [I like these words -- they seem to suggest action: If you hear a kind word spoken Of some worthy soul you know, It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/i-like-these-words-they-seem-to-suggest-action-if-you-hear-a-kind/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Everyday I wake up, knowing that the thought of you will carry me through the morning. As I reach the middle of my day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/everyday-i-wake-up-knowing-that-the-thought-of-you-will-carry-me/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Facebook isn't a waste of time, it's important, it um, let's me, um, yeah OK it's a waste of time but you do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/facebook-isn-t-a-waste-of-time-it-s-important-it-um-let-s-me-um-yeah/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [The blind leading the blind are those which think they can see into the heart of another. But are blinded by love and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/the-blind-leading-the-blind-are-those-which-think-they-can-see-into/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [When you feel like quitting, think about why you started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/when-you-feel-like-quitting-think-about-why-you-started/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to a new understanding with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/some-people-come-into-our-lives-and-quickly-go-some-people-move-our/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [If we spend a lifetime searching for the meaning of life, we will truly miss out on everything meaningful and beautiful around us. Live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/if-we-spend-a-lifetime-searching-for-the-meaning-of-life-we-will/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Even though we are separated by distance at this time, I am content knowing we are both looking at the same beautiful moon tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/even-though-we-are-separated-by-distance-at-this-time-i-am-content/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Sometimes people only give you one chance. You mess up once , and you're done. Please treat the person you admire the best way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/sometimes-people-only-give-you-one-chance-you-mess-up-once-and-you-re/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm ... As you grow older you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/remember-if-you-ever-need-a-helping-hand-you-ll-find-one-at-the-end/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) [Explore all 389 Ash Sweeney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) ## More Holding quotes > [We do not know which irresponsible Israeli prime minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle against neighboring Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-do-not-know-which-irresponsible-israeli-prime-minister-will-take/) [Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/) > [If holding onto them requires you to lower your self-worth and self-respect let go of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/if-holding-onto-them-requires-you-to-lower-your-self-worth-and-self/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Like, you can't tell a certain race, like, 'You're supposed to act this way, and you're not supposed to act this way because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kreayshawn/like-you-can-t-tell-a-certain-race-like-you-re-supposed-to-act-this/) [Kreayshawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kreayshawn/) > [Hold tenderly that which you cherish, for it is precious and a tight grip may crush it. Do not let the fear of dropping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-alberti/hold-tenderly-that-which-you-cherish-for-it-is-precious-and-a-tight/) [Bob Alberti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-alberti/) > [I can conquer the world with one hand, as long as you are holding the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-smith/i-can-conquer-the-world-with-one-hand-as-long-as-you-are-holding-the/) [Megan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-smith/) > [“Holding something doesn't make it yours. You realize at some point you're just keeping it back for yourself, because it's pulling away with equal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/holding-something-doesn-t-make-it-yours-you-realize-at-some-point-you/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [“Forgiveness is about letting go of the past and not holding on to it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/forgiveness-is-about-letting-go-of-the-past-and-not-holding-on-to-it/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“Loneliness is holding the one you love / When you know you might never hold him again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/loneliness-is-holding-the-one-you-love-when-you-know-you-might-never/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [If you're throwing punches or exerting energy but you're not breathing, you're holding your breath. That actually saps your strength, it saps your stamina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-jr/if-you-re-throwing-punches-or-exerting-energy-but-you-re-not/) [Chris Eubank Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-jr/) > [“There is always power in holding a secret.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/there-is-always-power-in-holding-a-secret/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [I'm still holding on to something that I know will never happen, because I have this little piece of hope that someday, it will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-still-holding-on-to-something-that-i-know-will-never-happen/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's the touching they both long for. The holding. Spent their whole lives, each without any.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mcmann/it-s-the-touching-they-both-long-for-the-holding-spent-their-whole/) [Lisa McMann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mcmann/) > [I want to stay in the ocean. I'm not going to be able to do that from some holding cell in Japan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/i-want-to-stay-in-the-ocean-i-m-not-going-to-be-able-to-do-that-from/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [There's something so delicious about holding onto a secret; it's something just for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/there-s-something-so-delicious-about-holding-onto-a-secret-it-s/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [It was always in me to just put records out. I don't like holding on to records.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-dream/it-was-always-in-me-to-just-put-records-out-i-don-t-like-holding-on/) [The-Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-dream/) [Browse all 694 Holding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holding/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The real reason you struggling with letting go is because you keep holding on to what they use to be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ash Sweeney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/the-real-reason-you-struggling-with-letting-go-is-because-you-keep/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Holding" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/the-real-reason-you-struggling-with-letting-go-is-because-you-keep/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/ash-sweeney-731_holding_the-real-reason-you-struggling-with-lett_62107.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/ash-sweeney-731_holding_the-real-reason-you-struggling-with-lett_62107.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/ash-sweeney-731_holding_the-real-reason-you-struggling-with-lett_62107.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The real reason you struggling with letting go is because you keep holding on to what they use to be.” — Ash Sweeney", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ash Sweeney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The real reason you struggling with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/the-real-reason-you-struggling-with-letting-go-is-because-you-keep/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/the-real-reason-you-struggling-with-letting-go-is-because-you-keep/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```