---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes it's not what we hold on to…"
description: "\"“Sometimes it's not what we hold on to that shapes our lives--it's what we're willing to let go of.”\" — Beth Hoffman"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/beth-hoffman-5200_hold_sometimes-it-s-not-what-we-hold-on-to-th_2670099.jpg"
---

#  Sometimes it's not what we hold on to that shapes our…

![“Sometimes it's not what we hold on to that shapes our lives--it's what we're willing to let go of.” quote by Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/beth-hoffman-5200_hold_sometimes-it-s-not-what-we-hold-on-to-th_2670099.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/beth-hoffman-5200_hold_sometimes-it-s-not-what-we-hold-on-to-th_2670099.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/beth-hoffman-5200_hold_sometimes-it-s-not-what-we-hold-on-to-th_2670099.jpg)

> ““Sometimes it's not what we hold on to that shapes our lives--it's what we're willing to let go of.””

[Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Letting go, than clinging, shapes our lives.

**In simple terms:** Release to shape life.

Key Takeaway

Learn to let go.

Themes

acceptance change growth

Mood

hopeful calm

Type

self‑help motivational

When to use this quote

- relationship endings
- career transitions
- habits change

Key Concepts

psychology of attachment mindfulness

Questions to Reflect On

- What are you ready to release?
- How will you move forward?

A Different Perspective

Letting go can feel painful.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [In our lives we have to be willing to be more than exceptional. No amount of failure should ever stand in the way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-our-lives-we-have-to-be-willing-to-be-more-than-exceptional-no/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If you are saving lives, I am willing to help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-wagner/if-you-are-saving-lives-i-am-willing-to-help/)

[Bobby Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-wagner/)

> [Its not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. Its what we do consistently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-not-what-we-do-once-in-a-while-that-shapes-our-lives-its-what-we/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [What shapes our lives are the questions we ask, refuse to ask, or never think to ask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-keen/what-shapes-our-lives-are-the-questions-we-ask-refuse-to-ask-or-never/)

[Sam Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-keen/)

> [It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It's what we do consistently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-not-what-we-do-once-in-a-while-that-shapes-our-lives-it-s-what-2/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Everyone thinks that the old days were better, or that they were harder, and the modern times are chaotic and complex, or easier all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-doyle/everyone-thinks-that-the-old-days-were-better-or-that-they-were/)

[Brian Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-doyle/)

> [“It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It's what we do consistently.” ― Anthony Robbins”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-guise/it-s-not-what-we-do-once-in-a-while-that-shapes-our-lives-it-s-what/)

[Stephen Guise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-guise/)

> [“History shapes the lives of all men, women and children ... sometimes unraveling humanity into an undesired mess.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-i-fisher/history-shapes-the-lives-of-all-men-women-and-children-sometimes/)

[Lynda I Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-i-fisher/)

> [Don't expect to find the right person if you arent willing to let the wrong one go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-j-wilson/don-t-expect-to-find-the-right-person-if-you-arent-willing-to-let-the/)

[Kiana J Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-j-wilson/)

> [“If you hold on to what you want so tightly, it almost becomes an idol.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/if-you-hold-on-to-what-you-want-so-tightly-it-almost-becomes-an-idol/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [Holding on may sound like the brave thing to do, the right thing to do, but holding on doesn't make you strong. You hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-dye/holding-on-may-sound-like-the-brave-thing-to-do-the-right-thing-to-do/)

Melissa Dye

> [Sometimes, If you Have A Good Reason To Hold On, You Have To Realize That It'd Much Better If You Let Go...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/sometimes-if-you-have-a-good-reason-to-hold-on-you-have-to-realize/)

Pacifiersucker

> [...when you let go of your expectations, when you accept life as it is, you're free.To hold on is to be serious and uptight.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/when-you-let-go-of-your-expectations-when-you-accept-life-as-it-is/)

[Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/)

> [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

> [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/)

[Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/)

## More by Beth Hoffman

> [“Don't go wasting all them bright tomorrows you ain't even seen by hanging on to what happened yesterday. Let go, child. Just breathe out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/don-t-go-wasting-all-them-bright-tomorrows-you-ain-t-even-seen-by/)

[Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/)

> [“When a chapter of your Life Book is complete, your spirit knows its time to turn the page so a new chapter can begin.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/when-a-chapter-of-your-life-book-is-complete-your-spirit-knows-its/)

[Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/)

> [“The human mind is an amazing thing. It protects us when we can't protect ourselves. Sometimes when we're holding pain and it gets to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/the-human-mind-is-an-amazing-thing-it-protects-us-when-we-can-t/)

[Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/)

> [“It's what we believe about ourselves that determines how others see us." Saving CeeCee Honeycut”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/it-s-what-we-believe-about-ourselves-that-determines-how-others-see/)

[Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/)

> [“I want to work really hard, that's the only thing I know how to do. I also know that I have a ton more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/i-want-to-work-really-hard-that-s-the-only-thing-i-know-how-to-do-i/)

[Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/)

> [“People is wise 'cause they get out in the world and live. Wisdom comes from experience - from knowin' each day is a gift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/people-is-wise-cause-they-get-out-in-the-world-and-live-wisdom-comes/)

[Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/)

> [“That's what friends should do. cherish the good and pretend not to notice the harmless rest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/that-s-what-friends-should-do-cherish-the-good-and-pretend-not-to/)

[Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/)

> [“Don't grow up too fast, darling. Age is inevitalbe but if you nurture a childlike heart you'll never grow old.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/don-t-grow-up-too-fast-darling-age-is-inevitalbe-but-if-you-nurture-a/)

[Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/)

> [“...C'mon, honey, don't be mad at me. I don't mean to lie, I just remember big." Buck Preston to CeeCee's neighbor, Miz Goodpepper, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/c-mon-honey-don-t-be-mad-at-me-i-don-t-mean-to-lie-i-just-remember/)

[Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/)

> [“I made a mental note that if I ever needed help from a man I would make him a pie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/i-made-a-mental-note-that-if-i-ever-needed-help-from-a-man-i-would/)

[beth hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/)

> [“Northerners are exactly like their weather—cold and boring. And I swear, none of them has one iota of etiquette or propriety.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/northerners-are-exactly-like-their-weather-cold-and-boring-and-i/)

[Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/)

> [“I know you're scared, but you gotta grab hold of yourself. Every time you give in to your fears, you're lettin' that man win.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/i-know-you-re-scared-but-you-gotta-grab-hold-of-yourself-every-time/)

[Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/)

> [“A cool breeze lifted the hem of my nightgown. The birds began to chirp and sing and the first sparks of sunlight brought the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/a-cool-breeze-lifted-the-hem-of-my-nightgown-the-birds-began-to-chirp/)

[Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/)

> [“I thought about that old saying, how we can never go home again. But I think it's more like a piece of us stays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/i-thought-about-that-old-saying-how-we-can-never-go-home-again-but-i/)

[Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/)

> [“Mamma hadde forlatt denne verden og erobret friheten, og derfor kunne jeg også erobre den. Jeg savnet henne og skulle ønske jeg kunne få…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/mamma-hadde-forlatt-denne-verden-og-erobret-friheten-og-derfor-kunne/)

[Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/)

[Explore all 98 Beth Hoffman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/)

## More Hold quotes

> [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/)

[Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/)

> [See you in a few. Hold down the fort, Mr. Wong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/see-you-in-a-few-hold-down-the-fort-mr-wong/)

[Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/)

> [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/)

[Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/)

> [As we go through this transition where a lot more people will be reading on devices, nobody is paying enough attention to make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/as-we-go-through-this-transition-where-a-lot-more-people-will-be/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/)

[Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/)

> [I hold that religion and faith are two different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buckley/i-hold-that-religion-and-faith-are-two-different-things/)

[Pat Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buckley/)

> [I don't have any regrets or hold any grudge against anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cooper-kupp/i-don-t-have-any-regrets-or-hold-any-grudge-against-anyone/)

[Cooper Kupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cooper-kupp/)

> [I do not chase after anyone if you wanna walk out my life then I will hold the fu\*\*\*\*g door open for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/i-do-not-chase-after-anyone-if-you-wanna-walk-out-my-life-then-i-will/)

[Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/)

> [Be aware and hold the government accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-chauhan/be-aware-and-hold-the-government-accountable/)

[Mohit Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-chauhan/)

> [“Only the sky above us do we hold in common.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/only-the-sky-above-us-do-we-hold-in-common/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [Just as Wall Street needs to break the hold of the bonus culture, which drives risk-taking that is rational for individuals but damaging to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-schekman/just-as-wall-street-needs-to-break-the-hold-of-the-bonus-culture/)

[Randy Schekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-schekman/)

> [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

> [Sometimes, I get afraid it has defined me, that sense of grief, loss and illness. But actually, it is about allowing myself to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-get-afraid-it-has-defined-me-that-sense-of-grief-loss-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/)

[neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [You want to embrace, but I can't figure out how to hold on to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-duritz/you-want-to-embrace-but-i-can-t-figure-out-how-to-hold-on-to-it/)

[Adam Duritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-duritz/)

Browse all 2,062 Hold quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Sometimes it's not what we hold on to that shapes our lives--it's what we're willing to let go of.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Beth Hoffman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/sometimes-it-s-not-what-we-hold-on-to-that-shapes-our-lives-it-s-what/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Hold"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/sometimes-it-s-not-what-we-hold-on-to-that-shapes-our-lives-it-s-what/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/beth-hoffman-5200_hold_sometimes-it-s-not-what-we-hold-on-to-th_2670099.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/beth-hoffman-5200_hold_sometimes-it-s-not-what-we-hold-on-to-th_2670099.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/beth-hoffman-5200_hold_sometimes-it-s-not-what-we-hold-on-to-th_2670099.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Sometimes it's not what we hold on to that shapes our lives--it's what we're willing to let go of.” — Beth Hoffman",
                "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": "Beth Hoffman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Sometimes it's not what we hold...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/sometimes-it-s-not-what-we-hold-on-to-that-shapes-our-lives-it-s-what/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/sometimes-it-s-not-what-we-hold-on-to-that-shapes-our-lives-it-s-what/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
