--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why do we hold onto negativity? For some…" description: "\"Why do we hold onto negativity? For some reason, we believe that others are affected by our experience of remaining upset, hurt or angry. Holding on to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ed/iyanla-vanzant-557_affected_why-do-we-hold-onto-negativity-for-some_2764134.jpg" --- # Why do we hold onto negativity? For some reason, we… ![“Why do we hold onto negativity? For some reason, we believe that others are affected by our experience of remaining upset, hurt or angry. Holding on to pain, anger, guilt or shame is the glue that binds us to the situation we want to escape.” quote by Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ed/iyanla-vanzant-557_affected_why-do-we-hold-onto-negativity-for-some_2764134.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ed/iyanla-vanzant-557_affected_why-do-we-hold-onto-negativity-for-some_2764134.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ed/iyanla-vanzant-557_affected_why-do-we-hold-onto-negativity-for-some_2764134.jpg) > “Why do we hold onto negativity? For some reason, we believe that others are affected by our experience of remaining upset, hurt or angry. Holding on to pain, anger, guilt or shame is the glue that binds us to the situation we want to escape.” [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Holding onto negative emotions binds us to painful situations, preventing release and growth. **In simple terms:** Negativity keeps us stuck. Key Takeaway Release pain to move forward. Themes emotions attachment release Mood contemplative hopeful Type self‑help spiritual When to use this quote - therapy - personal development - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What emotions are you clinging to? - How can you safely release them? A Different Perspective Letting go can be frightening and uncertain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affected/) [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Anger Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger-guilt-560069/) [Angry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angry/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Glue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glue/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Hold Negativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold-negativity-1587732/) [Holding on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holding-on/) [Holding Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holding-pain-2181722/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Negativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negativity/) [Negativity Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negativity-reason-2133803/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Upset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upset/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [I am someone who can't hold on to negativity or hold on to grudges. I might feel something at a certain point, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-someone-who-can-t-hold-on-to-negativity-or-hold-on-to-grudges-i/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) > [We actors get a lot of love, but at times, we get double the amount of negativity for no reason whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ileana-d-cruz/we-actors-get-a-lot-of-love-but-at-times-we-get-double-the-amount-of/) [Ileana D'Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ileana-d-cruz/) > [I hold on to enough negativity in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-everett/i-hold-on-to-enough-negativity-in-my-life/) [Bridget Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-everett/) > [There's just as much positivity as there is negativity, but for some reason, people focus on the negative things. 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Ann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel-e-ann/) > [“Why do they call it grief, when really it’s a whole gamut of awful emotions, confusion and regret and anger and guilt and loneliness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-belle/why-do-they-call-it-grief-when-really-it-s-a-whole-gamut-of-awful/) [Kimberly Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-belle/) > [Put on your fake smiles and show the world how strong you are of holding the pain inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lostintears/put-on-your-fake-smiles-and-show-the-world-how-strong-you-are-of/) [LostInTears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lostintears/) > [“And so Grief and Shame abided in adjoining rooms with the door shut between them, holding their pain in their arms instead of each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/and-so-grief-and-shame-abided-in-adjoining-rooms-with-the-door-shut/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“Holding on to some part of your past even if it means also holding on to the pain of never again having it. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-raasch/holding-on-to-some-part-of-your-past-even-if-it-means-also-holding-on/) [Sara Raasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-raasch/) > [“my muscles are rigid with the tension of holding myself together. the pain over my heart returns, and from it i imagine tiny fissures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/my-muscles-are-rigid-with-the-tension-of-holding-myself-together-the/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“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/) > [When you really believe that you are worthy of the best, that you deserve the best & that there is enough of the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/when-you-really-believe-that-you-are-worthy-of-the-best-that-you/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [When a thing has served its purpose, it will go away. Sometimes it will break. At other times, it will simply die off. Then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/when-a-thing-has-served-its-purpose-it-will-go-away-sometimes-it-will/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) ## More by Iyanla Vanzant > [For some reason,we keep forgetting some of our experience. We look back but don't bring the value forward. 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Right where you are…God is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/we-are-distracted-from-our-greatness-because-are-greatness-is-what/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [Some children do what they’re told to do; some children do what they’re told not to do; all children do what they’re parents have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/some-children-do-what-they-re-told-to-do-some-children-do-what-they/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [Life doesn't have to be hard, life is on your side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/life-doesn-t-have-to-be-hard-life-is-on-your-side/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [You can accept or reject the way you are treated by other people, but until you heal the wounds of your past, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/you-can-accept-or-reject-the-way-you-are-treated-by-other-people-but/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [We must each learn to feel comfortable in our own uniqueness by rising above the fear of being wrong and the aversion to being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/we-must-each-learn-to-feel-comfortable-in-our-own-uniqueness-by/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [I am not seeking anything but service to my creator. 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You must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/when-someone-entrusts-their-heart-to-you-they-are-giving-you-a-piece/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [When you have something to do life will not allow you to ove foward until you do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/when-you-have-something-to-do-life-will-not-allow-you-to-ove-foward/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [Have you doubted your progress, regretted your choices, put yourself down? Remember that you are doing just fine. Remind yourself right now that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/have-you-doubted-your-progress-regretted-your-choices-put-yourself/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [The only relationship we can have in this life is the relationship we have with ourselves. We cannot love anybody more than we love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/the-only-relationship-we-can-have-in-this-life-is-the-relationship-we/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) [Explore all 476 Iyanla Vanzant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) ## More Affected quotes > [To tell you the truth I am hard put to think of anyone who's career was affected significantly by making all those phone calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabney-coleman/to-tell-you-the-truth-i-am-hard-put-to-think-of-anyone-who-s-career/) [Dabney Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabney-coleman/) > [First, climate change is the greatest long-term threat faced by humanity. It could cause more human and financial suffering than the two world wars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/first-climate-change-is-the-greatest-long-term-threat-faced-by/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [Be a pattern to others, and then all will go well; for as a whole city is affected by the licentious passions and vices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/be-a-pattern-to-others-and-then-all-will-go-well-for-as-a-whole-city/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [At first I thought I would have to put on an English accent and try a sort of affected Shakespeare thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/at-first-i-thought-i-would-have-to-put-on-an-english-accent-and-try-a/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [Every culture, if its natural development is not too much affected by political restrictions, experiences a perpetual renewal of the formative urge, and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-rocker/every-culture-if-its-natural-development-is-not-too-much-affected-by/) [Rudolf Rocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-rocker/) > [Don't show them that you are affected.. Instead, show them that you are happy even without them.. To put a sad face on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharlene05/don-t-show-them-that-you-are-affected-instead-show-them-that-you-are/) [Sharlene05](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharlene05/) > [I wish we could go back to the time when the private lives of our public figures were relevant only if they directly affected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-wish-we-could-go-back-to-the-time-when-the-private-lives-of-our/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [Don't be intimidated by people who seem to be experts. Hear their points of view and get their judgements. But at the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/don-t-be-intimidated-by-people-who-seem-to-be-experts-hear-their/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [Who what am I? My answer: I am the sum total of everything that went before me, of all I have been seen done,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/who-what-am-i-my-answer-i-am-the-sum-total-of-everything-that-went/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I have wondered why is it that some people are less affected and torn by the verities of life and death that others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-wondered-why-is-it-that-some-people-are-less-affected-and-torn/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [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/) > [I don't think Wayne Rooney would be affected if you booed him, that's just how he is, but others go under. They really suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lampard/i-don-t-think-wayne-rooney-would-be-affected-if-you-booed-him-that-s/) [Frank Lampard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lampard/) > [I'm not good at standing on platforms and persuading people to my political point of view. Nor would I seek to. My gift is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hare/i-m-not-good-at-standing-on-platforms-and-persuading-people-to-my/) [David Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hare/) > [I was trying to hold up a mirror to this country, to reflect the past years or so, and the varying degrees in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/said-sayrafiezadeh/i-was-trying-to-hold-up-a-mirror-to-this-country-to-reflect-the-past/) [Said Sayrafiezadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/said-sayrafiezadeh/) > [We know COVID-19 hasn't affected communities equally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-cooper/we-know-covid-19-hasn-t-affected-communities-equally/) [Roy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-cooper/) [Browse all 1,050 Affected quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affected/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why do we hold onto negativity? 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