--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only thing that's holding you back…" description: "\"The only thing that's holding you back, is the way you're thinking.\" — Steve Vai" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/steve-vai-7290_holding_the-only-thing-that-s-holding-you-back-i_333255.jpg" --- # The only thing that's holding you back, is the way you're… ![“The only thing that's holding you back, is the way you're thinking.” quote by Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/steve-vai-7290_holding_the-only-thing-that-s-holding-you-back-i_333255.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/steve-vai-7290_holding_the-only-thing-that-s-holding-you-back-i_333255.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/steve-vai-7290_holding_the-only-thing-that-s-holding-you-back-i_333255.jpg) > “The only thing that's holding you back, is the way you're thinking.” [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our mental mindset is the primary barrier to progress; changing thoughts removes obstacles and enables achievement. **In simple terms:** Mindset limits you; change it to succeed. Key Takeaway Shift your thinking to unlock potential. Themes mindset self‑limitation growth motivation creativity Mood determined inspired reflective Type motivational self‑help When to use this quote - career advancement - learning an instrument - entrepreneurship Key Concepts psychology neuro‑plasticity personal development Questions to Reflect On - What thoughts are holding you back? - How can you cultivate a supportive mindset? A Different Perspective Changing thoughts alone may not address external constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“Keep Holding on there's no other way to comes to the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milagros-arce/keep-holding-on-there-s-no-other-way-to-comes-to-the-truth/) Milagros Arce > [Nothing's holding me back. If I'm held back, the only thing holding me back was me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cupcakke/nothing-s-holding-me-back-if-i-m-held-back-the-only-thing-holding-me/) [Cupcakke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cupcakke/) > [The worst thing is holding on to someone who doesn't want to be held on to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-worst-thing-is-holding-on-to-someone-who-doesn-t-want-to-be-held/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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 > [“If you say you can't, you won't! The only thing holding you back from success is yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-provost/if-you-say-you-can-t-you-won-t-the-only-thing-holding-you-back-from/) Jody Provost > [“Dear Superwoman, The best way to make it in life, is by holding on to the Way Maker.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/dear-superwoman-the-best-way-to-make-it-in-life-is-by-holding-on-to/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [And so we stood together like that, at the top of that field for what seemed like ages, not saying anything, just holding each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/and-so-we-stood-together-like-that-at-the-top-of-that-field-for-what/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [May what I do flow from me like a river, no forcing and no holding back, the way it is with children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/may-what-i-do-flow-from-me-like-a-river-no-forcing-and-no-holding/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [We had stretched out our arms to each other and supported something in our joined hands, but this thing we were holding was like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/we-had-stretched-out-our-arms-to-each-other-and-supported-something/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [The only thing holding us back is ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-henry/the-only-thing-holding-us-back-is-ourselves/) [Brad Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-henry/) > [The only thing holding you back is yourself and the chain to the wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lessard/the-only-thing-holding-you-back-is-yourself-and-the-chain-to-the-wall/) [Daniel Lessard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lessard/) > [There's definitely a way of thinking and a way of being in the South that has its advantages and disadvantages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/there-s-definitely-a-way-of-thinking-and-a-way-of-being-in-the-south/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [“Intelligence is a way of thinking, not a choice of words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/intelligence-is-a-way-of-thinking-not-a-choice-of-words/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“If you change your way of thinking and being, you will change your way of seeing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comic-strip-mama/if-you-change-your-way-of-thinking-and-being-you-will-change-your-way/) Comic Strip Mama > [“You cannot think your way into a new way of acting, but you can act your way into a new way of thinking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-cannot-think-your-way-into-a-new-way-of-acting-but-you-can-act/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Steve Vai > [I designed a guitar for Ibanez and then they started manufacturing it - it's called the Jem - it's 26 years old and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-designed-a-guitar-for-ibanez-and-then-they-started-manufacturing-it/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [You can never deny the immense talent, rock credibility and iconic historical contribution that Van Halen made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/you-can-never-deny-the-immense-talent-rock-credibility-and-iconic/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I can tell you this: I'm an extremely passionate individual. I try to be careful how I display it because you never know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-can-tell-you-this-i-m-an-extremely-passionate-individual-i-try-to/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I don't believe in 'greatest'. I believe in favorites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-don-t-believe-in-greatest-i-believe-in-favorites/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [Along with its enchanting and exquisite melodies, West Side Story has attitude and a tremendous amount of frenetic energy. It's emotional, theatrical and technical.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/along-with-its-enchanting-and-exquisite-melodies-west-side-story-has/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I have a deep love for life and my fellow human beings. I try to understand everything that everybody does, even if it seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-have-a-deep-love-for-life-and-my-fellow-human-beings-i-try-to/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I've never really heard anybody imitating anything of mine the way they do with Edward Van Halen's stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-ve-never-really-heard-anybody-imitating-anything-of-mine-the-way/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [My main calling in life is to seek and achieve spiritual balance, and to express that through my instrument. Everything else is here today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/my-main-calling-in-life-is-to-seek-and-achieve-spiritual-balance-and/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [There's very notable dynamics in all of the collaborations I've done. It's hard to say if one is more important than the other, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/there-s-very-notable-dynamics-in-all-of-the-collaborations-i-ve-done/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I awake, I meditate, get the kids off to school, go to the gym, go to the Favored Nations office, and usually at around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-awake-i-meditate-get-the-kids-off-to-school-go-to-the-gym-go-to-the/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I think every artist subconsciously wants to evolve themselves. Sometimes they get stuck in ruts because of pop culture, peer pressure, stuff like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-think-every-artist-subconsciously-wants-to-evolve-themselves/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [Baby don't wake me, let me take you on an endless journey. We touch and the softest kiss explodes with lust. It's real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/baby-don-t-wake-me-let-me-take-you-on-an-endless-journey-we-touch-and/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [We have the insight and the tools to identify and bring to fruition the dormant talent that our artists possess. Favored Nations will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/we-have-the-insight-and-the-tools-to-identify-and-bring-to-fruition/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [That's the thing about great artists: They find the thing that's most obvious to themselves, what's most conscious and natural, and they put it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/that-s-the-thing-about-great-artists-they-find-the-thing-that-s-most/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [My past is very interesting, and I treasure it, but to write about it, it's just not on my radar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/my-past-is-very-interesting-and-i-treasure-it-but-to-write-about-it/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) [Explore all 92 Steve Vai quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) ## 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 > [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/) > [The real reason you struggling with letting go is because you keep holding on to what they use to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/the-real-reason-you-struggling-with-letting-go-is-because-you-keep/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [“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/) Browse all 694 Holding quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only thing that's holding you back, is the way you're thinking.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Vai" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/the-only-thing-that-s-holding-you-back-is-the-way-you-re-thinking/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Holding" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/the-only-thing-that-s-holding-you-back-is-the-way-you-re-thinking/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/steve-vai-7290_holding_the-only-thing-that-s-holding-you-back-i_333255.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/steve-vai-7290_holding_the-only-thing-that-s-holding-you-back-i_333255.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/steve-vai-7290_holding_the-only-thing-that-s-holding-you-back-i_333255.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only thing that's holding you back, is the way you're thinking.” — Steve Vai", "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": "Steve Vai", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only thing that's holding you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/the-only-thing-that-s-holding-you-back-is-the-way-you-re-thinking/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/the-only-thing-that-s-holding-you-back-is-the-way-you-re-thinking/#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 } } ] } ```