After reading “Will” by Will Smith, I was more willing to read more celebrity biographies. I saw a podcast interview with Gary Vee and Matthew McConaughey. Matthew was very down to earth despite being such a big name in Hollywood.
He had written and released a book called “Greenlights” and I was interested in reading it. So I ordered a used book since my budget was tight.
I had other priorities, so I didn’t touch the book for a while. After six months after the book’s arrival, I finally sat down and started reading it along with the audio narration.
I have to say that Matthew McConaughey is a great storyteller. His narration style is casual but full of emotions. I thoroughly enjoy reading the different parts of his life and gotten great lessons out of it.
1. “Nobody forgives themselves quicker than she does and therefore she carries zero stress.”
Part One: Outlaw Logic
This part stuck out to me a lot. I was intrigued by Matthew’s mother’s way of self-forgiveness.
The faster you forgive yourself, the less stress you’ll be. The less time you’ll spend beating yourself up about what you shoulda woulda coulda done.
And I started to actively practice this. I grew up in a highly critical household that criticized every little mistake I made. And that followed me to my adult years and even into my past relationship. So I’m learning how to undo that by forgiving myself. It doesn’t mean I’ll just let myself get away with anything, of course.
2. I Know Who I’m Not
Part Two: Find Your Frequency
Matthew talks about the process of elimination and identity.
We usually don’t know who we are yet, but we sure as hell know who we aren’t. Therefore we should start eliminating the things that prevent us from being more of ourselves.
When we don’t give in to the things that don’t serve us, we start to find the things that do.
I am on a journey to become more of myself and be less influenced by others. I understand that I am doing myself a disservice when I let someone else influence me into dictating my own life.
3. There’s Always a Lesson to Be Learned
Part Two: Find Your Frequency
After high school, Matthew became an exchange student and stayed in Australia for a whole year. For half of that year, he stayed with an unusual family that made it difficult for him to enjoy his stay.
Due to this unpleasant state, he learned to appreciate the good things. He learned how to look inside himself and face his thoughts.
2023 was an extremely difficult year for me. Instead of blaming others and wondering why such and such is happening to me. I know that there was a silver lining in all these mishaps.
I had never learned so many lessons in one year. And all these lessons will prepare and help me navigate my future.
4. “Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.”
Part Two: Find Your Frequency
This is a powerful statement. The only problem is that I’m still trying to figure out who I am. I’m on a journey to know myself and say what I want to say without caring too much.
Of course, I won’t be reckless and just say whatever. But to be able to speak my mind unapologetically is a goal of mine. And that’s something I’m striving for before I hit 30 years old.
6. Facination with Different People and Cultures
Part Three: Dirt Roads and Autobahns
Matthew immersed himself in different people and cultures. He isn’t judgemental and learns to appreciate the distinctions.
I share the same fascination as well. I like learning about other people and their cultures. I want to know their history and their traditions.
Right now, I’m currently learning about the different ethnic groups in China. I was captivated due to my lineage from China.
I had always found some similarities among different ethnicities.
7. We Don’t Get What We Want
Part Four: The Art of Running Downhill
“…because we quit early or we didn’t take the necessary risk to get it.”
It’s true. Especially for me. The answer will always be no if you never ask.
I wanted to achieve so many great things when I was young to adulthood. I wanted to master the piano. I wanted to be an excellent artist. I wanted to become a great coder. I wanted to be fit. But I always quit too early.
If I wanted it then I would have. That’s the mindset that I needed to adopt. It’s about taking accountability.
8. Turn the Page
Part Five: Turn The Page
Matthew talks about taking control of your life when you’re in a rut or stuck in a bad habit.
“We are going to make mistakes — own them, make amends, and move on.”
Again, taking accountability. Don’t deny it. Accept it and do better. That’s the only way you can move on.
“You are the author of the book of your life. Turn the page.”
I’m always turning the pages. Sometimes I do feel stuck on the same page, especially when that’s the first time that it ever happened. But I do eventually turn the page or move onto the next chapter of my life.
10. Making Love Makes Everything Better
Part Six: The Arrow Doesn’t Seek the Target, The Target Draws the Arrow
Matthew wrote a beautiful passage titled, “Today I made love to my woman.” and how it made everything else that follows, better.
This passage really made me smile ear-to-ear. I was just so taken by it. That’s what lovemaking is supposed to do. Make everything more enjoyable afterward. It’s supposed to put you in a good mood.
I aspired to achieve this standard in future relationships.
11. Good from Afar, But Far from Good
Part Six: The Arrow Doesn’t Seek the Target, The Target Draws the Arrow
Matthew’s Impression was so well-written. It spoke to me about seeing things from a superficial lens. How things are better viewed from afar, but never close.
I struggled with this when it comes to attraction. Physical beauty can only do so much. It’s a shame when the mask comes off. It wasn’t what you wanted in the first place.
12. Do What You Want (If You Can Afford To)
Part Seven: Be Brave, Take the Hill
“If I couldn’t do what I wanted, I wasn’t going to do what I didn’t, no matter the price.”
Matthew declined all the offers to start in a rom-com again. No matter the price tag, he was willing to sit it out. He was disciplined. He knew exactly what he wanted and resisted.
To clarify, Matthew does have the privilege to reject undesired work for a full year, because he has a ton of savings.
I would love to achieve that amount of freedom. The freedom to choose what I want to do without having to worry about money being an issue.
13. Struggle with Lack of Work
Part Seven: Be Brave, Take the Hill
“I’ve always needed work for my own sense of self-significance.”
Matthew was still turning down rom-com offers after a year and the lack of work was starting to take a toll on him. He thought about just taking an offer to be able to act again.
I can relate to his struggle. I have been unemployed for 1 year and 3 months now. For most of that, I was occupied with important personal matters. It wasn’t until July 2023 that I got back to job hunting again. And it’s been four months of rejections and no responses.
It’s tough. I hate the stigma of being unemployed while being broke. I underestimated the difficulty of finding a job as a mid-level professional. It was starting to take a toll on me, but I know I can’t dwell in devastation. It does me no good. I’m going to keep on hunting and changing up my strategy until I get what I want.
14. “F*ck the Bucks. I’m Going for the Experience.”
Part Seven: Be Brave, Take the Hill
Matthew finally got hit up for roles that weren’t rom-com after two years.
At this point, he had weathered the storm and was ready for a rebrand. He didn’t care about the money, he was just eager to get some new experiences. And he did. He starred in a whole bunch of diverse movies that fulfilled him.
Right now, I need to gain footing on stable financial grounds and if I could get new experiences at the same time then that’s a bonus for me. I don’t need a lot of money, just enough to get back on my feet. Then I’m aiming for experience next. I don’t ever want to be blinded by money again. I believe the money will come after the experience is already built.
15. Live in the Now
Part Eight: Live Your Legacy Now
“…because we don’t live longer when we try not to die, we live longer when we’re too busy living.”
Matthew has been great at with dealing adversities in his life. It has never turned him cold or bitter. He just dusted it off and moved on.
Like he said earlier that he does step in sh*t here and there, but he learned to scrap it off his boots and move on. That’s a strong mindset to have.
For many of us, it’s easier said than done. But if practice is enough to become a permanent habit then I think it can be a superpower. And this superpower is only going to make your life thrive.
I have been scrapping sh*t off my shoes for a while now. I don’t like how I handled it in the past, but I’m learning how to deal with these issues on my own for the most part. I’m a positive person by default.
Conclusion
Matthew McConaughey is a pretty good writer for someone who’s writing their very first book. He had collected all these diary and journal entries from decades ago and decided to share them with the world.
He’s a great narrator and I enjoy his storytelling abilities. His “note to self” and “prescriptions” were a nice little deviation from the book.
The creative visuals were also a very nice touch. I appreciate all the photographs he shares in the book as well as the styling of all the personal notes he had throughout the book. This personalized the book by making it more like an actual personal journal. As someone who does take a lot of notes and journal, I really appreciate this connection and reference.
Matthew never intended to preach to others to follow his route or take his advice. He just simply shares pieces of his life with us. I like how he mentions the good, the bad, and the ugly all in this book. He doesn’t hide away. He’s not perfect. But one thing is for sure, he’s living a good life.
