Matthew McConaughey and the Art of Livin'
red light, green light.
Intro
Matthew McConaughey has long been a favorite of mine. Not just for his acting chops, but for how effortlessly he seems to live.
From his laid-back demeanor to the folksy way he expresses himself. McConaughey is not ashamed to express himself and is not afraid to be himself.
How did he get there? How did he get to be so comfortable in his own skin?
My impression is that it’s earned, it takes work. Work that spans over a lifetime.
So, I spent the past months watching his films, reading his book—Greenlights, and listening to his famous commencement speech, to better understand who Matthew McConaughey is and how he came to be. To better understand what McConnaughey calls the Art of Livin’.
Catching Greenlights
The Art of Livin’ centers on green lights. Greenlights are a metaphor for the things that say “Yes”. Greenlights tell us to proceed. They are affirmations. They tell us we’re on the right track and to keep doing what we’re doing.
Greenlights happen as a matter of luck, skill and choice. Luck gets us opportunities—the right place, the right time, the right people. Skill creates more greenlights for us; the better we get at something, the more chances come our way. But it’s our choice—knowing what we want and what success looks like to us—that keeps us on the path toward our dreams.
In truth, we will run into more red and yellow lights than green.
These lights are the things that tell us to slow down, stop or turn around. They tell us “No”, reminding us that not everything is meant to be. Sometimes they happen by fate – circumstances beyond our control. Sometimes it’s our own mistakes and limitations.
But the Art of Livin’ comes in recognizing these redlights serve a purpose. McConaughey believes that these lights are actually greenlights in disguise. They’re not obstacles – they’re detours. They point us towards paths we hadn’t considered. Paths that might just lead us to a green light we didn’t even know we were looking for.
When we accept the outcome of a given situation as inevitable, then how we choose to deal with it is relative. Persist, pivot or concede. It's up to us, our choice every time.
Like Michelangelo chipping away at everything that isn’t David, these red lights help us carve away what isn’t us, like a process of elimination. They’re signposts guiding us towards the version of ourselves we’re meant to be.
It’s not easy to know what makes us truly happy, if you’re like me, you probably like a lot of things. but we know for sure the things that make us unhappy. Knowing who we are not is just as important as who we are. By eliminating what isn’t us, what doesn't spark joy in our lives, we are one step closer to finding out who we are, we understand what drives us and what we are drawn towards.
We live in a noisy world, and it's not easy to catch greenlights. By understanding what and where the redlights are, we find the signals that could get us to where we want to be. Inadvertently, we find ourselves stumbling onto more greenlights on the path of becoming who we are.
Knowing who we are is hard. It’s hard. So give yourself a break. Eliminate who you are not, first, and you’re going to find yourself where you need to be.
Gratitude
The Art of Livin’ isn’t just about chasing green lights and waiting for red lights to turn green. It’s about appreciating the drive—every smooth highway, every detour and even the off-road excursions.
In our scramble to catch more greenlights, we often forget to acknowledge the ones we’ve already passed. We focus so much on what’s just around the corner, that we fail to give the things in front of us the attention it deserves. We lose sight of the blessings we’ve already been given.
Giving thanks for that which we do have, for what is working, appreciating the simple things we sometimes take for granted. We give thanks for these things and that gratitude, reciprocates, creating more to be thankful for. It’s really simple and it works.
Gratitude is what keeps us grounded. It allows us to see the value in every light, red yellow or green.
Those redlights that stopped us? They were lessons.
Those yellowlights slowing us down? They told us to reflect and introspect.
Those greenlights? They sped us forward.
Those lights keep us in the process of becoming the best version of who we are.
Through gratitude, we realize that it’s about appreciating the journey that got us here. It’s about embracing the journey we’re still on. The more we give thanks, the more we find to be thankful for.
And in that, we begin to see life itself as one big green light. To that I say: alright, alright, alright.
Inspirations
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
It’s a book of a life-well lived filled with stories told the way McConaughey does. It’s fun and has plenty of practical wisdom.
University of Houston Commencement Speech
McConaughey is just so good. Seriously. Watch it.
I loved the bit at the end. I loved it so much I have it printed and pinned on my wall.
While we’re here, let’s make it a place where we break a sweat.
Where we believe.
Where we enjoy the process of succeeding in the places in ways that we are fashioned to.
Where we don’t have to look over our shoulder because we’re too busy doing what we’re good at.
Voluntarily keeping our own counsel because we want to.
Traveling towards immortal finish lines, we write our own book, overcoming our fears, and we make friends with ourselves.
