lessons from Greenlights by Mathew McConaughey
I don't have high expectations for celebrity books. They're not writers after all, and it can be difficult to enjoy their words even if the story is interesting enough. Greenlights was no exception, but I walked out with more than I expected.
The following points stayed with me.
Don’t ask for permission
If you're going to do something you believe in, something that feels like your calling, just do it. Don't cripple yourself by waiting to ask for someone's permission. You can do that later on or apologize if needed. But for now, do what makes you happy.
Don’t be needy
Strive to provide value, and you'll automatically get what you need in turn. But don't go around asking for what you want without offering anything in return. Stop trying to be needy and focus on value, and everything you wish to possess will come to you.
Suffer through time with yourself
When you're sitting down all by yourself and the flow of emotions starts flooding in, don't take the next exit. Don't pick up your phone. Don't bury your head at work to keep you busy. Listen to your thoughts. Talk to yourself and try to understand the whys, whats, and hows. Then act accordingly.
Suffer with yourself. It's the best way to get to know yourself on the deepest level.
Don’t waste a decade looking for a special thing
You have the right to believe you have a purpose, a calling, a reason to be here. Explore and try different things to understand yourself but don't waste a decade doing nothing and waiting for the spark of inspiration to show you the way. It may never come. Do what you can right now.
Imagine what you want your life to be like and take the first step. No matter how small it might look in the grand scheme of things. Do what you can now and keep an open mind for the bigger future you hold in your head.
Pay yourself in the future
Make the calls your future self will thank you for. Build constructive habits that will slowly transform your life in a positive way. Suffer today and create rewards for yourself in the future. That's the time when you'll be getting to rest. The present is the time to grind and give your best.
Don’t create things to make you look over your shoulder
Make sure that your actions today won't create daemons that you'll have to be on the lookout for the rest of the time. You treated someone terribly, didn't pay, or betrayed someone's trust, or worse. When moving through life, think of yourself 10 years from now and see from the prism of what they'll think of your actions.
Journal in all kinds of times
People find it easy to journal when they're in a rut, and everything is falling apart. When times are tough again in the future, you can look back and see how you got through your last dip. Similarly, it is also necessary to journal when things are going great so you have a manual to look up to when you need guidance out of a rough patch.
Less impressed, more involved
Stop being impressed by your past accomplishments and the way your life currently stands. Put your head into being fully involved in what's happening in the current moment, and your life will turn out to be way better.
Sleep as if you’re gonna do it
When you have a big decision to make, and paths look uncertain, sleep as if you're gonna do it. Let it bounce around in your head for the night. Wake up as if today is the first day. That'll often give you the insights you need to make the final call.
To find what you are, find what you’re not
We feel like major events need to happen, the angles need to climb down, and inspirations need to spark our curiosity before we finally have clarity about who we are. It doesn't work like that in real life. If you're unsure who you are and don't know how to figure it out, start with the rule of eradication. Remove what you're not.
I value?
Ask yourself continuously, what do I value? What do I care about the most? Then mold your life according to that.
Prioritize your passion over expectations of loved ones
Do what you want to do. People will expect a billion different things from you. Your loved ones might be the first ones to tear your dreams down without even realizing it. It is simply not worth living a life based on other people's expectations.
Make the best of your chance on this planet. It is the only one you're ever going to get.