Greenlights – by Matthew McConaughey
Recommendation: 8/10. Date read: 12/29/20.
Surprising in all of the best ways. McConaughey details his upbringing and career in a book that’s equal parts memoir and personal philosophy. It’s entertaining, funny, and thoughtful. He has chapters that detail the mindset required to overcome obstacles, the importance of appreciating and respecting your winters (when you feel alone and the going gets tough), as well as identity and the process of elimination. Well worth the read and some great quotes along the way.
See my notes below or Amazon for details and reviews.
My Notes:
Catching greenlights:
“Catching greenlights is about skill: intent, context, consideration, endurance, anticipation, resilience, speed, and discipline.” MM
The obstacle is the way:
“It’s a matter of how we see the challenge in front of us and how we engage with it. Persist, pivot, or concede. It’s up to us, our choice every time.” MM
“It’s not about win or lose, it is about do you accept the challenge.”
Intentions are the real substance:
“Words are momentary. Intent is momentous.” MM
Outlaw logic:
McConaughey’s mom: “She’s always believed that if you understand something, then you own it, you can sign your name to it, take credit for it, live by it, sell it, and win medals for it. Plagiarism? ‘Shit, they’ll probably never find out and if they do all they can do is blame you and take your medal back, so fuck em,’ she says.”
“Don’t invent drama. It will come on its own.” MM
Identity and the process of elimination:
“The first step that leads to our identity in life is usually not I know who I am, but rather I know who I’m not. Process of elimination.” MM
“Knowing who we are is hard. Eliminate who we’re not first, and we’ll find ourselves where we need to be.” MM
“Too many options can make a tyrant out of any of us, so we should get rid of the excess in our lives…” MM
On his decision to change direction in college and instead of going to law school pursue acting: “I didn’t want to miss my twenties preparing for the rest of my life.” MM
Respect your winters:
Seasons of suffering and loneliness can become the most important sacrifices in your life if you learn from them and look within. They can be the catalyst that forces you to find yourself.
“As the noise decreases, the signals become clearer. We can hear ourselves again, and we reunite. Time alone simplifies the heart.” MM
“Sometimes we have to leave what we know to find out what we know.” MM
“Wherever you are, give the place the justice it deserves.” MM
Ego vs being present:
“The sooner we become less impressed with our life, our accomplishments, our career, our relationships, the prospects in front of us—the sooner we become less impressed and more involved with these things—the sooner we get better at them.” MM
“We are all made for every moment we encounter.” MM
“We must be aware of what we attract in life because it is no accident or coincidence…Our souls are infinitely magnetic.” MM