Everyone wants to overachieve, break barriers, and be successful. At the beginning of the year, many made some new year resolutions. A number of us took time out to write about our goals and what we would like to achieve in the year. For some, the primary focus is on their careers. They want to get that promotion that will push them to the next level professionally. For others, this year’s primary goals are centered on their personal lives, finding love, getting married, etc.
However, it is very easy to get carried away by the distractions of this world. If you doubt me, go back to your list of goals for last year and check out how many you were able to tick. We often make excuses for our failure. We didn’t lose that weight because we were too busy. We didn’t get that professional certification because we kept on procrastinating. We didn’t get married because we couldn’t make time for our relationship. The list is endless.
In a motivational video, Matthew McConaughey has addressed some of the reasons why we don’t go beyond certain levels in our lives. He also shared some of his greatest life lessons in one of the best motivational videos you will ever see. [1]
The entitlement trap
McConaughey starts off his speech by identifying a trap many of us have at one point or another fallen into. He cites the entitlement trap; the feeling of being a victim always as a stumbling block to achieving the desired success.
“I’m going to talk to you about some things that I’ve learned in my journey. Most from experience, some of them I heard in passing. Many of them I’m still practicing, but all of them I do believe are true,” he said.
“Life is not easy. It is not. Don’t try to make it that way. Life’s not fair, it never was, it isn’t now, and it won’t ever be. Do not fall into the trap, the entitlement trap, a feeling like you’re a victim. You are not; get over it and get on with it.” [2]
What is your version of success?
Next, he asks everyone to define their versions of success. Is it buying a car or that house? Is it having a certain amount of money in your account? Or is it the desire to touch more lives and leave the world a bit better than you met it? According to him, whatever way you define success is absolutely fine, as long as it doesn’t jeopardize you.
“So the question that we gotta ask ourselves is: what success is to us? What success is to you? Is it more money? That’s fine. I got nothing against money. Maybe it’s a healthy family. Maybe it’s a happy marriage. Maybe it’s to help others to be famous, to be spiritually sound. Leave the world a little bit better place than you found it,” he continued.
“Continue to ask yourself that question. Now your answer may change over time, and that’s fine, but do yourself this favor: Whatever your answer is, don’t choose anything that will jeopardize yourself.” [3]
“The first step is usually I know who I am not. Process of elimination. Defining ourselves by what we are not is the first step that leads us to knowing who we are.“
The problem is not with defining success. That’s the easy part. Most people know what they want. The hard part, however, is translating that desire into reality. And that’s where McConaughey shines. According to him, you can’t achieve success by sitting down and expecting a miracle to happen. You need to put it in work and effort. The first step to doing this is by identifying who you are not.
Let’s say, for example, you are a smart woman who is currently unemployed and would love to have a job. Eliminate who you are is taking, for example your smartness, away from the equation, which leaves you with being unemployed. You are smart, and you have that going for you. It’s yours, and no one can take it away from you. Congratulations. But what you aren’t, is employed, and that’s where your focus needs to be.
Next, you address the reasons why you are unemployed. Have you been procrastinating? Or have you been sending out CVs to the wrong companies? Have you been lethargic during interviews? You need to weed out what you aren’t before becoming what you are. Until you address these reasons head-on and work towards rectifying it, will you move closer to your goals.
“Well, those people, those places, those things — stop giving them your time and energy. Just don’t go there. I mean, put them down,” he said.
To listen to the video, click here
References
- “Matthew McConaughey: Five minutes for the next 50 years of your life.” Wimp. Admin. Accessed February 28, 2020.
- “Matthew McConaughey: 5 Minutes for the NEXT 50 Years of Your LIFE (Transcript). The Singju Post. Pangambam S. December 28, 2018.
- “Matthew McConaughey Motivational Speech and Lessons For Life (+Video).” Fearless Motivation. Admin. Accessed February 28, 2020.
- “Matthew McConaughey | 5 Minutes for the NEXT 50 Years of Your LIFE.” YouTube. Video Advice. April 18, 2018.