Matthew McConaughey Leaves The Audience SPEECHLESS | One of the Best Motivational Speeches Ever

Summary

Matthew McConaughey's Oscar acceptance speech emphasizes the pursuit of joy over happiness, as joy is a constant and not dependent on outcomes. He encourages embracing challenges and the discomfort of failure, advocating for self-reflection and personal growth. McConaughey shares his philosophy on heroism, suggesting that we should always have a goal or 'hero' that is just out of reach, driving us forward. He also discusses the value of being alone, the importance of earning success through hard work, and the concept of responsibility leading to freedom.

Takeaways

• 😀 Happiness is outcome-dependent and can lead to disillusionment, whereas joy is a constant feeling derived from doing what we are meant to do.
• 💪 Life's challenges should not be avoided; they build character and resilience. Embracing them leads to personal growth.
• 🚫 Avoid the entitlement trap and the victim mentality. Instead, take responsibility and move forward with courage.
• 🏆 Pursue goals that require effort and bravery, as they lead to greater personal satisfaction and self-respect.
• 🎯 Having a personal hero, like an idealized future version of oneself, provides a constant motivation to strive for better.
• 🧘‍♂️ Spending time alone can be valuable, allowing for self-reflection and building comfort in one's own company.
• 🌟 Chasing roles or goals that scare you can lead to a more fulfilling life, as they push you to your limits and beyond.
• 🎭 In acting and life, there's a profound satisfaction in creating a complete character arc, akin to composing a beautiful song.
• 🚫 Refrain from using 'unbelievable' to describe achievements, as it undermines the effort and responsibility behind them.
• 🔗 Responsibility and freedom are intertwined; taking responsibility for our actions builds a foundation for future freedom.
• ⏳ Delayed gratification is a powerful tool for personal development, as it encourages making choices that benefit our future selves.

Q & A

What does Matthew McConaughey emphasize as the difference between happiness and joy?

Matthew McConaughey emphasizes that happiness is an emotional response to an outcome and is reliant on results, whereas joy is a constant feeling that comes from doing what we are fashioned to do, not dependent on external results.

Why does McConaughey believe that focusing on failure is not sustainable?

He believes it's not sustainable because we raise our expectations every time we attain them, and this constant chasing after outcomes can lead to disillusionment.

What does McConaughey suggest as a way to avoid falling into the entitlement trap?

McConaughey suggests not feeling like a victim and getting over it to move on with life, embracing the challenges and rewards that come with hard work.

How does McConaughey describe the importance of being alone and facing discomfort?

He sees being alone and facing discomfort as an opportunity to find peace with oneself and to build resilience, suggesting that it's a valuable time for self-reflection and personal growth.

What does McConaughey mean when he says his hero is always 10 years away?

McConaughey means that he constantly sets personal goals for himself that are always slightly out of reach, which keeps him striving for more and never fully satisfied, thus motivating him to keep chasing his aspirations.

Why does McConaughey choose roles that scare him?

He chooses roles that scare him because they come with a price and challenge him, making him feel more alive and giving him a sense of accomplishment and significance.

What does McConaughey value about dramatic roles in acting?

He values the high ceiling and basement dramatic roles offer, allowing actors to explore a wide range of emotions from love to hate, happiness to pain, which he finds inherently beautiful.

Why does McConaughey dislike the word 'unbelievable'?

He dislikes the word 'unbelievable' because it undermines the effort and reality of what has been achieved or witnessed. He prefers words like 'spectacular', 'phenomenal', 'most excellent', or 'outstanding' that give more credit to the achievement.

How does McConaughey define freedom and responsibility?

McConaughey defines freedom as something earned through responsibility, suggesting that taking responsibility for our actions builds a legacy and invests in our future, leading to true freedom.

What does McConaughey mean by 'earning our way' and why is it important?

He means that we should achieve our goals through hard work and effort rather than taking shortcuts. It's important because it builds resilience, a true sense of accomplishment, and a healthy optimism for the future.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Pursuing Joy Over Happiness

In this paragraph, Matthew McConaughey discusses the difference between happiness and joy. He points out that happiness is often seen as a response to an outcome, which is unsustainable as it relies on external factors. He contrasts this with joy, which he describes as a constant feeling that comes from doing what one is meant to do. McConaughey emphasizes the importance of not falling into the trap of entitlement and victimhood, advocating for bravery and hard work. He shares a personal story about how he set himself as his own hero, always looking forward to a future version of himself that is always just out of reach, which keeps him motivated and striving for more.

05:01

🎭 The Power of Challenging Roles

Matthew McConaughey delves into his approach to acting, particularly his preference for challenging roles that allow him to explore a wide range of emotions. He finds gratification in building a character's arc and creating a performance that feels like a complete, original song. He values the sense of accomplishment that comes from preparing for and executing a role well, even if it doesn't always go as planned. McConaughey also touches on the importance of responsibility and the freedom that comes with it, suggesting that there is a selflessness in making selfish choices that contribute to one's growth and future.

Keywords

💡Gratitude

Gratitude is the quality of being thankful and appreciative. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of gratitude by suggesting that it is often overlooked in favor of dissecting failures. The speaker implies that focusing on gratitude can lead to a more positive outlook on life, contrasting it with the negative fixation on failure.

💡Happiness

Happiness, as discussed in the video, is described as an emotional response to an outcome. The speaker argues that happiness is dependent on external results and is therefore unreliable as a constant state of being. This is contrasted with 'joy,' which is presented as a more sustainable and internal state.

💡Joy

Joy is presented as a constant feeling that comes from doing what one is meant to do, regardless of outcomes. It is distinguished from happiness in that it is not reliant on external validation or results. The speaker uses the concept of joy to encourage viewers to find fulfillment in their actions and purposes, rather than in the outcomes they achieve.

💡Entitlement

Entitlement is mentioned as a trap to avoid, where one might feel like a victim or deserving of things without effort. The speaker warns against falling into this mindset, advocating instead for self-reliance and overcoming challenges without feeling like a victim.

💡Courage

Courage is highlighted as a necessary quality for facing challenges and embracing difficult tasks. The speaker encourages bravery and the pursuit of goals that require effort and might be intimidating, as these actions lead to personal growth and a sense of accomplishment.

💡Hero

The concept of a hero is explored through the speaker's personal narrative of chasing an idealized future version of himself. This serves as a metaphor for setting high goals and continuously striving for self-improvement, rather than achieving a static state of being.

💡Discomfort

Discomfort is presented as a necessary part of personal growth, particularly when being alone. The speaker suggests that enduring discomfort can lead to self-acceptance and a deeper understanding of oneself, which is crucial for personal development.

💡Responsibility

Responsibility is discussed in terms of its role in creating freedom and building a legacy. The speaker argues that taking responsibility for one's actions leads to earned freedom and a sense of accomplishment, as opposed to immediate but unsustainable gratification.

💡Dramatic Roles

Dramatic roles are used as an analogy for life's challenges, where the speaker finds fulfillment in the process of embodying a character and the emotional range it allows. This concept is extended to life, suggesting that engaging with the full spectrum of experiences, from love to hate, contributes to a rich and meaningful existence.

💡Delayed Gratification

Delayed gratification is presented as a choice that can lead to long-term benefits. The speaker contrasts this with immediate but fleeting satisfaction, advocating for the value of patience and the rewards that come from hard work and perseverance.

💡Selfishness

Selfishness is redefined in the context of the video, suggesting that certain self-interested actions can be the most beneficial in the long run. The speaker argues that taking responsibility for oneself and one's actions can paradoxically lead to more selfless outcomes.

Highlights

We often focus on failure, dissecting it to the point of disillusionment.

Happiness is an emotional response to an outcome, whereas joy is a constant, not reliant on results.

Life isn't fair and falling into the victim mentality should be avoided.

Courage and bravery lead to self-respect and awareness.

Pursuing difficult roles is rewarding and leads to personal growth.

The importance of self-reflection and understanding one's own hero.

The value of being alone and learning to be comfortable with oneself.

The pursuit of challenging roles for the sense of accomplishment and significance.

The belief that 'unbelievable' is an underwhelming word and we should give ourselves more credit.

The concept of earning experiences and the resilience it builds.

The idea that responsibility leads to freedom, not the other way around.

The importance of delayed gratification and making choices that benefit our future selves.

The notion that selfish choices can be selfless and vice versa.

The impact of irresponsible actions on our freedom and the value of our time.

The idea that we should not look over our shoulder due to past irresponsible acts.

The concept of investing in ourselves and our future through responsibility.

Transcripts

[Applause]

and the oscar goes to matthew

mcconaughey

dissect your successes in the

reciprocity of gratitude

we so often focus on failure don't we we

study

failure obsess failure we dissect

failure and our failures

we dissect them so much we end up

intoxicated with them to the point

of disillusion see happiness is an

emotional response

to an outcome if i win i will be happy

if i don't i won't

it's an if then cause and effect quid

pro quo

standard that we cannot sustain because

we immediately raise it

every time we attain it see happiness

demands a certain outcome it is result

reliant

and i say if happiness is what you're

after then you're going to be let down

frequently and you're going to be

unhappy much of your time

joy though joy is a different thing it's

something else joy is not a choice

it's not a response to some result

it's a constant joy is the feeling that

we have from doing

what we are fashioned to do 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

of feeling like you're a victim you are

not

get over it and get on with it and yes

most things are

more rewarding when you break a sweat to

get them so be brave

have courage and when you do you get

stronger

you get more aware you get more

respectful

of yourself and that which you fear

my hero that's who i chase now when i

was 15 years old

i had a very important person in my life

come to me and say who's your hero and i

said i don't know i gotta think about

that give me a couple of weeks

i come back two weeks later this person

comes up and says who's your hero i said

i thought about it you know who it is i

said it's me in 10 years

so i turned 25 10 years later that same

person comes to me and goes so are you a

hero and i was like

not even close no no no she said why i

said because

my hero's me at 35. so you see every day

every week every month and every year in

my life

my hero's always 10 years away i'm never

going to be my hero

i'm not going to obtain that i know i'm

not and that's just fine with me because

that keeps me with somebody

to keep on chasing so to any of us

whatever those things are whatever it is

we look up to

whatever it is we look forward to and

whoever it is we're chasing to that i

say amen

to that i say all right all right all

right

[Applause]

then i say just keep living huh thank

you

[Applause]

you knew that there is something to be

extracted from living life how did you

get that frame of reference like that's

so useful but i don't think most people

have that

you know i don't know exactly where

where i got it i mean i would say again

to call back that australian year

where i did not have a choice where i

was forced into that situation and

saw the green light assets from being

alone

and quite lonely um i do think

uh that there's great value in being

alone and if we are alone

and we get bored and we don't like the

company

ding may that light go off to say that

does not mean

we need to pick up our phone to get some

attention or

go to the bottle to ease the anxiety or

go online to get some feedback to

entertain ourselves no it's actually a

great time to say no

sit here in that discomfort long enough

to go

okay until you come out the other side

to go all right i'm good with me again

now it's it's part of that i write about

when i'm about traveling in general

ideally you don't go to a place you

don't i always say that don't

i don't want to leave a place i travel

to until i get to the point of going

ah i could live here this could be my

existence

and soon as i get to that point then i'm

like okay you go

now i can go that's the same thing in

the personal journeys stick with it

till you get through the discomfortable

to uncomfortable times until you go you

know what

i can spend time with myself i could do

this i could do this forever

well then it's okay to go re-engage pick

up your phone go see your friends go

have a drink what have you go look for

those things that are

other relationships in life but

hopefully not until there's great value

in not doing that until you go

i'm good with me and me for right now

[Music]

now why do you pursue things that scare

you why

seek the role that's hard because it

cost me something

because it cost it comes with a price

it's a bit of that line don't pick a

fight kit it's not really a fight unless

you can lose it it's not really you know

don't it's not really a risk unless you

can lose the fight

i feel more alive in them i have an

experience

in the making of them i'm nervous every

day i come to work

i feel like when i nail a day and i

knock it i know i did i feel like

yes i i have a measure at the end of the

day like

you set out to do something you prepared

for it you had intention

and you did it and maybe even became

found some magic in the day

that i sleep good knowing that i

accomplished that day

in building the architecture of a

character's arc

through the story and if i could put the

whole thing together

and it comes out the whole one-whole

performance turns out to be a beautiful

song an original song

of that character then i'm like yes

and i know that i was highly responsible

for that

i was not solely responsible but the

most responsible for that and that

gives me pleasure that gives me

gratification

that makes me feel gives me significance

that gives me confidence

if i don't pull it off and i do have a

day where i'm like oh no you did never

and it was my fault i'd still i would

rather with these kind of roles i can

look in the mirror and go

so guess who's responsible not pulling

it off you kind of

in the same way when i go guess who's

responsible pull it off i like knowing

who

you and and and it was also again

work that challenged the vitality of my

life dramatic roles

allow the actor to have as high of a

ceiling or as low of a basement

from love to hate from happiness to pain

as that particular actor wants to bring

to it

that's what's inherently beautiful about

dramas okay you're the part you're

playing the role how does

how how is are you going to emulate that

person through yourself

um that is a vital thing that i feel

that

makes me sweat that makes me sleep

better at the end of the day that gives

me a sense of accomplishment i'm like

yes i did what i intended to do i

prepared for it was ready oh the day

didn't go out i thought it was going to

go but i

i called audibles along the way enrolled

and still told the truth

on my man the character that

gratification feels good

unbelievable is the stupidest word the

dictionary

shouldn't ever come out of our mouths

think about it to say

oh wow what an unbelievable play uh it

was an

unbelievable book an unbelievable film

an unbelievable act of courage

really it may be spectacular it may be

phenomenal most excellent or outstanding

but unbelievable

give others and yourself more credit

it just happened you witnessed it you

just did it believe it

give your obstacles credit that there's

a responsibility

to freedom and that there is freedom in

responsibility

you know and that earn your way there

we remember the stuff we earn the stuff

we experience more than what the teacher

tells us or what someone gives us for

free

we just do we broke a proverbial sweat

on it whether it's mental or physical or

whatever we

we built it we we understand we felt how

we got it

how we achieved it how we got what we

wanted

those stick with us whether we forget

them intellectually they were written in

our lineage

and they build resilience and they and

and they build

a healthy true optimism going forward to

know that oh no i've i've worked for

something before and achieved it

delayed gratification oh there are

choices i can make today for myself

that will pay me back later in life

so there are choices we make if you're

going to say right now i'm going to lie

cheat and steal to get what i want and i

got it

i got an immediate green light for me

that's a battery-powered green light

that's not a solar-powered green

light why because now

everywhere i go i gotta look over my

shoulder to see if

someone's there that i lied cheating

stole from and i'm doing that i'm

stealing who's time

my time now i'm not freedom i'm not free

i don't have the freedom i didn't create

freedom in my future

because i chose to be it make an

irresponsible act that

i left crumbs i've now got reasons to

look over my shoulder and the more

things we do to create in our in our

future that we got to look over our

shoulder

the more of our most precious thing we

have in our life's time that we're

stealing from ourselves

so it's not puritanical it's just like

it's actually self-serving it's a very

selfish choice

um and and i'm a fan of the word selfish

i've read it helped redefine it

um but i believe that there are selfish

choices we can make that are the most

selfless that there are selfless choices

that

we can make that are the most selfish

choices those two are not a

contradiction

and we see them that way responsibility

is is appreciation of a past it's

building of a lineage it's investing in

ourselves it's investing in something we

started to build yesterday that we want

to take into tomorrow

there's a response that gives us freedom

you