*Full disclosure: I didn’t see 95% of the Oscars last night. I don’t make it to many movies throughout the year. However, I do appreciate great speeches and am always ready to find inspiration whenever, wherever I can. This speech is one that you won’t regret watching.
In less than 4 minutes Matthew McConaughey provides a rock-solid framework to help inspire and improve our lives. There are only 3 steps and I think we can incorporate 1 or all of them today.
Step 1: Have Something to Look Up to
For Matthew that is God.
Living life with a model, an ideal, something to emulate gives guidance and perspective when times get tough. Living with inspiration is motivating. Having something that draws out aspiration is powerful. Find someone or something that is rooted in goodness and of the highest quality to look up to in life.
Step 2: Something to Look Forward to
For Matthew that is his family.
His family helps gives him a reason to do and be great. I loved his mother’s demand that he respect himself…so that he’d be better able to respect others. There is a great parallel to how we respect our bodies. It is ok – more precisely it is necessary – to respect and take care of your body. The more you treat yourself and your body with love, acceptance, strength, and health the better you’ll be able to offer those same qualities to others. It’s not selfish. It’s self-care. Whether your “something to look forward to” is the love of family or the simple and beautiful act of taking care of yourself through strength and nutrition you’ll find that both offer great rewards at the end of the day.
Step 3: Something to Chase
Would you act differently if you were your own hero?
This is my favorite part of his speech because it is such a profound thought. If I’m chasing the best version of myself in 10 years then I need to make the best choices now! I’m 33 years old and the thought of my 43 year old self as my hero alters (and improves) how I approach today. In simple terms I’d skip that tempting slice of pizza because it’s not helping me get closer to my ideal self. In grander terms I want to live life to the fullest. I want to make choices that get me closest to living the best I can when it comes to my spirituality, family, relationship, health, business. I can’t waste time but I have to enjoy this moment and appreciate the chase. The chase is what helps drive me forward. The chase of getting as close as I can to my ideal self…while knowing that I’ll never fully achieve it. And that’s alright, alright, alright!
In the end of Matthew McConaughey’s speech he sums it up by saying, “just keep living.” That’s about it really…just keep living.
And enjoy whatever perceived problems you get to overcome today. Because in 10 years you’ll look back and smile when you realize that those problems were exactly what you needed.
~With Strength & Nutrition
