Lewis Howes

#1. Bad People

The first thing Matthew said to let go of is bad people. Eliminate the people who don’t promote your growth and bring you joy. We often cling to toxic people because they validate us in the short term, but they’re harmful in the long term. I am guilty of this. I’ve been in relationships for too long when I knew that they were holding me back — that goes for romantic relationships, friendships, and business partnerships. Some people tear you down instead of build you up, and no one needs those kinds of people in their lives. Let them go.

#2. Bad Places

Stop going to places that encourage unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, whether that’s bars, fast food restaurants, or just environments with people who don’t support you. If a certain place continually makes you feel bad, do what you can to eliminate it. Our environment dictates our mood. It’s hard to be positive in a negative environment. Be intentional about curating an environment that’s healthy and supportive of your values!

#3. Comparing Ourselves to Others

In a world of social media and constant communication, it’s easy to fall into this trap. Comparison will steal your joy. It will cause jealousy, destroy friendships, and give you a low sense of self-worth. This is so hard for us to do. We are wired for greed. We are wired for jealousy. It’s part of human behavior, but the faster we eliminate comparison to others, the more we realize the abundance that is there for all of us.

#4. Overthinking Failures

Instead of constantly dissecting your failures and problems, start dissecting your own success. Ask yourself, “How can I replicate this success I just had, or what is something I did when I was younger?” We often tend to obsess about our failures instead of celebrating our wins. When we take the time to think about what we did right, we open the door for more positive behaviors and choices!

#5. Instant Gratification 

Let’s be honest — we all like things to be instant. But if we’re addicted to instant gratification, we don’t see the power in waiting. As an athlete, you have to be okay with delayed gratification. So much of our lives is practice, practice, practice, and waiting for the game. There are psychological studies coming out showing that children who are taught delayed gratification are more successful as adults. Focus on what you can do in the waiting so that you can reap the rewards in the future.

Friends, if you want to hear more quality wisdom such as this, definitely check out the full interview with Matthew McConaughey. He is truly an inspirational human, and he’s done some incredible things. He recently came out with his memoir, Greenlights, which includes his classic outlaw wisdom, incredible stories from his career, and the truth about finding greater satisfaction in the midst of fame. Definitely go check it out!

Your first step in eliminating these sources of negativity is to take a look in the mirror and figure out which of these five things applies to you. What do you need to let go of ASAP? As Bryant McGill puts it, “Real transformation requires honesty. If you want to move forward, get real with yourself.”

Join me on Episode 1,023 to learn more about the five things you need to eliminate for a happy life with Matthew McConaughey!