Matthew McConaughey looks back on his personal life — gets real about his two types of fears: 'In relationships too'

Matthew McConaughey is sharing a glimpse at his personal and professional experiences over the years. The star, known for his laid-back charm, recently shared a message, reflecting on risk and personal growth—topics that have been important in his journey to success.

The actor offered an insight into how he approaches the unknown and the types of fear that can shape our decisions in life. "I love being scared," he began, "we are all happier when we lean in and take the risk of leaning into some blind spots, some unknowns in our life." 

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Is it the "good fear" that opens the door to new possibilities, growth, and adventure, the actor reflected. “I don’t know how I’m going to pull this off but I can’t wait to try,” he said. 

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The good fear: Embracing the unknown

The actor makes a clear distinction between two types of fear, both of which play a role in shaping his career and personal life. The first kind, he says, is "good fear." 

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It’s the fear that arises from the excitement of the unknown, the kind of fear that pushes you to face challenges head-on because you’re eager to see what lies on the other side. "I don’t know what’s gonna be. I don’t know what is on the other side of the door. I don’t know what kind of adventure or experience I’m gonna have, but I can’t wait to do it. Find out. That’s a good fear and a reason to go for it."

This kind of "good fear" is about stepping into uncharted territory, where the outcome is uncertain, but the potential for growth and discovery is boundless.

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The other fear: External factors

Matthew highlights a more cautionary kind of fear, one that comes from uncertainty about others' intentions or values. "There is another fear when we are going to head into this unknown situation, where I don’t know if the people I’ll be working with are as serious about the work as I am," he explains. "I don’t know if their measure of excellence is on par with my measure of excellence."

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"That can happen in relationships too," he added. "So, I’m scared to go there because I’m not sure that they’re up to par, that they’re gonna hit the mark. Well, that’s a fear to listen to and probably go, no, thank you."