Matthew McConaughey says Just Keep Livin is non-negotiable for protecting family life

Matthew McConaughey says his Just Keep Livin motto functions as a non-negotiable shield for his family life, a guiding principle he said he has carried from the moment he met his wife, Camila Alves, nearly two decades ago. The actor described the line as more than a catchphrase from his breakout film; it is a daily framework for prioritizing his loved ones and the life they are building together.

"That’s something that’s non-negotiable in my life," McConaughey said. "That’s one of those fires that’s going to … I started when I met Camilla 19 years ago, and we’ve continued as we have kids and when the kids get out of the house and Camilla and I continue on, those are fires that I want to keep putting fuel on. I want to keep building those. Those are non-negotiable. Those are always on my proverbial desk in my life." In another line from the conversation, he ties the motto to his deeper commitments, including his faith and his family’s future.

I want to keep my faith as strong as possible, because when my faith is strong … I have more courage to take risks in my life and follow through on them," he said, adding a third pillar: keep moving. "Keep moving, it seems like, man, one of the things that gets everybody in old age is they have trouble staying on their feet. And it’s not the injury from getting hit, it’s the doggone injury from dropping the keys and trying to reach back and pick them up the wrong way and all the other back. Or an elder falls and breaks a hip. It’s usually pretty close, man. They’re going out, so try and stay on your feet."

[Image: Dazed and Confused image]

The actor has since settled back in his home state of Texas after a long stretch in California. In 2014, he moved his family from Malibu to Austin, a decision he described as a shift toward a pace that better suits his life philosophy. McConaughey was born in Uvalde and spent his youth in Longview, Texas. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he once planned to study law, before pursuing acting. He has described Texas as a place where a mile feels like a mile and where the daily rhythm supports both family life and creative work.

"It’s not an entertainment industry town. I like the pace here," he said of returning home. "I like where a mile feels like a mile and 60 minutes feels like an hour. I like the common sense here. This is where my family is. My mother’s 35 minutes north of us. My two brothers are here in the state. We travel to see them, they travel to us. I’ve got old friends that I still see from college here. It just fits for me and I still feel creative." He added that Hollywood has been "very good" to him, but he yearns for life experiences that inform his craft rather than performances marketed as perpetual showcases.

The actor’s personal life is anchored by his family with Alves, with whom he shares three children. Their partnership and Texas lifestyle also reflect a broader conversation about values and upbringing; Alves has previously described how Texas aligns with the couple’s beliefs, including regular churchgoing and a preference for outdoor life. She noted the similarities she observed between her Brazilian roots and the Texas family routine, which resonates with the couple’s approach to parenting and community.

McConaughey’s emphasis on real-life experiences informs his approach to work and storytelling. He has spoken about drawing on everyday experiences to shape his performances rather than seeking a performance-for-its-own-sake approach. That philosophy mirrors a broader trajectory of a career built on genre-spanning roles, public advocacy for education through his just keep livin Foundation, and a life philosophy that centers on faith, family and steady forward motion.

[Image: McConaughey book cover]

McConaughey’s public comments come as he continues to balance high-profile projects with personal commitments. The actor’s outlook emphasizes a long-term view—stability for his family, resilience through faith, and a cautious but persistent push to remain in touch with the texture of everyday life. The interplay between a thriving career and a home life that centers on core values has become a defining feature of how he speaks about his life and work.

The interview schedule that produced these remarks also touched on his family’s dynamic and the environment in which they choose to raise their children. Alves has spoken publicly about Texas as a place that mirrors the values they hold dear, including Sunday church attendance and a sense of community rooted in outdoor life and modesty. Their comments together paint a portrait of a life spent balancing public success with private priorities—an approach that McConaughey characterizes as essential to his ability to stay grounded and creative as he navigates both stardom and family life.

As his family continues to grow and his career evolves, McConaughey’s message remains consistent: the fires of family protection and personal faith require constant fueling, and the decision to keep moving forward is a deliberate choice designed to keep his family whole and his work authentic.