Many People Already Promote These Concepts
Living BLISS isn't about following a rigid program—it's about returning to the habits that make us whole. Across movies, television, and music, we found people already promoting portions of what we are doing by speaking candidly about ditching smartphones, protecting their sleep, curating what they put into their bodies and minds, and staying present with the people they love.
Note: The quotes below are shared as cultural observations of public figures practicing elements of the BLISS Five Pillars in their own way, and do not represent official endorsements or partnerships with ThoughtShift.
Be the Best You
People that also promote Identity, Purpose, Mindset & Discipline
Denzel WashingtonAcademy Award-Winning Actor
"Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success... Don't just aspire to make a living. Aspire to make a difference."
University of Pennsylvania Commencement Speech Transcript
Matthew McConaughey Academy Award-Winning Actor & Author
"Define success for yourself. Don’t let society dictate your worth. Prioritize the choices that give you long-term freedom rather than immediate gratification."
Lady GagaGrammy & Oscar-Winning Artist
"I’ve learned that my sadness never destroyed what was great about me. You just have to go back to that greatness, find that one little light that’s left."
Less is More
People that believe in Minimalism, Simplicity & Cognitive Space
Tom Hanks in The Guardian (June 2026) discussing the tech-addiction storyline in Toy Story 5:
"So now we have developed a plaything that will devour the time and attention of everybody... So we can give this thing to our children that might make them never leave their rooms and become antisocial, unempathetic beasts?"
Tim Allen in The Guardian (June 2026) on how screens hijack human neurochemistry:
"Being on a tablet is not playing with a toy. It's playing with dopamine... Even the barista would just be scrolling... all of a sudden the algorithm manipulation to what I like got ridiculous."
Greta Lee in The Guardian (June 2026) on setting tech boundaries and reviving real play:
"Stepping back and refocusing and reprioritising things like time spent outside in nature. Hiking and gardening and all the good old stuff that still proves so enjoyable for the kids... And accepting boredom – relishing boredom, and trying to counteract shrinking attention spans."
Selena Gomez in Business Insider detailing why she gave up the internet and social media apps:
"I haven't been on the internet in four and a half years... It has changed my life completely. I am happier, I am more present, I connect more with people. It makes me feel normal."
Ed Sheeran in HuffPost on completely giving up his smartphone in 2015:
"I don't carry a phone, no. I haven't had a phone since 2015... I got really, really overwhelmed and sad with the phone. I just spent my whole time in a world of turmoil... A veil just lifted."
Christopher Nolan in The Hollywood Reporter explaining why he refuses to own a smartphone:
"It's about the level of distraction. If I'm generating my material and writing my own scripts, being on a smartphone all day wouldn't be very useful for me."
Michael Cera in CNN / The Hollywood Reporter on maintaining a flip phone to protect his attention: "I'd really lose control of my waking life... It’s a conscious choice to not be interrupted constantly."
Ingest The Best
People that are Curating Mental Intake, Sobriety & Nutrition
Billie Eilish on Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend explaining why she deleted social feeds off her devices:
"I've deleted it all off my phone which is such a huge deal for me... Slowly the things I'm seeing on the internet are about me. I'm like, 'Ew! Stinky! I don't like that.'"
Tom Holland on On Purpose with Jay Shetty discussing how quitting alcohol restored his mental clarity:
"I was definitely addicted to alcohol... I woke up in the morning and it was all I could think about... Once I got past six months, I was the happiest I'd ever been in my life. I could sleep better. I could handle problems better... I had much better mental clarity."
Anne Hathaway in Business Insider explaining why she gave up alcohol to be clear-headed:
"My last hangover lasted for five days... I'm going to abstain from drinking while my son is in my house just because I don’t totally love the way I do it, and he’s getting to an age where he really does need me all the time in the mornings."
Bradley Cooper in US Magazine on getting clean early in life:
"I was so lucky. I got sober at 29 years old... If I hadn't made that change, my whole career and life would have unravelled."
Stay Connected
People that foster Community, Presence & Human Empathy
Keanu Reeves on the power of human connection (Goodreads Record):
"The simple act of paying attention can take you a long way. Don't be impressed by money, followers, or titles. Be impressed by kindness, humility, and generosity."
Zendaya in InStyle on choosing in-person presence over online performance:
"Being on it would kind of make me anxious, or I would start to overthink a little too much... I’d rather be fully present with the people I love than document it for an audience."
Joan Cusack in The Guardian (June 2026) on the irreplaceable value of engaged human presence:
"You're a parent that pays attention. And that's the most important part. Otherwise you just let them have [the screen] because then you can do stuff."
Sleep Well
People optimizing Physical Recovery & Nervous System Restoration
LeBron James in Business Insider on making 8 to 10 hours of sleep his primary performance habit:
"There’s no better recovery than sleep... That’s the best way for your body to physically and emotionally be able to recover and get back to 100%."
Jennifer Aniston in Healthline detailing how sleep became her foundation for health:
"Sleep is wonderful. It's beautiful. But boy, did I take it for granted when we were young... Sleep is the number one thing for your body and your mental health."