Brett Goldstein: The Gratitude Journal That Changed Everything
Before the world knew him as the gruff Roy Kent in Ted Lasso, actor Brett Goldstein was fighting a quieter battle. The 46-year-old British star has opened up about his struggle with depression, revealing that a simple daily practice of writing down ten things he was grateful for fundamentally reshaped his mind.
Goldstein, who has reprised his role as the former player turned assistant coach in the fourth series of the hit Apple TV show, said the success of Ted Lasso came after a period of profound darkness. The show, which first aired in 2020, broke records with its Emmy nominations, and Goldstein took home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a comedy twice, in 2021 and 2022.
What did Brett Goldstein say about his depression?
Speaking to Men's Health UK, Goldstein was candid about his state of mind before the show took off.
“I was depressed,” he said. “Every day she (the therapist) made me write a list of 10 things that happened that day that I was grateful for.”He admitted that in the depths of depression, finding even ten things felt impossible.
“In the beginning, when you're so, so depressed, it's like, 'Nothing'. But you have to put 10 in. 'The sun was up.' That's one. You start so small.”
How did the gratitude journal help?
Goldstein explained that the practice was transformative, but not instantly.
“But by day 30 of doing that, you've started training your brain to look for the positive, and I could write a list of 100 things. I'm the luckiest guy in the world! Everything's amazing!”Weeks into the routine, he felt a noticeable shift in his perception. He still has difficult days, but the ability to appreciate small moments has become a lifeline.
“It really had changed me, built new synapses, whatever it is. You can look for the good. It's a skill - or, something you have to work at. I don't always achieve it. I still have darker days. But gratitude helps.”
Why is this conversation about masculinity important?
Goldstein also reflected on the pressures men face to suppress their emotions. Despite not being raised in a household that discouraged emotional expression, he still felt the weight of masculine expectations.
“I definitely grew up with the feelings of, 'Men aren't supposed to show emotions.' But then I got older, and my experience with women was whenever I was accidentally vulnerable it went very well. I was like, 'Oh, I guess I've been learning the wrong lessons.'”He recalled a conversation with his trainer in New York, a professional bodybuilder, who said,
“Men love it. Women hate it.”Goldstein's takeaway is that many people are simply following scripts they never questioned.
“There are all these things where I think most people don't know what they're doing, they have been behaving how they think they're meant to behave.”
What else has Brett Goldstein starred in?
Beyond Ted Lasso, Goldstein has built an impressive career. He starred in the rom-com Office Romance alongside Jennifer Lopez, appeared in the 2024 film All Of You, and has a role in the series Shrinking.
His story is a reminder that vulnerability is not weakness, and that looking for the good, even when it feels forced, can be a powerful tool for resilience. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please check out rte.ie/helplines.