Chet Hanks, son of actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, has spoken candidly about his struggles with addiction and self-worth, attributing his peace and career advancements to a shift in perspective focused on gratitude and faith.
During an appearance on the podcast "Artist Friendly with Joel Madden," Hanks, 35, described how his life changed significantly after he stopped trying to control every aspect of his career and instead embraced a sense of surrender. He found that appreciating the simple moments in life, rather than solely focusing on unfulfilled opportunities, was a "game changer." Hanks stated that this shift in focus, coupled with relinquishing worries to God, led to positive changes.
"Like once I was like, I don't have s--t. I'm broke. Like I'm fresh outta rehab or whatever. I got nothing going on. No opportunity's happening. Nobody's calling my phone," Hanks recalled. "But I was so grateful to just have a spot, have my bike, wake up in the morning. Wow. It's a beautiful day. I'm gonna go for a walk."
He explained that this mindset of gratitude, even when facing significant personal challenges, was crucial. "When I truly let go, and I'm like, you know what, f--k all that. I gotta just enjoy the simple s--t and trust God. And what I'm worrying about. I give it to God. I tell God, 'Yo God, check this out. This is what I'm worrying about.' That's when s--t started happening."
Hanks also reflected on the emotional burden of growing up in the public eye as the son of a major Hollywood star. He described feeling "hyper aware" of how people interacted with him, which he found overwhelming. To cope, he learned to "tune it out completely," which he believes created its own set of challenges.
This upbringing, he explained, led to internalized beliefs that something was inherently wrong with him, contributing to feelings of worthlessness. "The result, for me at least, was to internalize it – forming the belief that there is something wrong with me," he admitted. "Like really what it is, is just feeling worthless."
Following his experiences with addiction and the pressures of his upbringing, Hanks has found a sense of freedom living in a Nashville trailer park while pursuing a country music career. He formed the band Something Out West with collaborator Drew Arthur, releasing music and performing at events like the Stagecoach Festival. This simpler lifestyle, he said, represents the freedom he had long sought.
Hanks emphasized that gratitude is the key to unlocking success and contentment. "I just feel like gratitude is the key to unlocking everything," he said. "Because if you're not grateful for, at least, you could have a s----y job that you hate. But if you're not at least grateful in that s----y job for your health, for your loved ones. Then if you don't learn the importance of gratitude when you don't have sh--, you're not gonna learn it If you get all the s--t."