Kate Hudson and Matthew Bellamy went through a rough patch earlier this year, but that doesn't mean they won't work through their issues. The Wish I Was Here star covers Self's May 2014 issue and shares her romance philosophy with the magazine. "Relationships are the most challenging things," says Hudson, who was once married to Chris Robinson and later dated Alex Rodriguez. "It's where you do the most work in your life. You come face-to-face with yourself, and if you can deal with realizing we're all flawed, accept it and work with it, you might have a really amazing, lasting relationship."
Perhaps Hudson will end up like Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, who have yet to tie the knot. "If I look at my parents, who've been together thirty-something years, I'd say no matter what they've been through, they share similar values and really like each other," she says. "It sounds easy, but it's not."
Whatever the future brings, Hudson can count on her gal pals—famous and non-famous—to stay by her side. "My mom once said something so poignant to me: 'Honor your female friendships, because men can come and go, but when we nurture our relationships with women, they can be forever.' I really believe that. My girlfriends are so important to me. They've been my rock-solid foundation."
Like her mother, the 35-year-old actress believes it's important to keep perspective. "I think happiness is a practice," she says. "But not the sort you find in self-help books, where you smile and have a vision board. You're fooling yourself to think that's how you're going to find it. I love the idea of a gratitude journal, but there are times when mine turns into a venting journal. Not so grateful, just a big ol' vent!"
Part of staying positive means not comparing herself to others.
"I've had insecurities," Hudson tells the magazine. "I can look at a picture of [Gisele Bündchen] all day long and say, 'I'll never have legs that long or lips that big.' You have to honor who you are."
Hudson honors herself by taking care of her body. "My workout mantra is 'break a sweat every day,'" she says. "Even if it's just for 20 minutes." While her favorite meals include decadent dishes like a "creamy white-truffle pasta" and "bowls of ice cream," Hudson eats "everything in moderation."
"I make sure I eat well without depriving myself of the things that I love," the Something Borrowed star says, adding, "I indulge at least three times a week."