A Mason's Work

In this episode, we explore the architecture of self-development, specifically focusing on how to build a mindfulness or contemplative practice that actually fits your life.
High-Value Quotables
[01:18] "I would like to encourage you as the architect of your own development to consider developing or building your own practice, at least to start."
[01:47] "Developing or designing your own practice means understanding your own structures and limitations and what you are capable of doing."
[04:05] "The more ceremony... the more of that you set up, the less likely you are to continue doing it long-term."
[05:24] "You can do anything that's right for you cognitively, emotionally... but you should cultivate as much as you can some level of reflective process." 
The Core Concept: The Architect of Development
Many people abandon self-development practices like journaling or meditation because they try to follow rigid, "one-size-fits-all" traditions that don't match their reality. The key to a sustainable practice is to design a protocol that is easily integrated into your existing habits, allowing for consistent reflection and self-evaluation.

Key Takeaways:
  • Stop Fighting Friction: If a specific practice feels impossible, don't write off the behavior entirely; change the method to fit your limitations.
  • Anchor Behaviors: Tie new mindfulness practices to existing habits—like slow-walking to the fridge or reflecting while brushing your teeth.
  • Avoid Over-Ceremony: Keep the barrier to entry low. Lighting candles and closing drapes can actually make a habit harder to maintain long-term.
  • The Reflective Goal: The ultimate purpose is simply to cultivate a process where you can evaluate your internal world and identify areas for growth.
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  • Tim Dedman
  • Jorge

Creators and Guests

Host
Brian Mattocks
Host and Founder of A Mason's Work - a podcast designed to help you use symbolism to grow. He's been working in the craft for over a decade and served as WM, trustee, and sat in every appointed chair in a lodge - at least once :D

What is A Mason's Work?

In this show we discuss the practical applications of masonic symbolism and how the working tools can be used to better yourself, your family, your lodge, and your community. We help good freemasons become better men through honest self development. We talk quite a bit about mental health and men's issues related to emotional and intellectual growth as well.

[00:00] there's a good chance, uh, that if you're like me or other people that are like me,
[00:06] I guess it's probably easy way to say, um, that you have a hard time starting new things.
[00:12] Um, starting new things is risky and challenging and new things could include like leaving the
[00:20] house or, uh, traveling or going to places. Um, you know, if you have these kinds of challenges
[00:27] in your everyday life, um, understand you're not alone. Uh, it's really easy. We build,
[00:33] we tend to build lives of comfort. Um, and then to consciously be uncomfortable is, uh,
[00:42] is a very difficult thing to pursue. What I will suggest to you is that, um, from a place of comfort,
[00:49] no one has ever really meaningfully grown. Uh, that doesn't mean that you have to, um, you know,
[00:57] go crazy and sell your stuff and go live in a yurt somewhere and be as uncomfortable as possible.
[01:03] That's not the plan. The plan is, um, to pursue these opportunities where you are uncomfortable
[01:10] and in pursuit of these, you know, these staged areas of discomfort, maybe it's go to a meeting,
[01:18] maybe it's go to a conference, maybe it's visit, uh, a loved one that lives far away,
[01:25] uh, that these inconveniences that you face between, um, you know, the destination and where you are now,
[01:33] those inconveniences, you will very easily be able to surmount and overcome. And the growth you're going
[01:40] to get both in overcoming those inconveniences and in the destination, that potential, uh, is immeasurable.
[01:49] Uh, this is the equivalent of, you know, the scratch off ticket kind of a lottery winning thing.
[01:58] You're going to take on a risk that is uncomfortable with an unknown payoff. Um, the quality of life
[02:07] payoff for leaving the house, uh, or going on adventures or, uh, getting out and trying new things.
[02:15] Um, even for the things that don't, that you don't love, let's say you're going to go and try a new cuisine
[02:21] for the first time that you've never tried before. Uh, and it turns out you hate it and that's a okay.
[02:29] Uh, the risk of hating it and the reality of hating it, um, does not diminish the value of trying something
[02:38] different and having something that is your new favorite thing, right? There will very likely be
[02:44] more things that you don't like, uh, than things that you like. But if you never explore the world,
[02:52] if you never take these risks, you will never find the thing you like. And you may never find the thing,
[02:57] uh, that really is your favorite thing or your mission or your way to be in the world.
[03:05] All of those things are on the other side of exploration. Uh, and a brief story I can,
[03:10] I can share with, um, when I was, uh, made a fellow craft, uh, they told me like, go learn
[03:19] math. And there was absolutely no way I was going to go learn math because I didn't really have a
[03:23] sense for how to explore it. So I said, well, I like technology. So I bought a 3d printer.
[03:28] Um, and I can tell you to this day, it's a peak experience of my life looking over the,
[03:32] you know, the edge of the print bed of the 3d printer and having an object that I designed
[03:38] materialize in front of my eyes was, uh, nothing less than life-changing.
[03:47] Uh, I didn't know how to do 3d printing. I didn't know how to build a piece of equipment like that.
[03:52] I had no idea how to do any of those things. And if I'd never taken on that risk of doing
[03:56] that kind of thing, I never would have found what is a, uh, a way that I can present my way of
[04:04] thinking in the world, uh, in the form of physical objects. So like it was, uh, it was sort of profound
[04:11] in the discovery. Um, the same thing's true on all voyages of all kinds. Uh, again, even if they are
[04:19] uncomfortable, even if they change you permanently for the worse, like now I've walked with a limp
[04:23] because I had this horrible experience. Um, you can't by virtue of those potentials eliminate
[04:32] the other side of the conversation, which is you could find the thing you could have the
[04:40] transcendent experience. You could have the develop the relationship by going to meet someone you've
[04:46] never met before that changes your life forever. Uh, we often look at these risks only in the context
[04:53] of the negative in the short term and the discomfort without recognizing the life changing potential
[04:58] that awaits. So I encourage you, uh, for as uncomfortable as it may be to schedule that next
[05:05] trip or to go on that next hike or to go do the thing that's really uncomfortable. Um, that on the
[05:12] other side of it is a better version of yourself that has to pass through that discomfort.
[05:17] Roux.