A Mason's Work

Brian Mattocks
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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.

  1. 10H AGO

    Crafting a Life Series: Designing Your Own Practice

    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.Creators & Guests Brian Mattocks - Host ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ Click here to view the episode transcript. Thanks to our monthly supporters Tim Dedman Jorge

    7 min

  2. 1D AGO

    Crafting a Life Series: The Risk of Leaving the House

    This episode addresses the inherent difficulty of starting new things and the profound growth that only occurs when we consciously choose to step out of our comfort zones. High-Value Quotables [00:49] "From a place of comfort, no one has ever really meaningfully grown." [01:03] "The plan is to pursue these opportunities where you are uncomfortable and in pursuit of these staged areas of discomfort... those inconveniences you will very easily be able to surmount." [02:29] "The risk of hating it and the reality of hating it does not diminish the value of trying something different and having something that is your new favorite thing." [05:12] "On the other side of it is a better version of yourself that has to pass through that discomfort." The Core Concept: Stepping Beyond the Comfort Zone Starting new things is risky and challenging, which often leads us to build lives of stagnant comfort. However, meaningful growth requires us to consciously pursue "staged areas of discomfort"—whether it's traveling, visiting loved ones, or trying a new cuisine—because the potential payoff for exploration is immeasurable. Key Takeaways: Meaningful Growth: True development occurs only when we leave the safety of what we know.The "Lottery" of Exploration: Taking a risk on an unknown experience can lead to life-changing payoffs, even if you occasionally encounter things you don't like.Finding Your Mission: You cannot find your "favorite thing" or your way of being in the world if you never explore what the world has to offer.The Transcendent Experience: Pushing through short-term discomfort is the only way to reach the relationships and experiences that permanently change your life for the better.Creators & Guests Brian Mattocks - Host ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ Click here to view the episode transcript. Thanks to our monthly supporters Tim Dedman Jorge

    8 min

  3. 4D AGO

    The Secretary Series: The Pearl of Wisdom

    In the series finale, we look at the "temporal" nature of the Secretary role—how re-processing old memories with new perspectives can lead to personal grace, forgiveness, and the discovery of hidden wisdom. High-Value Quotables [01:04] "I was so upset that somebody in an educational role was essentially telling me that changing the world was impossible and that I should just try and be happy." [02:04] "Peeling off the emotional content, the emotional layers of that interaction is understand that... he might have been describing something completely different in terms of his response." [03:21] "This secretary kind of mind and start working through our own stuff... taking what you know now and applying it to who you were then to find ways to give yourself that grace and forgiveness." [04:26] "The ground for the person tomorrow that gets to make a better decision because of the records kept today... you get to determine what's in your history book. Use it well." The Core Concept: From Grain of Sand to Pearl The Secretary function isn't just about recording the present; it’s about the active maintenance of the past. By revisiting old memories—like a high school interaction that caused "seething contempt"—and removing the emotional layers, we can transform a painful "grain of sand" into a "pearl" of insight. Key Takeaways: Misplaced Emotional Content: We often record memories with "vim and vigor" or youth that can misinterpret the intent of others based on our own "present appetite" at the time.Temporal Awareness: The Secretary role helps you understand what is worth committing to memory now versus what is worth letting go of for the future.Grace and Forgiveness: Applying modern knowledge to old memories allows you to provide yourself with the grace that the "secretary of the time" couldn't afford.The Record as Agency: You have the power to choose which data makes it into your personal history book to enable a better version of yourself tomorrow.The Goal of Happiness: Sometimes the facts of a situation contain a hidden truth: it doesn't matter if you change the world if you aren't happy.Reflection Question: What "grain of sand" in your past is waiting for your inner Secretary to strip away the emotion and turn it into a pearl of wisdom? Thanks to our monthly supporters Tim Dedman Jorge ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    7 min

  4. 5D AGO

    The Secretary Series: The Systemic Level (The Architecture of Change)

    This episode explores the Secretary function as a critical data engine for organizational health, illustrating how honest record-keeping serves as the foundation for troubleshooting and optimizing complex systems. High-Value Quotables [00:11] "The quality of the data you collect, the quality of the records that you have really indicates effectively how much you can optimize and improve an environment." [00:59] "What gets measured gets managed... By collecting the right kind of data in the right way, you effectively gain enough insights to meaningfully move the conversation forward." [01:41] "The secretary should be given—here's the kind of data we need to collect as a function—and provide some level of the analysis of that data, but not own the fix." [03:17] "This is why things like logbooks and diary entries and journal entries are admitted in a court of law because they are kept in the moment of the event... recorded at the time of." The Core Concept: Data as an Anchor for Integrity At the systemic level, the Secretary is the "architect of behavior change". By providing accurate, honest data over time, this function allows for meaningful diagnostics that would otherwise be impossible. To maintain systemic integrity, records must be kept "in the moment" to prevent the natural human tendency to rewrite history or shift context as time passes. Key Takeaways: The Optimization Engine: Quality records are the primary indicator of how much an environment can be improved; without them, troubleshooting is "much, much, much harder".Separation of Concerns: The Secretary provides the data and analysis but should not "own the fix"—blaming the person who brings the data is a common corporate failure.Checking the Sting: Leadership must manage their own emotional response when systemic data does not conform to their expectations.Sequence and Factual Integrity: Records like logbooks hold weight because they are kept in a sequence and recorded at the time of the event, preserving integrity.Future-Proofing: The data we choose to collect today is exactly what future versions of ourselves will be forced to focus on; choosing the wrong data fails to enable our future.Reflection Question: Are you currently collecting the "wrong data" just because it’s easy, or are you collecting the specific data that your future self will need to solve your organization's biggest problems?  Thanks to our monthly supporters Tim Dedman Jorge ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    7 min

  5. 6D AGO

    The Secretary Series: The Relational Level (Collective Memory)

    In this episode, we explore the Secretary as the custodian of a group's shared history, highlighting the power of selective recording and the importance of acknowledging individual contributions within the collective record. High-Value Quotables [00:00] "The secretary in a relational level is the person who's going to be working to create that collective record, that mutual understanding of what's important and worth committing to the collective memory of the organization." [01:52] "The memory keeper role is the person who's carrying that collective understanding of the past culture." [03:30] "Note everyone's contributions as they are relevant to the overall objective... try and note everyone's individual nuanced understanding of how they can influence the organization." [04:23] "If somebody provided a valuable contribution and you called them up by name... they will perk up for listens and mentions of their name in future meeting minutes." The Core Concept: The Custodian of Past Culture While the Guide looks toward the future, the Secretary carries the collective understanding of the past. In a relational context, this role is an editorial one—deciding what strife to omit for the sake of outcomes and what hostile interactions must be recorded to protect the organization's integrity. Key Takeaways: The Editorial Process: A Secretary must decide what is worth committing to memory, sometimes ignoring minor strife to focus on achieved outcomes.Recording Hostility: Consistently hostile behavior should be part of the record to help the group determine if an individual remains appropriate for the "loop".Guidance for the Function: Leadership should set clear intentions for what a "good job" looks like for the Secretary before the recording begins.The Power of Names: Including specific names and individual contributions in the minutes transforms a "boring" administrative task into a tool for meaningful engagement and validation.Projecting the Future: By correctly encapsulating history, the Secretary provides the data needed to project future cultural variations and changes.Reflection Question: How would the engagement in your organization change if the "boring" minutes specifically celebrated the unique strengths each member brought to the table? Thanks to our monthly supporters Tim Dedman Jorge ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    7 min

  6. FEB 10

    The Secretary Series: The Behavioral Level (Patterns and Repetitions)

    This episode focuses on how the Secretary function allows us to analyze our own behavior by identifying the repeating patterns and historical context within our personal records.  High-Value Quotables [00:22] "When we're recording honestly, we can start to look across the things we have learned or the experiences we've had and articulate patterns and repetitions." [01:39] "The memories that you have, regardless of how much you've tried to cultivate them in a open and honest way or in a factual way, are always going to be, uh, imperfect. They are recorded by a mind, the mind of the time." [02:26] "The emotional content that accompanies those memories that you recorded when you were a child... very likely is something that, uh, sort of no longer meaningfully applies." [05:00] "You begin the process of being able to create useful data for future versions of you that need this kind of support." The Core Concept: Analyzing the "Mind of the Time" Behaviorally, the Secretary provides the data necessary to recognize recurring patterns in our lives. It requires us to understand that our memories are "imperfect" because they were encoded by the "mind of the time"—often a younger, less experienced version of ourselves. By stripping away old emotional content and rationalizations, we can reprocess these memories into useful data for our future selves.  Key Takeaways: Identifying Repetitions: Honest recording is the first step toward analyzing behaviors and articulating where you are repeating the same lessons. The Child Secretary: Recognizing that a memory from childhood was encoded with the limited capacity and insights of a child, meaning the associated emotional "sting" may no longer be relevant. Stripping the Narrative: To solve a current problem, work backwards to strip off unnecessary ego perspectives and rationalizations. Useful Data for the Future: By separating "what happened" from "what I felt," you create a reliable database for future decision-making. Reflection Question: If you looked at your life's "minutes" today, what behavioral patterns would you see repeating over the last five years? Thanks to our monthly supporters Tim Dedman Jorge ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    7 min

  7. FEB 9

    The Secretary Series: The Recorder of Memory

    This episode kicks off a focus on the Secretary role, reframing it from a purely administrative job to a deep psychological function: the ability to process experience by separating factual data from emotional charge. High-Value Quotables [01:12] "When you take the role of secretary, one of the things that you promise to do is to keep an accurate recording of the proceeds of a meeting... only those things that were fit to be recorded for posterity's sake." [01:41] "We're really talking about the ability to retain and recall information that is appropriate and useful and free of the emotional language that oftentimes comes with our own memories." [02:05] "The secretary is the recorder of memory... This is also a role that you're going to want to step into on a regular basis when you are trying to diagnose and troubleshoot something that may be going on in your world." [04:14] "Across the broad swath of your memories and your recollections... they are very likely recorded both with factual content, as you saw it at the time, as well as with emotional content, which you're going to benefit from removing." The Core Concept: Working with the "Inner Secretary" The Secretary function represents our ability to record "what actually happened" in a way that remains useful for the future. By viewing the Secretary as a "recorder of memory," we can learn to strip away the "emotional content" that often distorts our past, allowing us to see facts clearly and troubleshoot our lives with greater objectivity. Key Takeaways: Posterity and Fitness: The Secretary doesn't record everything; they record what is "fit to be recorded" for the sake of future use.Separating Facts from Feelings: Memories are often encoded in a high emotional state (frustration, agitation), which makes recalling the event trigger that same emotion.Troubleshooting the Past: By taking the emotional "charge" off of an event, you stop interpreting history through a lens of anger or helplessness.Fertile Territory: Working with your "inner secretary" is one of the best ways to navigate problems in your own mind or within a room.Reflection Question: If you stripped the "emotional charge" away from your most frustrating recent memory, what facts would remain on the page?  Thanks to our monthly supporters Tim Dedman Jorge ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    7 min

  8. FEB 6

    The Guide Series Episode 5: Reflections on the Guide Process

    In the final installment of the Guide series, we move from systemic theory to personal experience, illustrating the profound impact of effective mentorship and the pitfalls of failing to adapt to a candidate's needs. High-Value Quotables [00:15] "I love helping to cultivate and craft that experience for the man that helps them grab on and get involved and get engaged." [01:22] "Man, I felt like I had just won the Superbowl when he was able to execute that opening charge and... go sit down with the comfort and confidence that he was able to rise to that occasion." [01:55] "I've had folks, you know, try to tell me what to do, which is quite a bit different than being guided." [05:23] "I would recommend you take a moment and express your gratitude to those brethren... because you don't know, you really don't know if they know how much they helped you along the way." The Core Concept: The Reward of Cultivating Others Refining the guide process is about more than ritual; it is about the "nurturing and encouragement" that comes from helping a brother find the path that is right for them. When done well, the guide feels a deep, vicarious success—like "winning the Superbowl"—when a mentee gains the confidence to execute their duties. Key Takeaways: Cultivation vs. Command: Guidance is about crafting an experience that helps a man "come alive," rather than simply telling them what to do.Adaptability in the Field: Effective guiding requires managing "cadence issues" and physical or mental limitations, as illustrated by the "janky boot" anecdote.Relational Strength: The relationship between the guide and the guided is a unique bond that has the potential to "stand a test of time".A Culture of Gratitude: Recognizing and thanking those who have provided "meaningful care" is vital, as they may not realize the extent of their impact.Systemic Legacy: The guide process is "super connected," linking the past efforts of masters to the future successes of new initiates.Reflection Question: Who in your life has guided you in a way that truly made you "come alive," and have you taken the time to tell them?  Thanks to our monthly supporters Tim Dedman Jorge ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    7 min
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Brian Mattocks
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    222
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Brian Mattocks
  • Show Website
    A Mason's Work

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