Fixing the Wrong Thing: The First Trap of Transformation
Download MP3Before we can change, we often reach for what’s closest—not what’s deepest. In this episode, we explore the seductive logic of symptom management: why we lock the fridge when we're actually starving for something else.
It’s a cautionary reflection on the first trap in personal growth—solving the wrong problem—and a reminder that transformation begins not with control, but with courage to face the root cause.
🔑 Key Takeaways
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Surface solutions often mask deeper emotional drivers
- “Productive” efforts can be subtle forms of avoidance
- Real change starts by asking what pain your habits are trying to soothe
💬 Featured Quotes
“You’re going to think you’re solving one problem by undertaking a different activity—but you’re not.” [00:00:32]
“Locking up the food isn’t fixing overeating. It’s managing the symptom without knowing the cause.” [00:00:54]
“If we don’t understand some level of the root cause, we can’t get to the next level of fix.” [00:01:20]
“That dopamine hit you’re chasing? It’s not about the food. It’s about the feeling you’re avoiding.” [00:01:10]
🔗 Explore Related Episodes
- “The Cornerstone of Awareness”
A foundational reflection on why awareness is the first and hardest step in Masonic transformation. - “The Ashlar and the Question of Growth”
Examines how real progress means carving into ourselves, not rearranging the surface. - “The Gavel and the Temptation to Settle”
A reminder that discipline must be aimed at truth, not just comfort or performance.
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
