Staying Unfinished - Holding Tension Between Work and Result
Download MP3Advice often seems contradictory: focus on the work, but don’t ignore the results. This episode explores the paradox between process and outcome, using the Masonic lens of building a temple never truly complete. Through reflection and analogy, we consider how to balance patience with accountability—trusting the process without surrendering our responsibility for impact.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- The Craft teaches us to focus on process without becoming outcome-obsessed
- Results emerge in their own time, like seeds planted before harvest
- True balance lies in holding tension between patience and responsibility
💬 Featured Quotes
- 0:00:00 – “Something that comes up, particularly when you’re trying to figure things out, is that there seems to be a conflict between the different types of advice and guides you might get out there in the field.”
- 0:00:15 – “One of the notions we’ve discussed is to not be focused on the outcomes in terms of how you execute.”
- 0:00:30 – “That doesn’t mean to disregard your impact on the outcomes you’re creating.”
- 0:00:42 – “When you plant a seed, it’s important to understand that results come in their own time.”
🔗 Explore Related Episodes
- When Willpower Fails: Rethinking the Virtue of Struggle
— Challenges the belief that sheer effort guarantees results, echoing the need for patience and perspective. - The Ashlar and the Question of Growth
— Reflects on process, refinement, and the difference between effort and outcome. - Beyond the Apron: Living Freemasonry Outside the Lodge
— Explores how symbolic lessons of work and patience carry into everyday life.
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
