A Mason's Work

The Apron and the Ego: Rewriting the Story of Who We Are


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Identity is less fixed than we imagine—it is the story we tell ourselves about who we are and who we want to be. In this episode, we explore the relationship between identity, ego, belief, and faith, and how Freemasonry challenges us to refine that story. Just as the apron marks a Mason’s work, so too does our self-story evolve as we discard what no longer serves us and embrace what calls us forward.


🔑 Key Takeaways

  • Identity is a constructed story, not an unchanging fact
  • Ego, belief, and faith shape that story but can also distort it
  • Growth requires rewriting the narrative, discarding unhelpful elements, and choosing alignment

💬 Featured Quotes

  • 0:00:00 – “Your identity as a person is not as fixed as you might think. It’s a story that you tell yourself about the way you are and the way you want to be in the world.”
  • 0:00:12 – “This identity that you have constructed… is all based on the story you tell yourself of who you are.”
  • 0:00:28 – “The more you understand that story, the better you understand that story, the more likely you are to be able to eliminate beliefs or behaviors… that you no longer need.”

🔗 Explore Related Episodes

  • The Point Within the Circle: Reconciling Expressed Identity and Lived Belief
    — On the tension between the story we tell and the behavior we live.
  • Cognitive Dissonance and the Work of the Craft
    — Examines the difficulty of aligning beliefs, identity, and action.
  • Beyond the Apron: Living Freemasonry Outside the Lodge
    — Explores how our symbolic garments shape the way we present ourselves in the world.

Creators & Guests

  • Brian Mattocks - Host
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    A Mason's WorkBy Brian Mattocks


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