Rule 6: Set your house in perfect order before you criticise the world.
READING TIME: 3 Minutes | Understanding the Interplay Between Individual Responsibility and Broader Change
READING TIME: 3 Minutes
Imagine a brisk morning. Picture yourself standing at the foot of your unmade bed, gazing at the pile of crumpled blankets.
This seemingly ordinary moment sparks a crucial realisation.
Jordan Peterson's Rule 6: "Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world," provides straightforward guidance.
The simple act of making your bed now takes on a profound symbolic meaning - it represents setting your life in order.
As a Freemason, we can draw parallels between Peterson's rule and our experiences in the lodge.
The ritualistic opening and closing ceremonies,
setting the lodge in perfect order before any work can commence,
closely mirror the process of making your bed.
These ceremonies underscore the significance of establishing a clean, orderly environment before tackling larger issues (the work of the lodge), reminding you that putting your house in order isn't merely about tidying a physical space, but it also encompasses organizing your life and mind.
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As Freemasons our progression through degrees, each stage marked by its own ceremony, emphasises the importance of putting our own 'temple' in order, shaping our personal growth before confronting the wider challenges of the world.
You recollect a speech from lodge that resonates powerfully with Peterson's rule:
"What appears praiseworthy in others, you should carefully imitate, and what appears defective in them, you should amend."
This saying, which stresses self-improvement and responsibility, prompts you to learn from others' virtues and actively correct your shortcomings.
In Freemasonry, rank is not a badge of superiority, but a reflection of personal growth, achievement, and responsibility.
The different ranks and their corresponding duties remind you that you must first organise your own 'house' before you can make a difference in the world around you.
As you ascend the ranks, your sphere of influence widens, echoing Peterson's advice to initiate change within your immediate sphere before tackling larger societal issues.
Both Peterson's rule and the principles of Freemasonry sow the seeds of personal responsibility, self-improvement, discipline, and authenticity.
They both endorse the concept of inciting change from within, an idea that becomes central to your worldview.
However, we must acknowledge that failing to set our house in order can lead to numerous pitfalls.
It's easy to observe people blaming leaders, be it at their workplace, local council, or within the lodge, for issues while their own houses remain in chaos.
Such behaviour, a prime illustration of Peterson's warning, can result in avoidance of personal responsibility, projection of personal issues onto others, and ultimately, ineffective solutions for broader problems.
Taking a step back, we should evaluate our own behaviour, acknowledging when we’ve fallen into this trap.
We must understand that if we neglect to address our own issues first, we might lack the practical skills or emotional maturity to effectively manage complex societal problems.
Peterson's words reverberate in our minds: "Set your house in perfect order." We realise that personal insight and self-awareness acquired through self-improvement are essential for formulating viable solutions for larger societal problems.
When driven by Peterson's rule and the teachings of Freemasonry, you start taking practical steps to set your house in order.
You begin with the basics:
Making your bed,
Cleaning your environment,
Breaking larger tasks into manageable steps,
Establishing daily routines
Prioritizing your responsibilities,
Regularly reflecting on personal growth and goals become central to your actions.
You continually seek self-improvement, maintain your emotional well-being, and cultivate discipline.
Your journey underscores the essence of Peterson’s Rule 6 and its parallels with Freemasonry. "Setting your house in perfect order" serves as a reminder that change starts from within and that personal growth takes precedence over societal change.
The allegory of the "house" or the "inner temple" highlights the significance of personal responsibility, self-improvement, and authenticity in shaping our world.
You come to understand that every action, even the seemingly simple act of making your bed, can be a significant step towards setting your life, your own 'house', in perfect order.
This journey illuminates the path for you, offering lessons about self-governance, discipline, and responsibility.
The realization you gain through this process ultimately empowers you to take control of your life, strive towards self-improvement, and make meaningful contributions to the world around you.