Dr. Kevin Polk

This is the beginnings of a matrix done by Danielle, one of my students. I jotted this down. (She erased it before I could take a picture.)

You can see the beginnings of the “stuck” loop on the left.

The smaller spirals are “stuck” and “Freedom.” The stuck spirals inward, while Freedom spirals out. Another one of my students (Dean) derived those little spirals. They’re cool.

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Be well,

Kevin

P.S. Remember that Toward is moving toward who and what’s important. Away is moving away from unwanted mental experiences (not wants) in the pictured matrix. The 24 hours and percentages you see are the beginnings of having people notice how much time has recently been spent moving Away and Toward.

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I’ve received several emails asking me about Toward and Away on the Matrix. My answer is always…

Toward = Toward stuff that you want like values (appetitives).

Away = Away from unwanted stuff like fear (aversives).

I referred to Toward and Away this way the very first time I drew the Matrix.

Why am I saying this? Because some people jump to the conclusion that it’s Toward and Away from values. As I said, this was never the case.

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Philip Seymour Hoffman has been in the news. So much so that I created a ‘matrix’ of the process of his final days.

This matrix was created on 200+ year old reclaimed pine. It came from a support beam that was partially rotted and had to be replaced.

For those not familiar with the matrix. The left, “Away” side refers to moving away from unwanted thoughts and feelings (bottom left). We all do away moves (upper left), but sometimes they get out of control resulting in being ‘stuck’ in a viscous loop. In Mr. Hoffman’s case, the loop resulted in death. Of course most of us don’t get to the “heroin” level of away moves.

The right, “Toward” side refers to moving toward who (and what’s) important. I read that Mr. Hoffman loved his children and loved acting (bottom right) and that he played and acted (upper right).

The matrix diagram (and ACT in general) is a way of helping people shift their point of view so they can notice this process and respond by choosing behaviors to increase valued living. By noticing both the sensory and mental consequences of the new behaviors, we can learn what works for valued living.

Noticing is often depicted as a circle in the middle of the matrix, but I got the feeling that Mr. Hoffman was not doing much noticing in his final days. Viscous loops reduce noticing.

[Note: Sometimes people ask how they can purchase one of these wooden matrixes. Some of them are given away to my family, friends and individual students. None are sold. Email me about individual training and you may end up with a custom made wooden matrix.]

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For many years I have done woodworking projects. Nothing major, just a few benches, tables and such. One day I was in the shop and a scrap piece of white pine looked like it was just perfect for drawing a matrix upon. It might not look like much in the picture, but in person it’s pretty cool. It has a hand-rubbed satin finish. I left the stain lines for that aged look. Yes, in the lower right it’s signed, dated and numbered (#1).

After completing #1 I remembered I had some 200+ year-old pieces of reclaimed beams from a house in Hallowell, Maine. The tops had rotted a bit, but most of the rest of the beam was good.

Piece of 200+ year old beam.

Inside the old beam.

Those familiar with woodworking will notice the wood is sitting on a band saw. That’s what I use to “slice” the beam into about a one-inch thick board. From there I remove the rot, sand it smooth, draw a matrix and then put some wipe on finish. Here are a few of them:

This one is called “3 Nail Holes.”

The back of this one is rough, so I named it “Splinters.”

This one has the most pumpkin color so far.

As best I can tell this wood is pine, and it’s very close to pumpkin in color.

I have made some more, including from a piece of Pennsylvania redwood. I included the four questions on this piece.

Pennsylvania redwood with 4 Questions

All of these pieces are easy to hold with a smooth, satin finish. I set them in my office where people can pick them up while talking about toward and away stuff.

None of these are for sale; I’m making them for family, colleagues and my private students. I date and sign each one on the back.

Obviously these projects are a bit labor intensive for most people, but there must be many other ways people can do “Arts and Crafts Matrixes.” Construction paper, scissors and paste come to mind for the younger crowd (the matrix is used in some classrooms), and there must be many more possible matrix projects.

I will post them as I get ideas.

Be well,

Kevin