1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,940 Welcome to Root Words. I'm Michelle Root and on this podcast we will embark on a journey 2 00:00:05,940 --> 00:00:10,940 of self-discovery while appreciating the complexities of language through etymology, 3 00:00:10,940 --> 00:00:16,780 the study of words. Each episode we will explore the origins of a specific word, how it can 4 00:00:16,780 --> 00:00:21,740 influence our spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional well-being. I want to help us 5 00:00:21,740 --> 00:00:26,940 dive into the intersections of language and life so we can contribute to a common understanding. 6 00:00:26,940 --> 00:00:33,140 Let's uncover the power of language together. One word at a time. This is Root Words. 7 00:00:46,020 --> 00:00:53,040 Welcome back to Root Words podcast. I'm your host Michelle Root and as always I'm so grateful 8 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:58,780 for you tuning in with me today. I really, really appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. The 9 00:00:58,780 --> 00:01:04,860 last episodes that I've created with you guys has really given me perspective into different 10 00:01:04,860 --> 00:01:11,260 perceptions of things, different understandings, ways I can improve my own consciousness and my 11 00:01:11,260 --> 00:01:17,420 own thought processes. It is a learning experience for me every episode. Even if I talk in circles 12 00:01:17,420 --> 00:01:23,460 sometimes that's okay. You know, this is not an organic setting where you talk about things that 13 00:01:23,460 --> 00:01:30,140 come naturally to you. So I'm so happy that me talking into this void has actually reached a few 14 00:01:30,140 --> 00:01:38,260 people. Each week as I prepare my episodes I find intentional connections to the words I choose to 15 00:01:38,260 --> 00:01:46,260 cover. I try to see if the word has influenced my life recently by doing comparisons between what 16 00:01:46,260 --> 00:01:52,860 I'm experiencing and witnessing and the word itself. That way I'm able to find the common thread 17 00:01:52,860 --> 00:01:59,260 and then tie it into the episode that I'm trying to create. Lately I feel like I have been hyper 18 00:01:59,260 --> 00:02:05,780 aware of the duality I seem to experience on a rather frequent basis. It can be in a profound 19 00:02:05,780 --> 00:02:11,900 moment or something as simple as looking up into the sky and observing the fluffiness of the clouds 20 00:02:11,900 --> 00:02:17,740 while in awe of its blue vastness while then wondering about the depths of the dark ocean and 21 00:02:17,740 --> 00:02:25,500 tandem. Both are blue. Both can seem fast and infinite, but only one can you draw breath from. 22 00:02:25,500 --> 00:02:33,500 The sky with its vastness, openness and ethereal qualities symbolizes freedom, aspiration and 23 00:02:33,500 --> 00:02:41,700 the infinite. In contrast the sea with its depth, fluidity and unpredictability represents 24 00:02:41,700 --> 00:02:48,620 misery, power and the unknown. This is often explored in literature, art and philosophy to 25 00:02:48,620 --> 00:02:54,220 reflect themes of duality, balance and the interconnectedness of opposing forces in nature 26 00:02:54,220 --> 00:03:00,540 and the human experience. So it's clear to me that while there are similarities between the 27 00:03:00,540 --> 00:03:07,220 sky and the ocean there are some vast and stark differences as well of course. Now I feel like 28 00:03:07,220 --> 00:03:12,700 I can hear what some of you are thinking. No shit Michelle, the ocean and the sky are two very 29 00:03:12,700 --> 00:03:20,300 different things. I use that easy comparison just as a way to show how with a bit of contrast between 30 00:03:20,300 --> 00:03:26,180 two different things you can always most of the time find a common thread between the two. Now 31 00:03:26,180 --> 00:03:31,340 when you're going through this bilateral thought process with a little help from Google of course, 32 00:03:31,340 --> 00:03:38,140 we can help to uncover the actual reasons why despite the ocean and the sky both being blue, 33 00:03:38,140 --> 00:03:45,260 they are that way for varying reasons. Based on an article from itrust.com, as sunlight travels 34 00:03:45,260 --> 00:03:50,220 through the atmosphere the blue and violet light waves are scattered in every direction. This 35 00:03:50,220 --> 00:03:55,300 phenomenon causes the blue light to reach our eyes from all regions of the sky resulting in an 36 00:03:55,300 --> 00:04:00,940 overall perception of a blue sky during the daylight hours. The scattered blue light dominates 37 00:04:00,940 --> 00:04:06,340 the sky overpowering the scattered light of other colors. This is what's known as the Raleigh 38 00:04:06,340 --> 00:04:13,780 Scatter. The ocean is blue because water absorbs red and green light. These comparing contrast 39 00:04:13,780 --> 00:04:20,420 moments have kind of proven to be a common theme of mine as my brain loves these liminal paradoxes 40 00:04:20,420 --> 00:04:27,860 from the difference between yin and yang or the comparison of night and day or the extreme between 41 00:04:27,860 --> 00:04:34,940 fire and ice. Having the ability to compare and contrast things really helps give meaning to both 42 00:04:34,940 --> 00:04:40,140 of the things you're comparing. While I was trapped in another one of my mental duality 43 00:04:40,140 --> 00:04:46,100 tangents, the statement from the cradle to the grave was brought into my awareness. The spectrum 44 00:04:46,100 --> 00:04:51,260 involved in this statement really put things into perspective as to how far the pendulum swings 45 00:04:51,260 --> 00:04:58,380 between birth and death. We are born into this realm, live the entirety of our whole lives, and then 46 00:04:58,380 --> 00:05:05,020 are faced with the inevitable end. It's a pretty self-explanatory comparison. Life and death yet 47 00:05:05,020 --> 00:05:11,060 stands to be one of the most profound liminal spaces we will ever experience during our time here on 48 00:05:11,060 --> 00:05:17,380 this earth. And had me reflecting on how in order to have awareness of these two contrasting realities, 49 00:05:17,380 --> 00:05:26,100 we must first have the understanding of today's word, dichotomy. As defined by dictionary.com, 50 00:05:26,100 --> 00:05:32,740 a dichotomy is a division into two mutually exclusive or opposed or contradictory groups. 51 00:05:32,740 --> 00:05:39,460 According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the earliest known use of the noun dichotomy is in 52 00:05:39,460 --> 00:05:46,780 the late 1500s. Oxford English Dictionary's earliest evidence for dichotomy is from 1588. In 53 00:05:46,780 --> 00:05:54,540 the writing of Abraham Frantz, who was a well-known poet and lawyer of the time. The word itself is 54 00:05:54,540 --> 00:06:01,620 rooted in multiple origins, borrowing both from the Greek and Latin languages. When pointing out a 55 00:06:01,620 --> 00:06:07,100 dichotomy, you help to draw a more clear distinction between the two things you're comparing. This 56 00:06:07,100 --> 00:06:12,740 helps draw focus to the importance of each aspect within these dualities and why the existence of 57 00:06:12,740 --> 00:06:18,180 each can sometimes depend on the other. For instance, tying back into our cradle to the grave 58 00:06:18,180 --> 00:06:23,540 moment, I don't believe you can hold on to the beauty of life without honoring the awareness of 59 00:06:23,540 --> 00:06:29,940 death. These polar opposites at first glance may not hold many similarities or direct connections, 60 00:06:29,940 --> 00:06:36,780 but they prove to be more interwoven than a lot of us realize. Being able to contrast the vibrance, 61 00:06:36,780 --> 00:06:43,060 pain, love, and wholeness of what it means to be alive against the backdrop of the unknown, cold 62 00:06:43,060 --> 00:06:49,940 vastness that is death allows us to appreciate each moment of our existence more fully. Another 63 00:06:49,940 --> 00:06:56,980 very prevalent dichotomy in our society is that of good and evil. It is a fundamental concept 64 00:06:56,980 --> 00:07:03,620 found in many philosophical, religious, and cultural traditions. It divides actions, intentions, or 65 00:07:03,620 --> 00:07:11,060 entities into two opposing moral categories, good and evil. Good is typically associated with virtues 66 00:07:11,060 --> 00:07:18,140 such as kindness, compassion, and altruism, while evil is associated with qualities like cruelty, 67 00:07:18,140 --> 00:07:25,060 selfishness, and malevolence. This dichotomy provides a framework for understanding morality and 68 00:07:25,060 --> 00:07:32,060 guiding ethical behavior. However, it's essential to recognize that the line between good and evil 69 00:07:32,060 --> 00:07:39,260 is often blurred, and individuals or actions may exhibit characteristics of both. Moreover, 70 00:07:39,260 --> 00:07:45,580 interpretations of good and evil can vary greatly depending on cultural, religious, and personal 71 00:07:45,580 --> 00:07:53,100 perspectives. A paper found on helpfulprofessor.com written by Sourab Yadav titled Ten Dichotomy 72 00:07:53,100 --> 00:07:58,820 Examples highlights that while dichotomies allow us to categorize and compare different things, 73 00:07:58,820 --> 00:08:05,620 they can often be overly simplistic and reductionist. They cannot capture the complexities of social 74 00:08:05,620 --> 00:08:11,340 reality and can sometimes be misleading. So while they serve as a significant tool of knowledge, 75 00:08:11,340 --> 00:08:17,500 it is necessary to understand their limitations. Something like the good and evil dichotomy, 76 00:08:17,500 --> 00:08:24,460 which is based on subjectivity, is a great example of this. Dichotomies can help in various aspects 77 00:08:24,460 --> 00:08:30,940 of life by providing clarity in decision making, understanding complexities, and managing conflicting 78 00:08:30,940 --> 00:08:38,060 ideas. For example, in personal growth, understanding the dichotomy between short-term gratification 79 00:08:38,060 --> 00:08:45,100 and long-term fulfillment can guide decisions toward more meaningful choices. Similarly, 80 00:08:45,100 --> 00:08:50,820 in relationships recognizing the dichotomy between compromise and self-respect can lead 81 00:08:50,820 --> 00:08:56,340 to healthier interactions overall. Embracing dichotomies can foster better understanding 82 00:08:56,340 --> 00:09:03,140 and balance in various life situations. In our lives, when learning from dichotomies, 83 00:09:03,140 --> 00:09:08,660 it's essential to approach them with an open mind and a willingness to explore both sides. 84 00:09:08,660 --> 00:09:15,700 Try to avoid rigid thinking and instead embrace the nuances and complexities within each dichotomy. 85 00:09:15,700 --> 00:09:20,900 Figure out how each side informs the other and how they interact in different contexts. 86 00:09:20,900 --> 00:09:25,900 Additionally, be mindful of the limitations of dichotomous thinking and recognize that 87 00:09:25,900 --> 00:09:32,500 reality often exists on a spectrum rather than in strict binaries. Finally, apply the 88 00:09:32,500 --> 00:09:37,780 insights gained from dichotomies to inform your decision making, problem solving, and 89 00:09:37,780 --> 00:09:42,940 understanding of the world around you. In order to encourage dichotomous thinking, here's 90 00:09:42,940 --> 00:09:48,620 some simple questions to ask yourself. Am I prioritizing short-term gratification or 91 00:09:48,620 --> 00:09:55,420 long-term fulfillment? Do I value conformity or individuality in my decisions? Am I motivated 92 00:09:55,420 --> 00:10:01,980 by fear or by passion in pursuing my goals? Do I approach challenges with a fixed mindset 93 00:10:01,980 --> 00:10:09,140 or growth mindset? And lastly, do I prioritize quality over quantity in my relationships and 94 00:10:09,140 --> 00:10:14,980 activities? Just to name a few. Answering these questions for yourself can help you 95 00:10:14,980 --> 00:10:20,340 understand how a dichotomous mindset can be applied to your thinking on a daily basis. 96 00:10:21,540 --> 00:10:27,780 To sum this all up, the lesson of dichotomy is that life is often characterized by the interplay 97 00:10:27,780 --> 00:10:34,260 of opposing forces and understanding this duality can lead to greater clarity, empathy, 98 00:10:34,260 --> 00:10:39,860 balance, and personal growth. I'll leave you today with a quote that states, 99 00:10:39,860 --> 00:10:45,780 the division between mind and matter is a false dichotomy created by our limited perspectives. 100 00:10:47,300 --> 00:10:53,860 There's so much power and knowledge, and the more we are able to be aware of our limitations 101 00:10:53,860 --> 00:11:00,740 and our abilities, the further we can go in life. Join me on the next episode where we discuss the 102 00:11:00,740 --> 00:11:06,020 ability to understand and share the feelings of another, fostering connections and compassion 103 00:11:06,020 --> 00:11:12,660 in the human experience through the word empathy. This poor word has been so oversaturated within 104 00:11:12,660 --> 00:11:18,180 our culture that I feel a lot of people have no idea truly what the word means. It's a bit 105 00:11:18,180 --> 00:11:24,580 different than compassion, so I felt I should do it some justice. If you would like to provide word 106 00:11:24,580 --> 00:11:32,260 suggestions to me, please reach out at rootwordspodcast.com. You can also reach me at the Facebook 107 00:11:32,260 --> 00:11:39,460 group, rootwordspodcast, also on Instagram as rootwordspodcast. I'm so interested in your 108 00:11:39,460 --> 00:11:44,900 feedback, your word suggestions, and just communicating with anybody that chooses to listen 109 00:11:44,900 --> 00:11:51,460 to my show, so please don't hesitate to reach out. I want to thank you so much for tuning in today. 110 00:11:51,460 --> 00:11:55,460 I'm your host Michelle Root, and this is Rootwords.