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