Can we shift mindsets through shifts in language?
Both together and from within?
Episode #77 is hosted by philosopher Andrea Hiott and explores the concept of embracing paradox with Lisa Maroski, author of ‘Embracing Paradox, Evolving Language.’ Lisa’s book looks into how our language separates concepts, leading to binary thinking, and how questioning and reexamining these linguistic habits can foster a deeper understanding of interconnectedness.
Using the metaphor of the Mobius Strip (which you may remember from the episode with Parker Palmer) Lisa and Andrea discuss the importance of holding multiple truths simultaneously and the potential for transforming our worldview. They touch on various topics, including the influence of language on culture, the need for a new way of thinking to address global challenges, and the role of love and trust in fostering connection. The conversation encourages listeners to see beyond binary choices and embrace a more integrated, kaleidoscopic approach to understanding and caring for the world.
Find out more about Lisa’s book at:
www.lisamaroski.com
00:00 Introduction to Paradoxical Thinking
02:54 Welcome to Love and Philosophy
03:23 Exploring Language and Cognitive Boundaries
04:08 Introducing Lisa and Her Book
05:21 The Mobius Strip Metaphor
06:03 The Complexity of Language and Culture
26:20 Dynamic Processes and Biological Insights
28:48 The Existential Motivation for Change
32:15 Exploring New Ways of Being
33:54 Interconnectedness and Environmental Awareness
38:35 The Power of Questions
48:40 Learning from Different Perspectives
51:45 Language and Collective Change
58:27 Embracing Paradox and Wholeness
01:00:40 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
L.E. (Lisa) Maroski didn’t intend to become an editor, it just so happened that she was good at helping people say what they really wanted to say, not what they wrote. After years of doing that for others, she turned her trade on herself, publishing a novel, The One That Is Both, in 2006 and Embracing Paradox, Evolving Language in 2024. Both books derive from a deep desire for language to be able to “do more.” A third book that continues this theme is in development. Having studied philosophy and psychology but working in medical editing and writing, she considers herself a generalist, one who likes to make connections between ideas. An avid dancer, she balances mind with motion, lofty thoughts with high kicks. You might find her dancing tango somewhere…
summary of this week’s themes
rethinking language and perception
Language serves as more than a basic tool for communication; it also shapes our experiences and perceptions and arises like a path that we have been walking through our lives. Maroski illustrates the constraints of “either/or” thinking that language often reinforces (a narrowing of the path or of possible paths) urging us to consider a “both either/or and both/and ” approach instead. This perspective is explained here through the metaphor of a Mobius strip—a surface with seemingly opposite sides that are actually one continuous form. By recognizing this interconnectedness, we can start to perceive the world less in terms of rigid binaries and more in fluid, harmonious unities.
cultural matters
Maroski prompts us to consider how cultural paradigms shape our languages. English, a noun-heavy language, often leads to seeing the world as a collection of static entities rather than dynamic processes. In contrast, some cultures perceive life’s continuous changes, and language reflects this worldview through more verb-like structures. All tenses are important but what if we notice how we use them (and how that use shapes our potentials) differently? To evolve our language effectively, a shift in cultural mindset is needed. It’s about more than just inventing new vocabulary; it involves a broader change in our perception of interconnectedness and interdependence. Understanding we use nouns to understand that everything is a verb.
action paradox
Embracing paradox invites us to inhabit a space where we hold multiple truths simultaneously. This means recognizing the distinctions while also perceiving the unifying connections between them. Maroski emphasizes that language can evolve organically through awareness, questioning, and dialogue. By questioning our language and its underlying assumptions, we open ourselves to new ways of being and interacting with the world (and even with ourselves!).
languages are part of living systems
Language is not static but rather part of a living system that evolves alongside life. Maroski argues for a conscious engagement with language to catalyze change. Rather than forcing language to shift through prescriptive changes, real transformation emerges from collective exploration and dialogue. We can appreciate the multiplicity of perspectives that different cultures bring, embracing this constellation of potentials to enrich our collective narrative.
Lisa Maroski’s exploration of language through the lens of paradox offers a way to shift perspective and take note of the power we have just in the ways we speak. And the ways we are aware of our speaking.
By questioning the “either/or” dichotomy and adopting a “both either/or and both/and” mentality, we can tap into the boundless potential of language as a tool for deeper connection and understanding. This shift enhances our communication and enables us to navigate a complex world with more openness, curiosity, and care.
“The way our language separates these concepts as opposed to holding them together like a yin yang, has us pursuing things in like a wrong-headed way. Like trying to pick one side of a unity and argue that that side’s right, and then somebody else picks the other side of the unity and argues that that’s right. We get stuck in these arguments of either or….”
Andrea Hiott is a philosopher and educator, trained in neuroscience. Her pamphlet Embracing Paradox is available here and here.
This article and podcast is informational only and not meant as professional guidance or advice.
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