Most people, no matter the language, can agree on one thing. Contradictions are bad. They’re red flags, cause bad communication, and the people that contradict themselves are usually seen as manipulative or they don’t know what they’re talking about.
But what if I was to say contradictions are actually wordplay?
What is wordplay? It’s something we all engage in at some point or another. Whether we know slang or speak in rhyme or use words with double meanings, we have fun with our respective language(s). Having said this, how could something such as contradictions possibly fall under such light-hearted fun?
Well, the truth about contradictions is that both statements are always true. Whether both statements are true because the person contradicting themselves believes both sentiments or because there will always be someone that believes the opposite of what is said, contradictions are not as contrary as one might think.
Personally, after understanding the concept of truth more, I started tackling contradictions. What I found was that a statement and its opposite were always true. Sometimes context is important for contradictions to be true and other times it was because truths could be acknowledged in both statements. Once I realized everything and therefore nothing is truth (check out my first blog post), I recognized there is no such thing as contradictions. There cannot be if everything and nothing is truth.
This in mind, I paid attention to everything I said. I listened to myself talking, hearing when I made a statement and then hearing as well the opposing statement I made hours later. Whether my discussion partner picks up on this or not, I can’t say, but my aim was never to confuse them. I just perceived the contradictions as correct through some vein of thought or another.
The reality is we all say contradictions. A lot of times people warn against forming relationships with someone who contradicts themselves as it can be manipulative. I would agree and further say it exposes a person for their internal conflict and confusion. For how they believe multiple realities to be occurring at the same time.
At the same time, I say contradictions can be enlightenment and to play in such a bath offers unlimited fun in stretching language in so many different ways. In understanding life is light and fun– not as serious as we can believe it to be. Life is a game meant to be played.
Yet it is also meant to be serious and contradictions can be weighty.
So, you see, I believe it is all in how we perceive and utilize contradictions. It can open up our worlds into possibilities we never knew. Or it can be a sign we should run. Or it can even be a sign we ourselves are incredibly confused. Who’s to say really? On some level, contradictions don’t exist at all.
As always, these are just my musings. See you next time,
Gupta