A paradox is a statement that apparently contradicts itself and might be true.

• “When we surrender our ‘freedom,’ we become truly free” (SA 81).

• The way up is down.

• To win, I had to surrender and admit defeat.

• I had to die to myself in order to live.

• Arrest and surrender in order to be set free.

• If we don’t give it away, we can’t keep it.

• Start taking the right actions toward others before it feels natural.

• Through powerlessness, I receive the power—and love—that come from above.

• This is a selfish, self-centered program of selfless self-giving.

• “We can laugh at those who think spirituality the way of weakness. Paradoxically, it is the way of strength” (AA 68).

• From weakness (adversity) comes strength.

• We forgive to be forgiven.

• We suffer to get well.

• We surrender to win.

• From darkness comes light.

• From dependence we found independence.

• “I was finally able to realize I could do without sex completely, and, paradoxically, that was when sex became clean and free and good” (RC 60).

• “The divine paradox of giving is finding your own reward” (12&12 109).

• “Step One showed us an amazing paradox: We found that we were totally unable to be rid of the alcohol obsession until we first admitted that we were powerless over it” (AA 107).