Surrender

"Surrender to win": This phrase is one of the so-called paradoxes in the Twelve Step Programs. Basically this phrase means that by admitting to yourself on a gut level that you are powerless over drugs or alcohol, you are now ready to get the help you need from the rest of the Steps of recovery. Saying it in another way, by surrendering to the fact (based on your drug or alcohol use history) that you cannot use over any substantial period of time without losing control of the amount you use or without suffering negative consequences, or both, the conflict is over and you can now be open to the help available by attending meetings, seeking help from other members, and learning how to work the Twelve Steps. If you still have any reservations in your mind that you can control your use of drugs or alcohol, then you will, in my experience, probably choose to use again, that is, you will not have surrendered to your powerlessness over these substances. This basic point is the stepping stone for success in Twelve Step based recovery.