Introduction I love a good paradox. In clinical practice, a session seldom goes by where I do not seize the opportunity to share a relevant one with a patient. Perhaps it’s their inherent rhetorical force in paradox. Maybe the power of paradox comes from their historical and cultural tradition. Eastern philosophy is full of paradoxes. You can find paradox in the Tao Te Ching. Paradoxes are abundant in Zen koans–riddle-like stories that provoke enlightening insights. Paradox flows through the study martial arts. Derivative guru characters in pop culture, like Yoda, often speak in paradox. The more ancient the tradition, it seems, the more riddled the culture is with paradoxical sayings (this is not a verified claim, but would be an interesting study!). Whatever the reason, I’m sold on using paradoxes as a tried-and-true delivery mechanism life-changing wisdom. What is a paradox? “A statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true.” Merriam-Webster The two aspects of paradox I’ll highlight are the following: First, paradoxes are counterintuitive at best, nonsensical …