What makes a successful recovering alcoholic pick up a drink after 90 days, or even 9 years of constant, comfortable sobriety? According to Michael J. Formica, MS, MA, EdM, successfully  abstaining from our addictive substances or behaviors for a time can make some of us overconfident. From there, relapse is never far behind. “The task before us is not just recovery, but conscious recovery,” he says.

Conscious recovery involves mindfulness, a kind of keeping-it-green mentality. It calls for a keen and constant awareness and acceptance of ourselves and our addictions. Mindfulness is all about being and staying in the present moment, whereas addictions represent our efforts to “avoid the present moment—or the anticipated moment, or the past moment or even ourselves.” The full article can be found here.