SMART Recovery Tool: Vital Absorbing Creative Interest (VACI)
Point 4: Living a Balanced Life
A Vital Absorbing Creative Interest, or VACI, can help bring back the simple pleasure of living a life free of substances and unhelpful behaviors. When we get overly involved in any one activity, be it helpful or not so helpful, we cut a lot out of our lives that we used to enjoy. Finding a balance can restore the fun and enjoyment that life has to offer. So how can we get back to those simple pleasures of life?
First take a look at the benefits list on your Cost-Benefit Analysis. What were some of the benefits you were getting from your unhelpful behavior or drug of choice before the costs became too high? Did you enjoy the buzz? Did you like being able to just check out for a bit? Did you like the taste? Maybe it was the social aspect? Each of these benefits is a key to finding a VACI.
Tips & Tools for Recovery that Works!
Vital Absorbing Creative Interest (VACI)
The Vital Absorbing Creative Interest (VACI) exercise is a SMART Recovery tool designed to help you think about new, healthful ways to find pleasure, fulfillment, or just simple contentment from activities that don’t rely on your substance or addictive behaviors of choice, and ultimately aim to replace them.