Undimmed - by Cecily Mak (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

When Cecily Mak decided to take a break from drinking, the most common response she got was "Oh, I didn't know you had a problem." A problem? She was not an addict, or even committing to sobriety. She had simply realized that alcohol helped her avoid difficult feelings--but that it dimmed the good parts of her life along with the bad. She wanted to live her life with clarity, not avoid it.

Many of us are taught to believe that escapist and addictive behaviors are fine as long as they are not "problems" or wholesale addictions. But this binary mindset robs us of a more present life and our ability to make changes before the behavior becomes an unshakeable habit. What you use to dim your life may not be a substance--it might even be something healthy, like exercise, food, or work. And every dimmer exists on a spectrum from use, to heavy use, to potential abuse or worse. It's not about what you do, but how and why you do it. While leaving her unwanted habits behind, Mak developed the Eight Awarenesses--a set of principles we can use for inspiration and guidance on the path to embodying a clear life. Each one serves as an invitation to explore a deeper understanding of ourselves and our choices, and the empowerment that comes with choosing to live a life undimmed.

Undimmed is an invitation to choose freedom from the habits that dim our lives and to embrace the full spectrum of experiences that life has to offer.

Review Quotes

"This book offers a promising pathway of self-liberation for many people trapped in the distressing and hazardous liminal space between occasional alcohol use and full-blown addiction, developed by one who has pioneered this road for herself."
--Gabor Maté M.D., New York Times bestselling author of The Myth of Normal

"A must-read for anyone ready to make big life changes. Cecily invites us to transform unhealthy patterns with clarity and compassionate self-discovery. Whether it's alcohol, drugs, or another escapist dimming habit, this book offers a practical guide for deepening self-awareness, agency, and freedom."
--Yung Pueblo, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lighter

About the Author