Why do we go back to old habits and forget the new ones we have worked so hard for?

Yes, it is a fact that human beings very often fall back into the behavior they worked so hard to change. Alcoholics go back to drinking, drug addicts go back to cocaine, heroine or crack, cigarette smokers take one puff and they are back smoking. In the case of addictions, it is well known that just one slip will get you back into addiction. This is why alcoholics can stop drinking for 20 years, if the take one drink, they are back into being an alcoholic.

In Arthur´s case, fortunately he wasn´t an addict, he simply was used to spending all his money. When he graduates, he believes he will make a lot of money and he starts spending his money at an alarming rate. He simply forgot what he had learned and went back to his old behavior. It happens to many of us. What is important is to recognize when that happens and either change your behavior or look for support from loved ones. As you well know from reading the book, Arthur became a very popular fellow in College and served as a mentor to five people during his career. They became his support structure specially Akilah who fell in love with him. Jonathan, his mentor, also stepped in and rescued him. This is why it is important for us to have a mentor and when we have one, to keep in touch with our mentor forever.