Powerful! So often we get into these vicious cycles to avoid feelings we don’t want to feel. Sometimes I’ll intentionally pause and just feel the feeling. It doesn’t feel good obviously, but it sometimes helps me understand any deeper reasons behind negative cycles or patterns. The best part about getting into a virtuous cycle - love that term, never heard it before - is that it’s as self-reinforcing as the negative cycle. I’m definitely guilty of going to a party already feeling like an outsider, so that graphic definitely hit home. :)
Yes, exactly! Miraculous. Sometimes I do need extra support. I find exercising or somatic yoga helps to move stuck energy too, but it’s amazing how powerfully and quickly things change when you focus on energy first.
I came here to say the same thing! I think of that part of me as my inner child who wants to be heard and acknowledged. I talk about it in my 'feelings' post...and I love the step after feeling the ish..which is to meet our needs. <3
PS- Jen, love the sign language for crazy. Never thought of that. Makes sense.
Nice article, Very well written. The breaking of the vicious cycle to the virtuous cycle stats with "You" and most important is the positive thought. Positive thoughts translated to Positive Action produce Positive Outcomes
Wow! This is a great one Jen! I love the visuals! To me the visuals really make a difference on the flow of habits. It definitely let us see the cycle to break. 🙏❤️
Interesting that you start with a thought and lead to feelings. I often have a feeling, somewhere in my body and then have thoughts about what it might be about. 2am wake up, sense dread, think about something aweful, as an example
The devil is the details. Vicious cycles of thought started in childhood (“I really must be terrible for Dad to beat me like that.”) don't disappear overnight.
Breaking out of destructive cycles and starting virtuous ones is such a fantastic feeling. This is an excellent detailed walkthrough of why we get stuck and how to escape!
We are our feedback loop. Great message! As a student of organizational communication, I have always been intrigued by the concept of the feedback loop - either negative or positive-amplifying. The basic rules are no different from what takes place within the individual.
No AI was used in the writing and development of this essay. I typically write out my essays entirely on my own, then use AI to help me with editing.
For editing, I used Grammarly. For a thesaurus, I used Gemini. And for help structuring some individual sentences, I used ChatGPT.
While some people use AI for idea generation and writing, I do not because it shows. In my opinion, AI lacks a voice--and that's what really matters in writing.
I have that many cycles I could open a bike shop! On a daily basis I fight my addiction to smoking and avoiding at the moment ... And I know it all begins with a thought, a stress, an anxiety or simply, like the article says, boredom! Drinking was the same but actually got bored with hangovers, so stopped ... The anxiety of life is a cycle I can never dismount from tho! 👍
Powerful! So often we get into these vicious cycles to avoid feelings we don’t want to feel. Sometimes I’ll intentionally pause and just feel the feeling. It doesn’t feel good obviously, but it sometimes helps me understand any deeper reasons behind negative cycles or patterns. The best part about getting into a virtuous cycle - love that term, never heard it before - is that it’s as self-reinforcing as the negative cycle. I’m definitely guilty of going to a party already feeling like an outsider, so that graphic definitely hit home. :)
"just feel the feeling" I've been referring to (in my head) "lean into the feeling." My experience is that the feeling dissipates.
absolutely!
Yes, exactly! Miraculous. Sometimes I do need extra support. I find exercising or somatic yoga helps to move stuck energy too, but it’s amazing how powerfully and quickly things change when you focus on energy first.
I'll have to look into somatic yoga!
I came here to say the same thing! I think of that part of me as my inner child who wants to be heard and acknowledged. I talk about it in my 'feelings' post...and I love the step after feeling the ish..which is to meet our needs. <3
PS- Jen, love the sign language for crazy. Never thought of that. Makes sense.
Thank you! It randomly clicked for me the other day :)
Nice article, Very well written. The breaking of the vicious cycle to the virtuous cycle stats with "You" and most important is the positive thought. Positive thoughts translated to Positive Action produce Positive Outcomes
thank you!
Well said, Arvind.
Wow! This is a great one Jen! I love the visuals! To me the visuals really make a difference on the flow of habits. It definitely let us see the cycle to break. 🙏❤️
Thank you, Jamie! I just received your book the other day--thank you! Excited to delve in :)
Thanks! Redid it as a second edition so was slow to come! 🙏❤️
Bravo! Succinct and transparent description- EZ to grasp. Thanks for your explanation! PS Love the graphics.
Thank you, Dee! I appreciate you!
Likewise!
Interesting that you start with a thought and lead to feelings. I often have a feeling, somewhere in my body and then have thoughts about what it might be about. 2am wake up, sense dread, think about something aweful, as an example
perhaps a subconscious thought? From what I can tell, feelings do not arise without some sort of cogent stimulus.
The devil is the details. Vicious cycles of thought started in childhood (“I really must be terrible for Dad to beat me like that.”) don't disappear overnight.
You're right, they don't--it certainly takes work
As usual, brilliant. Thanks ❤️
Thank you, Susan!
Breaking out of destructive cycles and starting virtuous ones is such a fantastic feeling. This is an excellent detailed walkthrough of why we get stuck and how to escape!
Thank you, Graeme!
Great piece. I love the visual cycles as much as your PS.
Thank you so much, Heather! This means a lot!
We are our feedback loop. Great message! As a student of organizational communication, I have always been intrigued by the concept of the feedback loop - either negative or positive-amplifying. The basic rules are no different from what takes place within the individual.
Thank you, Jim! I appreciate you!
Lovely. Given the importance of thoughts in the various cycles, do you think CBT would be effective?
I haven't tried it! I'm curious to know!
Jen this is basically describing CBT which is understanding how thought-behavior-emotion impact each other and affect our response.
Jen/Joe-Kwame,
I wonder whether you consulted AI, when preparing this conclusive and easily understandable discourse?
Thank you, excellent!
Namasté, Joe-Kwame
Hey Joe-Kwame!
No AI was used in the writing and development of this essay. I typically write out my essays entirely on my own, then use AI to help me with editing.
For editing, I used Grammarly. For a thesaurus, I used Gemini. And for help structuring some individual sentences, I used ChatGPT.
While some people use AI for idea generation and writing, I do not because it shows. In my opinion, AI lacks a voice--and that's what really matters in writing.
I have that many cycles I could open a bike shop! On a daily basis I fight my addiction to smoking and avoiding at the moment ... And I know it all begins with a thought, a stress, an anxiety or simply, like the article says, boredom! Drinking was the same but actually got bored with hangovers, so stopped ... The anxiety of life is a cycle I can never dismount from tho! 👍
I know how you feel. When the pain of not doing something is greater than the pain of actually doing it, take action.
Kudos (again) for the excellent charts!
So clear and educational!
Thank you so much, Lynda!
Good damn it 😅
I needed to read somewhere like this today.
Keep it up
Thank you!
We must choose to believe that we are capable of adopting new beliefs, and we must practice accepting them.
♤♤♤♤This♤♤♤♤