The cycles of mistakes can be ugly and relentless in the life lessons they impart. The moment that we realize that true power of breaking the repetition, we shore up weaknesses inside of ourselves and foster strength. In order to treat the problem, one must first tackle the hardest part – staring it in the face.
You ever taken a moment and sat back and realized that a complete and utter disaster could have been avoided, along with the headaches and 99 miles of bad road? We are human though, yes? That means problems are going to arise, and as humans we are prone to impulsive behavior. Adopting a policy of always critically thinking situations through can go far in mitigating potential damages, and helping one keep their sanity.
Let me say this, while making mistakes is a natural part of life – repeating them foolishly is not.
Therefore, the first goal is to ask ourselves why we keep doing the things that are liable to harm us in the end. What needs do they satisfy? And what are the origins of these unsatisfied needs? Was there a trauma from childhood that seems to creep up consistently in how we act & react towards others? Some problems can be easily remedied, while others can only ever be modified around. Once we answer these questions, we will be able to recognize our weaknesses and avoid situations that cause us to exhibit them.
The next goal in breaking the cycle is to remove your emotions from your decision making process. Extreme anger, lust, greed etc. are ingredients that are not healthy in crafting positive outcomes, and often taint whatever would have been gained had those emotions not been present. Deciding to jump off a ledge just because someone made you angry, or hurt your feelings does not accomplish the mission. If you feel your emotions beginning to get the best of you, take a moment and just inhale. Analyze the various players on the field, and where potential traps might be – no sense in sending your own army to it’s doom.
The last goal is to ask how important are you to yourself? Do you feel as though you as a person are a temple worthy of being uplifted? Temples were meant to be a sacred place, not desecrated and desecration is what mistakes and their repercussions cause. If you truly feel as though your temple is worth defending and protecting, breaking the cycles of mistakes will become much easier to accomplish. With love, one can cease the cycle of repetitive suffering and claim from the mountain top that they have learned once and for all from their mistakes.