Lets use the example of a person seeking approval to illustrate the Twelve Nidanas of dependent origination.
1. Ignorance (avijja): The person lacks understanding of the true nature of self and the impermanence of external circumstances and thus clings to the need for approval as a way of defining themselves.
2. Mental formations (sankhara): Due to ignorance, the person has formed habitual thought patterns of defining their self-worth through seeking approval from others.
3. Consciousness (viññana): The persons consciousness is conditioned by these mental formations, making them prone to focus on seeking approval in daily interactions.
4. Name and form (nama-rupa): The persons body and mind (psychophysical constituents) manifest in a way that is susceptible to seeking approval.
5. The six sense bases (salayatana): As the person interacts with others, they rely on their sense bases, in this case, their sense of hearing, to interpret the words of others.
6. Contact (phassa): The person engages in an interaction in which they feel they may obtain approval, creating a moment of contact.
7. Feeling (vedana): The person experiences a pleasant feeling as a result of receiving approval, reinforcing their desire to seek it.
8. Craving (tanha): The person develops a strong desire for continued approval, leading to a fear of rejection and framing their understanding of self-worth on this external approval.
9. Clinging (upadana): The persons attachment to seeking approval intensifies, leading to anxiety and ruminating over past interactions to ensure they continue to receive approval.
10. Becoming (bhava): This clinging to approval seeking reinforces the persons habitual patterns and karmic tendencies, leading to a preoccupation with finding approval in all interactions,
11. Birth (jati): The persons reliance on external approval manifests as a constant need to seek it, even if it is not necessary, and an inability to self-validate.
12. Old age and death (jara-marana): An unaddressed preoccupation with seeking approval can result in mental, emotional, or physical suffering, amplified by the impermanent nature of finding approval as a soothing balm for their deeper suffering.
This example illustrates the way the Twelve Nidanas apply to the arising and perpetuation of a need for external approval. By recognizing the interdependence of the Twelve Links, a person can recognize the impermanent nature of external approval, learn to self-validate and focus on inner peace rather than external validation from others.

How to break cycle at each point:

To break the cycle of seeking external approval at each point of the Twelve Nidanas of dependent origination, one could apply the following strategies:

1. Ignorance (avijja): By gaining a deeper understanding of the nature of the self and the impermanence of external factors, one can recognize the futility and impermanence of seeking external validation as a means of defining self-worth. Meditation and reflection can be helpful in cultivating this understanding.

2. Mental formations (sankhara): Once ignorance has been recognized, one can work to transform the habitual thought patterns of seeking external validation by developing new and healthier patterns. This involves practicing positive self-talk, activities that build self-confidence, and engaging in positive self-affirmations.

3. Consciousness (viññana): By cultivating mindfulness and awareness of the mindset and filters through which one perceives the world, one can begin to shift the focus away from external validation and towards internal validation. This involves practicing mindfulness meditation, focusing on the present moment, and becoming aware of how thoughts and emotions arise and pass away.

4. Name and form (nama-rupa): Through the practice of mindfulness, one can become more aware of how the body and mind manifest in ways that seek external validation. This awareness can help one to develop a sense of detachment from these patterns and instead focus on developing positive qualities like compassion and self-love.

5. The six sense bases (salayatana): By being more mindful of the way in which sensory experiences influence our thoughts and emotions, one can learn to adjust ones thinking and motivations. This involves being aware of how the sense bases operate and learning to recognize them when we experience them.

6. Contact (phassa): By being aware of the contacts that lead to seeking external validation, one can develop new patterns of thought and behavior that are more conducive to self-validation. One might choose to seek out positive affirmations from oneself or from others that are supportive and helpful instead of focusing on external validation.

7. Feeling (vedana): By developing a stronger internal sense of self-compassion, one can begin to experience internal validation instead of seeking external validation. This involves being more mindful of ones emotions and being supportive of oneself.

8. Craving (tanha): By increasing ones ability to find self-validation, one can lessen or even break the cycle of seeking external validation. This involves focusing on positive self-talk and affirmations that emphasize self-compassion and positive self-image.

9. Clinging (upadana): By detaching from the need for external validation, one can become less dependent on it, lessening the attachment, and reducing the fear and anxiety surrounding seeking external validation.

10. Becoming (bhava): By developing new patterns of thought and habit, one can break the cycle of seeking external validation and cultivate new karmic tendencies of self-validation.

11. Birth (jati): With less attachment to external validation, one can begin to view oneself as having inherent self-worth instead of seeking validation from external sources.

12. Old age and death (jara-marana): By cultivating healthy habits of self-validation, one can reduce or eliminate the mental, emotional, or physical suffering surrounding the need for external validation, leading to greater peace and fulfillment in life.