Lets use the example of deflection to illustrate the Twelve Nidanas of dependent origination.
1. Ignorance (avijja): The person lacks understanding of the true nature of reality, including the interconnectedness of all phenomena and the root causes of their deflection.
2. Mental formations (sankhara): Due to ignorance, the person has formed habitual patterns of avoiding, deflecting, or denying uncomfortable or difficult emotions, situations or topics of conversation.
3. Consciousness (viññana): The persons consciousness is conditioned by these mental formations, making them prone to deflection in the face of challenging situations.
4. Name and form (nama-rupa): The persons body and mind manifest in a way that is susceptible to deflection, such as by becoming distracted or avoiding topics that bring up difficult emotions.
5. The six sense bases (salayatana): The persons sense organs interact with the external world.
6. Contact (phassa): The person encounters a situation or stimulus that triggers their deflection, such as a conversation about a difficult topic or an emotional trigger.
7. Feeling (vedana): The person experiences an uncomfortable or difficult feeling as a result of the contact with the trigger.
8. Craving (tanha): The person may crave comfort or relief from the uncomfortable feeling or may have a desire to protect the self-image.
9. Clinging (upadana): The persons attachment to their deflection intensifies, perpetuating the cycle of avoidance or denial.
10. Becoming (bhava): This clinging to deflection reinforces the persons habitual patterns and karmic tendencies.
11. Birth (jati): The person exhibits deflection behaviors, such as becoming distant or dismissive in conversations, which reinforce the cycle of mental formations and negative consequences.
12. Old age and death (jara-marana): Unaddressed deflection can lead to physical, mental, and emotional suffering, and perpetuate negative consequences in future situations or even future lives.
This example illustrates how the Twelve Nidanas apply to the cycle of deflection. By recognizing and understanding the interdependence of the Twelve Links, a person can cultivate self-awareness and work towards breaking the cycle of deflection, ultimately leading to greater emotional resilience and authenticity.

How to break cycle at each point:

To break the cycle of deflection, one can focus on developing self-awareness and integrating the following practices at each step:

1. Ignorance - Develop knowledge and understanding of the root causes of suffering, including the impact of deflection. Engage in study and reflection to cultivate wisdom and awareness.

2. Mental formations - Develop wholesome intentions and strive to act in accordance with them. Cultivate positive habits and break free from negative patterns through mindfulness and intentional effort.

3. Consciousness - Cultivate awareness of your thoughts and emotions, becoming attuned to the impact of deflection on your mental state.

4. Name and form - Practice embodiment, paying attention to the physical sensations that arise when confronting difficult emotions. Cultivate relaxation and grounding practices to reduce tension and stress.

5. The six sense bases - Develop mindfulness of sensory experiences, paying attention to what triggers deflection and working to stay present with whatever arises.

6. Contact - Engage compassionately with difficult emotions, meeting them with acceptance and understanding rather than deflection or avoidance.

7. Feeling - Cultivate equanimity in the face of difficult emotions, seeing them as an opportunity for growth and transformation.

8. Craving - Develop awareness of your attachments and aversions, working to accept and release them with compassion and mindfulness.

9. Clinging - Practice non-attachment, letting go of the desire to control and the habit of deflection.

10. Becoming - Cultivate self-awareness and make conscious choices that align with your values and intentions.

11. Birth - Stay present with difficult emotions and situations, cultivating courage and vulnerability rather than deflection or avoidance.

12. Old age and death - Develop resilience and strength through mindful engagement with adversity, using each difficulty as an opportunity for growth and transformation.

By following these practices, one can break the cycle of deflection and promote greater authenticity, self-awareness, and emotional well-being.