Lets use the example of a person who is a people-pleaser to illustrate the Twelve Nidanas of dependent origination.
1. Ignorance (avijja): The person lacks understanding of the true nature of reality, including the impermanence and emptiness of phenomena. They may believe that their worth and happiness depend on pleasing others.
2. Mental formations (sankhara): Due to ignorance, the person has formed habitual patterns of prioritizing the needs and desires of others above their own needs and desires.
3. Consciousness (viññana): The persons consciousness is conditioned by these mental formations, making them prone to people-pleasing.
4. Name and form (nama-rupa): The persons body and mind (psychophysical constituents) manifest in a way that is susceptible to people-pleasing.
5. The six sense bases (salayatana): The persons sense organs (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and mind) interact with the external world.
6. Contact (phassa): The person encounters a situation or stimulus that triggers their need to please others, such as receiving positive feedback or praise from others.
7. Feeling (vedana): The person experiences a pleasant feeling when they please others, reinforcing their craving for others approval.
8. Craving (tanha): The person develops a strong desire to continue pleasing others to maintain their approval and avoid displeasure.
9. Clinging (upadana): The persons attachment to others opinions and approval intensifies, perpetuating the cycle of people-pleasing and creating a sense of self based on pleasing others.
10. Becoming (bhava): This clinging to people-pleasing reinforces the persons habitual patterns and karmic tendencies, perpetuating the cycle of people-pleasing.
11. Birth (jati): The persons people-pleasing becomes a central part of their identity and affects their thoughts, speech, and actions.
12. Old age and death (jara-marana): The persons people-pleasing can lead to physical, mental, and emotional suffering, perpetuating the cycle of people-pleasing and preventing them from developing their own sense of self and fulfillment.
This example illustrates how the basic problem of people-pleasing can arise and be reinforced through the Twelve Nidanas. By recognizing the interdependence of the Twelve Links, a person can become aware of their people-pleasing tendencies and work towards breaking the cycle, ultimately leading to greater self-awareness, personal growth, and freedom from the need for external validation.

How to break cycle at each point:

To break the cycle of people-pleasing at each point of the Twelve Nidanas of dependent origination:
1. Ignorance (avijja) - Cultivate an understanding of the true nature of reality, including the impermanence and interdependence of all phenomena, and develop healthy self-worth and self-acceptance.
2. Mental formations (sankhara) - Practice mindfulness and self-reflection to identify and transform habitual patterns of people-pleasing, and develop personal boundaries and assertiveness.
3. Consciousness (viññana) - Cultivate present moment awareness through mindfulness practices to become more attuned to the arising of the need to please others, and learn to respond from a place of inner wisdom rather than automatically reacting.
4. Name and form (nama-rupa) - Develop a healthy relationship with the body and mind, including acceptance of imperfections and appreciation for individuality, to become less concerned about external appearance and reputation.
5. The six sense bases (salayatana) - Balance the need for social connection and feedback from others with self-awareness and autonomy, and develop an inner compass for decision-making.
6. Contact (phassa) - Practice mindfulness of the social interactions and triggers that activate the need to please others, and learn to respond skillfully rather than automatically.
7. Feeling (vedana) - Recognize that positive feelings that arise from pleasing others may be temporary and not ultimately satisfying, and cultivate inner resources for well-being and happiness.
8. Craving (tanha) - Develop a more balanced and wise relationship with desire, recognizing that the need to please others is not a reliable source of happiness, and cultivate contentment and gratitude.
9. Clinging (upadana) - Cultivate non-attachment to the need for external validation and approval, and learn to listen to ones own inner voice for guidance and decision-making.
10. Becoming (bhava) - Develop a sense of self that is not defined solely by the need to please others, but instead by a sense of inner purpose and meaning, and cultivate inner resources for self-acceptance and self-compassion.
11. Birth (jati) - Cultivate a sense of self that is grounded in inner values and purpose, and learn to express oneself authentically rather than conforming to external expectations.
12. Old age and death (jara-marana) - Recognize that the need to please others can lead to suffering and that developing inwardly focused qualities like wisdom, generosity, and compassion can lead to greater happiness and fulfillment.