Lets use the example of self-criticism to illustrate the Twelve Nidanas of dependent origination.
1. Ignorance (avijja): The person lacks understanding of the true nature of reality, including the nature of self and the causes of self-criticism.
2. Mental formations (sankhara): Due to ignorance, the person has formed habitual patterns of self-criticism, driven by an inaccurate, self-limiting view of themselves and their abilities.
3. Consciousness (viññana): The persons consciousness is conditioned by these mental formations, resulting in a constant internal dialog of self-doubt and self-criticism.
4. Name and form (nama-rupa): The persons mind and body manifest in a way that is susceptible to self-criticism, with their actions, behaviors, and perceived inadequacies all potential triggers.
5. The six sense bases (salayatana): The persons sense organs (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and mind) interact internally and with the external world.
6. Contact (phassa): The persons internal thoughts and perceptions make contact with negative self-talk or external feedback, triggering increased self-criticism.
7. Feeling (vedana): The person experiences an unpleasant feeling as a result of the contact with self-criticism or feedback, reinforcing their negative self-view.
8. Craving (tanha): The person develops a desire to escape or control the unpleasant feeling by engaging in more self-criticism or seeking external validation.
9. Clinging (upadana): The persons attachment to self-criticism and their negative self-view intensifies, perpetuating the cycle of negativity.
10. Becoming (bhava): The persons clinging to negativity reinforces their habitual patterns, making it more likely they will respond with self-criticism in similar situations in the future.
11. Birth (jati): The persons negative response to self-criticism manifests in the form of excessive self-doubt, anxiety, depression, or a cycle of self-improvement attempts that never seem to be enough.
12. Old age and death (jara-marana): Unaddressed self-criticism can lead to a lifetime of suffering, potentially leading to further cycles of negativity and self-doubt in future situations or even future lives.
In this example, we can see how the Twelve Nidanas apply to the arising and perpetuation of self-criticism. By understanding the dependent origination of self-criticism and recognizing the interdependence of the Twelve Links, a person can cultivate self-compassion, mindfulness, and work towards breaking the cycle of negativity, ultimately leading to greater peace and freedom from suffering.

How to break cycle at each point:

Certainly! Here are some ways to break the cycle at each point:

1. Ignorance (avijja): By developing wisdom through study and meditation, one can come to understand the nature of reality and the self, including impermanence and interdependence. This understanding can help to dispel ignorance and the inaccurate self-view that leads to self-criticism.

2. Mental formations (sankhara): Through mindfulness and insight practices, one can observe and transform habitual patterns of negative self-talk and cultivate positive, self-affirming mental formations.

3. Consciousness (viññana): By being mindful of negative self-talk and patterns of self-criticism, one can catch themselves in the act and consciously redirect the mind towards more positive modes of thinking.

4. Name and form (nama-rupa): Through practices that cultivate equanimity and detachment, one can reduce identification with negative self-talk, acknowledging that these perceptions are impermanent and not the true nature of the self.

5. The six sense bases (salayatana): By practicing restraint of the senses and mindful awareness of how sensory experiences interact with the mind, one can disengage from negative feedback and avoid triggering patterns of self-criticism.

6. Contact (phassa): By developing mindfulness and insight into the causes and conditions that lead to negative self-talk and feedback, one can reduce the impact of triggering situations and prevent further entanglement in the cycle.

7. Feeling (vedana): By practicing self-compassion and acknowledging the impermanent nature of all feelings, one can reduce reactivity to negative experiences and prevent the intensification of negative self-talk.

8. Craving (tanha): By acknowledging and accepting negative feelings without trying to grasp at or push them away, one can reduce the desire to escape or control them through excessive self-criticism.

9. Clinging (upadana): By cultivating an internal sense of worth and positivity, one can reduce attachment to negative self-perceptions and patterns of self-criticism.

10. Becoming (bhava): By redirecting habitual patterns of self-criticism towards positive, self-affirming behaviors, one can break the cycle of negativity and form new, positive habits.

11. Birth (jati): By acknowledging the impermanence of all phenomena, including negative self-perceptions, one can reduce identification with negative self-talk and prevent its manifestation in more concrete, enduring forms.

12. Old age and death (jara-marana): By addressing self-criticism at its root and breaking the cycle of negativity, one can reduce the likelihood of experiencing suffering in this or future lifetimes.