Lets use the example of suppressing ones authentic self to illustrate the Twelve Nidanas of dependent origination.
1. Ignorance (avijja): The person lacks understanding of their true nature, including their unique qualities and inner experience.
2. Mental formations (sankhara): Due to ignorance, the person has formed habitual patterns of suppressing or denying their authentic self to fit in with societal norms or expectations.
3. Consciousness (viññana): The persons consciousness is conditioned by these mental formations, leading them to subconsciously dismiss aspects of their authentic self.
4. Name and form (nama-rupa): The persons body and mind (psychophysical constituents) manifest in a way that represses aspects of their authentic self.
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 situations or stimuli that trigger their authentic self-expression, but they resist it due to their mental formations.
7. Feeling (vedana): The person experiences unpleasant feelings as a result of suppressing their authentic self-expression.
8. Craving (tanha): The person develops a desire to fit in or be accepted by others at the expense of their authentic self.
9. Clinging (upadana): The persons attachment to social validation and acceptance deepens, perpetuating the cycle of self-suppression.
10. Becoming (bhava): This clinging to social validation reinforces the persons habitual patterns and karmic tendencies, leading to a further suppression of their authentic self.
11. Birth (jati): The persons authentic self-expression is effectively repressed, leading them to become a version of themselves that is not in alignment with their true nature.
12. Old age and death (jara-marana): Unaddressed self-suppression 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 arising and perpetuation of suppressing ones authentic self. By understanding the dependent origination of self-suppression and recognizing the interdependence of the Twelve Links, a person can work towards cultivating self-awareness and practicing self-expression that is in alignment with their true nature, leading to greater happiness and inner peace.

How to break cycle at each point:

To break the cycle of self-suppression, one can engage in the following practices at each point:

1. Ignorance (avijja): Take steps to increase self-awareness and develop a deeper understanding of ones true nature. Seek out new experiences and hobbies that challenge social norms and encourage authenticity.

2. Mental formations (sankhara): Practice mindfulness to recognize and challenge habitual patterns of self-suppression, and cultivate a mindset of self-acceptance and self-compassion.

3. Consciousness (vijnana): Begin to see the world and oneself outside the lens of prevalent social norms or perceived external expectations. Develop a non-judgmental awareness of ones internal experiences and the external reality.

4. Name and form (nama-rupa): Experiment with new forms of self-expression that align with ones true nature, challenging oneself to move beyond habitual patterns of self-suppression.

5. The six sense bases (salayatana): Engage in new or different experiences that challenge ones self-imposed limitations and ease into more authentic self-expressions, even though short lived at the start.

6. Contact (phassa): When encountering stimuli or situations that activate authentic self-expression, try to act on those impulses despite the mental formations that resist them.

7. Feeling (vedana): Be mindful of the feelings that arise when suppressing ones authentic self-expression, and seek support from friends, family, or a therapist to process these emotions.

8. Craving (tanha): Recognize when the desire for external validation or acceptance is overpowering the desire for self-expression, try to reframe such thoughts and understand the source of that craving, might reduce intensity.

9. Clinging (upadana): Commit to developing more authentic relationships and communities that support and encourage authentic self-expression, this step has to be mindful of the social circle that one desires to be a part of.

10. Becoming (bhava): Find the courage to continue to challenge self-suppression even if it makes others uncomfortable and embrace the journey to authenticity.

11. Birth (jati): Embrace ones authentic self-expression and begin to live in alignment with ones true nature.

12. Old age and death (jara-marana): By embracing authenticity, one reduces the physical, emotional, and mental suffering caused by self-suppression, living with more joy and fulfilment.