When we leave behind the early stages of existence, we realise that there are situations that recur in our lives. In fact, there are experiences that have a cyclical nature.

There are biological cycles that mark life and health for everyone. The heartbeats, the breathing, the sleep-wake cycle, and the hunger and the cleansing cycles—these internal clocks begin ticking from conception and continue functioning from birth to the end of our days.

More than two millennia ago, Heraclitus spoke of the one constant being change, and that holds true for our bodies as well, since the body renews itself completely down to its last cell every seven years.

the cycles of life

From the smallest to the largest, in biological, geological, and astrophysical terms, the world seems to dance in cycles. The famous Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus, dating to the 9th century CE, states that everything is interconnected in this endless dance, where “as above, so below; as within, so without”.

And this principle manifests across the three great realms: the physical, the mental, and the spiritual. From cells to planets and the universe, everything is born, grows, matures, ages, and dies only to be reborn again.

Beyond human life, the cyclical nature is evident in the motions of the planets, the seasons, and even in solar activity. The sun’s magnetic field changes completely roughly every eleven years, exhibiting periods of minimum and maximum activity depending on its phase.

The Law of “Everything Passes”

Recognising the cyclical nature of life helps, firstly, to know that “everything will pass”, whether it is something good or bad, something we like or dislike. Secondly, it gives us the understanding that everything, absolutely everything, is governed by cycles.

We can observe the same in our relationships and in the events we experience: there are times when luck seems to smile on us, and others marked by problems and conflicts.

The upside of feeling off balance is that, immediately afterwards, we sharpen our tools to improve. We become agents of personal change, whether it involves bolstering our physical or emotional wellbeing, achieving greater calm, gaining more self-knowledge, improving our relationships, or becoming happier. Life is a dynamic process, and we cannot remain in the same place for long.

The Four Stages of Existence

According to Czech psychologist Stanislav Gróf, throughout existence we pass cyclically through four stages:
1. How wonderful it is in here (referencing conception and gestation).
2. It is very cramped in here, I no longer fit.
3. The birth process or transition.
4. How wonderful it is out here.

This final stage loops back to the first, because once we have settled into this vital moment, we return to “how wonderful it is in here”. 

Perhaps life is a winding path toward the summit and, indeed, on the ascent we often feel we are living the same pattern or pain. It does not mean we are trapped in a loop.

Sometimes it is necessary to repeat the same experience until we manage to integrate it. By understanding the cyclical nature of life, we accept that progress is rarely linear. In this way, we can forgive our mistakes and treat ourselves with more kindness, which in turn will also enable us to treat others better.

Disentangle Family Patterns

The first thing you should do is recognise the patterns that exist. What problem or limiting aspect do you see in yourself that was already in your father or mother, in your grandfather or grandmother (or in both)? Reconnect with and acknowledge those existing patterns.

-Name it and summarise in a single sentence: now that you have detected the limiting aspect present in your family, take a moment to name it and see how you can summarise it in one sentence.

-Feel whether you share that belief: what you want to resolve did not begin with you. What belief did the person or people from whom you inherited the pattern hold at its origin? Do you truly share this belief?

-Free yourself from inherited beliefs: in a short, affirmative sentence in the first person, how could you express the opposite of this belief? What would your life look like if it were based on this affirmation?