Cycles are natural law. Things tend to repeat themselves over time until the lesson is learned by the interested parties.
Take, for example, people who get stuck in a relationship. Break up, get back together, break up, get back together. Until we realize what’s wrong, and modify behavior, the pattern continues.
Another example is eating. If something you eat makes you tired, then the same experience will happen again if you decide to eat it some other time. Until you decide you value the way you feel over the sensation you get from eating, you will experience the reality associated with what you decide to eat.
If we forget the lesson, it will present itself again.
Life is a series of events and therefore a series of lessons. We will always have more to improve on in whatever experiences we have. We’ll never reach perfection because it doesn’t exist. Growth is infinite.
As we learn new lessons we will be better equipped to conquer future events. The more lessons we learn, either through experience (which is the best teacher) or through someone else’s wisdom, the better we will perform in life’s experiences.
A good foundation to build on is manners or, equivalently, respect. When you start by having good character you allow others to teach what you may be missing by acknowledging that you don’t have all the answers. Other people have life experience that is an experience level somehow relative to your own. The other person could be a very talented partner, someone who does well in long term relationships, in which case you should probably take their advice on relationships. The same is true of someone with good business sense or athletic ability.
If you find yourself struggling with something, stuck in a cycle, then your best bet is to go to someone who has the level of experience necessary to get you to that next level. Take their advice and replicate what they tell you to do exactly. Make improvements to their process after you’ve mastered what they’ve told you, but not before.
You're always making improvements to your process and that's how life is a work in progress. Don’t forget to grow slowly. As you build yourself, it’s easy to get lost in the chaos of trying to change yourself completely overnight. The sustainable growth is slow. Move as quickly as you can. Help others around you while you do. Your greatest value is in what you provide to those around you. Pour into your cup first, and when it overflows pour that warm apple cider into your family then friends and everybody you meet.
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” - Pablo Picasso
We have one life. Start living the dream. The moment is always now.