Sometimes people are victims of cycles of weakness, struggle, and contempt. In fact, I think most people experience these kinds of cycles in aspects of life. How do you identify and deal with these cycles of weakness?
I discussed this with a friend recently as we cited the ways language and actions have changed with regard to women. Many women when I was young were exposed to lots of derogatory language about women--this language definitely had an effect on women's confidence, ambition, and success. Some women due to a horrible diet of condescending, hurtful remarks did not achieve what they might have achieved if they faced supportive, positive remarks instead. Dehumanizing language passed down from one generation or one group to another is a cycle of weakness that has detrimental effects on people.
Other cycles of weakness could include actions passed down that include cheating, lawlessness, bigotry, ignorance, abuse, and more. Often when powerful people act in dehumanizing ways, you will find that they learned that behavior from their families. For example, Donald Trump comes from a long line of money-hungry users, abusers, and cheaters. His grandfather profited off of one of the first brothels in America during The Gold Rush and his dad abused public funds to pad his pockets. Trump came from a family with a cycle of weakness, and that cycle was a cycle of cheating.
To be successful, we have to recognize and unpack the cycles of weakness we've inherited. Often those cycles of weakness were not purposeful on behalf of the people who promoted that behavior, but instead a learned behavior that they simply replicated without thought. For example, as a child, I heard many racist statements--people made those statement without thought. Thanks to the efforts of Martin Luther King and The Civil Rights Movement, family members and others who used language like that changed their ways. They became more educated about racism and changed. That cycle ended in my midst when I was a young child.
It's important that we continually reflect on the cycles of language and actions we promote. Often my own children will redirect me if I repeat an action or words that have been proven to be harmful or hurtful. I don't act or speak to harm, but I may be unaware of promising changes in the culture though I try to stay up to date.
In life, cycles of weakness may be holding you back. Reflect on the cycles in your midst that positively lift you and your loved ones up as well as those that hold you back. Retire cycles that do no good and embrace those cycles that positively lead to good progress in your life. Onward.