Why THIS Cycle Might Be the Life Hack You've Been Missing

Why THIS Cycle Might Be the Life Hack You've Been Missing

“The righteous falls seven times and rises again.” – Proverbs 24:16

Most people think starting over means failure. But that’s not true at all. Real life is less like a straight line and more like a circle—just like this simple diagram shows.

Implementation. Evaluation. Adjustment.

You’re not failing. You’re cycling.

Stuck? You Might Just Be Mid-Cycle

Have you ever set a new goal—whether it was health, prayer, career, or relationships—only to feel like you’re back at square one?

That feeling is discouraging.

But when we look at it through the lens of this process—implementation, evaluation, adjustment—we see it differently.

You're not starting over. You're growing. Repeating. Deepening.

It’s the same reason the Church gives us repeated liturgical cycles and why the Psalms return to the same cries of help and praise. Growth doesn’t always mean forward motion. It often means returning, refining, repeating.

The Science: Why Your Brain Likes This

Cognitive-behavioral therapy, one of the most effective psychological tools, uses a similar loop. You try a behavior (implementation), reflect on the results (evaluation), and then change course (adjustment). It’s how we form habits.

In fact, neuroscience shows the brain loves this kind of feedback loop—it’s called neuroplasticity. The more we practice this process, the more resilient and focused we become.

The Gospel Is a Cycle, Too

The Gospel isn’t just “one and done.” It’s a lifelong loop:

• We fall.

• We repent.

• We receive grace.

• We get up again.

That’s why Psalm 51 is prayed over and over. That’s why we confess weekly. That’s why Lent happens every year. Not because we failed—but because we’re still becoming.

Here’s What to Do This Week

1. Pick one area of your life where you feel stuck.

2. Ask: “Did I really fail—or am I just in the evaluation phase?”

3. Make one small adjustment.

4. Implement again—without shame.

Remember: You’re not starting over. You’re staying in the process. That’s where change actually happens.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." – Psalm 51:10

Your cycle is holy. Stay in it.