Loops & Spirals: The Discipline of Staying Human
The Real Question?
Hereâs the real question: How can loops and spirals actually help us in daily lifeâphysically, mentally, existentially, and maybe even before our morning coffee kicks in? Weâll break down what these patterns are, poke around under the hood, and (assuming you stick with us) give you practical ways to use themâwithout a PhD in geometry or philosophy required.
Letâs translate some jargon into plain English, so weâre all on the same page, and nobody has to pretend they remember high school math. (No judgment if you do, though ;)
The Problem
Nothing is good or bad on its own. How things are framed, used, and executed will determine if the outcomes are productive or non-productive. Loops and Spirals are no different; whether they help you thrive or just spin you out of alignment depends on how you use them. Like medicine and poison, itâs all about the dose and delivery. The real challenge? Figuring out how to wield these concepts effectively and efficiently, so they actually solve problems instead of causing you to chase your own tail.
When loops and spirals are not so... well... "productive", there are common sayings that get attached. If you have heard teams like âhe or she was stuck in a loop âor âthat was a downward spiral,â you know that the outcome was likely not desired. Great indicators if your loop or spiral is beyond management. You might notice I am avoiding saying 'good' and 'bad' winkđ winkđ.
What is a Loop?
A loop is a repeat that starts and ends at the exact same place. This is primarily related to circles; however, a loop can take any path as long as it starts and ends in the same place, like the infinity symbol. Technically, any closed geometric shape can be considered a loop.
â
Energy moves,
returning again.
Requiring consistency,
not novelty.
â
âA loop is a closed system of repetition where input eventually becomes output without net transformation.â
What is a Spiral
A spiral can be circular, preserving patterns as it changes position, meaning it has cycles that move away from its source. The pattern of a spiral follows the same geometric path, but its end is not its beginning.
A spiral is an open loop with memory expanding or contracting in a direction
â
Repeating but not returning
Each pass expanding, contracting,
evolving, remembering.
â
Why This Matters in Practice
Training is not linear.
Neither is mindfulness.
Neither is mastery.
We return.
We repeat.
We refine.
To understand how progress actually happens â and how it quietly stalls â we need to distinguish between loops and spirals.
This distinction has become central to my own training, teaching, and reflection.
How to use a loop?
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