From Vicious to Virtuous Cycles
How small, intentional changes create momentum — and why healing often follows
by David Jonathan Romero (artist & psychologist)
“... healing will come through the creation of art, through transmuting all this pain into a book or a painting or a tarot spread or even a connection with a bird on a tree. The Magician can create any reality she wants, and she has all the tools at her disposal. If I tend lovingly and compassionately to my inner world, it will manifest in my outer world. Don’t stop journaling, looking, examining, knowing… and never stop making art. Creative expression will invoke virtuous cycles in my life.”
— Carmen Joy King
Most people who seek change aren’t broken — they’re just caught in a loop. Vicious cycles don’t announce themselves dramatically. They feel familiar, repetitive, and quietly exhausting. We know something isn’t working, yet the pattern keeps repeating. Virtuous cycles work the same way, only in the opposite direction. They begin with a small, intentional shift — one that creates just enough momentum for something new to emerge.
I recently reconnected with my friend Carmen Joy King over a tarot reading, when she told me I made a cameo in her new memoir, Don’t Yell At Her! The book is a funny, raw, and deeply moving account of an adventurous woman driving from Calgary to Baja California to participate in an Iboga ceremony—hoping to liberate herself from her addiction to men. I cried, laughed, and was genuinely surprised by how much I related to her story: her addiction, her bravery, her boldness, and her relentless search for answers. Her story resonated profoundly within my soul. And today, inspired by Carmen, I’ve adopted one of her mantras: “I am fierce and protected!”.
In her memoir, she writes about a time when we met at a party. Back then, I was in a phase of hardcore-straight-edge sobriety. I was that vegetarian who made sure everyone knew it, drank only tea, and was immersed in traditional medicine, astrology, Kabbalah, and numerology. During that period of my life, I spoke to her about virtuous cycles—how one thing leads to the next, and how small, intentional choices can begin to reinforce themselves. At the time, I was in the middle of a strict detox: no meat, no alcohol, no weed. That way of living lasted about six months. It was intense enough to leave an impression—especially because I’m a huge hedonist. Eventually, after cleansing my palate for half a year, I shared a sip of an exceptional Sancerre my friend Joe had been saving at her chalet in Montebello. And I had an epiphany: pleasure, moments, memories, and experiences are meant to be cherished, celebrated, and shared. But they must be enjoyed in such a way that they never lose their magic.
A vicious cycle keeps us repeating the same patterns, even when we want changes in our lives. A virtuous cycle, on the other hand, begins with a small but meaningful shift—one that generates just enough clarity, energy, or self-trust to support the next step.
Neurosyntergic Meditations are one way to initiate these virtuous cycles. The practice begins with simple self-observation, without judgment or forcing the body to be still. You’re invited to listen to your body—to move, stand, walk, stretch, dance, draw, or write. To breathe, and to stay present with whatever arises. Within this space, we gently invite you to attend to your thoughts and emotions in a way that feels contained and safe. Many people report reduced anxiety, clearer thinking, less repetition of old patterns, and an immediate sense of well-being after the practice.
We don’t meditate to heal.
We meditate to change.
And when we change, healing often follows.
Virtuous cycles don’t require perfection. They only require mindful embodiment. One small, conscious action at a time, they begin to spiral upward, carrying us out of old patterns and into new ways of being. If something in you is ready for that shift, this may be the beginning of your own virtuous cycle. In my work, I support people who feel caught in repetitive patterns and are ready to experiment with a different way of being — one that is more present, embodied, and alive. If you’re curious about what a virtuous cycle could look like in your own life, this may be a good place to begin.
If something in you is stirring as you read this—curiosity, resistance, recognition—that’s often where change begins. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to be willing to take one conscious step.
Let’s work together!
