Walking on Eggshells

Have you ever had to “walk on eggshells” around someone? You know. The feeling you get when everything appears okay superficially, but there is something that is not being said. There is a sense of tension but you aren’t sure why because the feeling does not match the person’s actions or behaviours. This type of situation arises when matters that really need to be addressed are left unacknowledged and the emotions resulting from them are not being expressed properly, if at all. It is a very dangerous situation.

Emotion is a very powerful energy, which usually drives a change in behaviour. When emotional energy is expressed, it always results in an action which causes a change in emotional state.

When expressed properly, emotions provide the fuel that creates a shift towards what you want or need. Harnessing emotional energy can be very productive in manifesting what you want. It creates the link between a thought in your head and a physical outcome.

Unexpressed emotion is also very powerful, yet because it gets bottled up and pressurized, it can be very harmful. This type of situation is usually the result of not taking the necessary actions which would bring on the result you want in a situation. The engines are fired up and ready, but no one is going anywhere. Everyone involved knows this is the case whether they admit it or not. They even know the actions that are necessary, but no one is willing to take the step that is called for. They just add fuel to the fire by suppressing more emotion and building more tension.

This creates the incredibly uncomfortable feeling of “walking on eggshells.” Everyone feels as though one false move could cause an explosion. And because emotional energy is so powerful, that is exactly what is brewing. The charge between the people involved keeps growing and resentment builds. The energy becomes thick and palpable, such that even innocent bystanders can feel it.

This tension may get diffused a bit here and there. The participants often need to blow off a little steam, so they partake in passive aggressive behaviours. These actions, although seemingly benign, pack all the force of the full emotion that needs to be expressed. In doing this, one person may feel a bit of relief by offsetting the charge to another, however the full charge is still there between them, just waiting to depolarize.

Then, finally something ignites the fuse and the whole situation blows up! Actions taken and subsequent reactions can seem harsh and extreme to those on the outside, however, they only reflect the magnitude of the invisible charge that had grown insidiously inside. The participants themselves are even shocked by how it all erupts. It seems as though no action was taken to warrant such a response. Shocked participants may even think that they did not “do” anything, but the reality is that the polarity finally resolved and the energy returned to a net of zero.

Sound hazardous to your health and happiness? It is. If you feel yourself walking on eggshells, look for what is not being said or done. Pay attention to your role in the creation of the charge that is building. Something you are doing, or not doing, is adding fuel to the fire. Discussion of what really needs to be said is as critical as the proper expression of the underlying emotions. It all comes down to the fact that when a change needs to happen, it will. It is just a matter of how big a bang you want it to have!