Some people expect everyone to cater to their unnecessary demands- but you don’t have to walk on eggshells to accommodate them. Find out how to maneuver sensitive subjects without enabling entitled people.
There will be sensitive people everywhere you go- and some are so quick to react or overreact about something, you will be afraid to do what they react to. They control people and situations very successfully this way, so should you walk on eggshells just to shut them up? Join SpiritualBlossom to find out. Find out what walking on eggshells is and why we do it. Find out what it causes and how to stop walking on eggshells. Not everyone wants to watch a meltdown from a manipulative individual who doesn’t get their way, but there are methods to avoid their drama but not give in to them. Read in to find out how.
What is Walking on Eggshells?
“ The moment you allow yourself to walk on eggshells, there will be eggs at every turn.” – Mark Villareal
Walking on eggshells means being extremely careful about what you say or do. You stay on edge constantly around someone because their mood could switch at any second. The tiniest thing that upsets them can set them off and they will have an emotional explosion. Typically when you walk on egg shells around someone, they are manipulating you. You're not allowed to say and do what you prefer or they will punish you with their behavior.
Think of how delicate real egg shells are. They are very easy to break. When you're handling eggs, typically they are in some kind of an insulated or cushioned container to keep shock from cracking them. That's exactly what it feels like when you walk on egg shells around someone. You have to take extreme safeguards to avoid the emotional eruption. Psychologically, it can overtake you and make you so uncomfortable, you stay permanently anxious around the person. Crystals can help with that anxiety and you can read more here: The Best Stones for Anxiety
Why We Do It
“ People around whom you have to walk ion eggshells are not your people.”- Joji Caro Tipace
We walk on eggshells to avoid upsetting people. Sometimes we don’t want people to be sad or hurt, so we go out of our way to watch what we say and do. There is nothing wrong with avoiding people’s legitimate triggers. When we overcompensate and take it too far, we walk on eggshells. We might believe we are protecting people, and that’s why we do it.
We might also do it because we don’t want to watch people throw a fit when we do or say what they don’t like. This can be for ourselves or to keep the peace with other people. We all have that one family member who will only be happy if they have their own way. Giving in to them and not upsetting them might keep things quiet at the family gatherings. Our significant other might not want us to be friends with our ex and we might go out of our way to avoid talking about our ex or being around them so that we don't upset our partner. People who make you walk on eggshells can be toxic. Find out how toxic relationships happen here: Why Relationships That Are Toxic Happen
Little things we do to keep the peace can be good. When someone has complete control of us and our emotions because we're afraid of upsetting them, that is walking on eggshells and it's not a good thing at all. When we walk on eggshells, we pretend and are not genuine about our feelings. We do it anyway in these situations because we feel like it's the lesser of two evils. We feel like everyone is better off if we walk on eggshells. We would rather walk on eggshells than deal with the fights that happen if we don't.
What Walking on Eggshells Causes
“ When you’re walking on eggshells, remember the egg has already broken.”- YoHumanz.com
Walking on eggshells might be a choice that you make, but every action has a reaction. Whenever you walk on eggshells, certain things happen. It's true that people stay quiet and don't have an emotional eruption, but that's only temporary. You enable entitled behavior and you stay on edge emotionally. You give people complete control of you and the cycle of manipulation continues. Worst of all, other people learn to do it too.
People Shut Up-Temporarily
The goal of walking on eggshells is to keep people from having an emotional eruption in response to you. It accomplishes that. Unfortunately, it's only temporary until the next time you're around the person. Then it starts all over again. You only have peace temporarily and you have to constantly keep walking on eggshells to maintain it. Caring less about the demands of manipulative people can help. Find out how to care less here: I Couldn’t Care Less - When Caring Too Much Hurts
It Enables Entitled People
When you walk on eggshells, you give people exactly what they want and that enables their bad behavior. Some people won't change or learn to behave any better, but if you teach them that they can get by with the behavior with you, you're encouraging them to continue it. It's not your job to educate grown adults on how to behave, but if you enable bad behavior, what you teach them is that they can get what they want from you. You teach them that their behavior is alright and you teach them to keep it up.
It Puts You on Edge
Walking on eggshells puts you on edge emotionally and keeps you there. You become overly cautious and afraid to do whatever triggers bad behavior. It can be very difficult to concentrate on anything but keeping someone from having an emotional eruption. Staying in a constant state of anxiety around someone is not only bad for your health, raising your stress levels which makes your immunities drop, but it's also unfair. You don't deserve to be nervous and anxious just because someone wants you to be. Learning inner peace even in the middle of complete chaos can help you avoid that anxiety. Learn how here: Inner Calm in the Midst of Chaos
People Have Control of You
When you let someone dictate your behavior because you don't want them to react in a particular way, you give them complete control of you. Not only do they have control of your behavior, but they have control of your emotions as well. That's exactly what some people want. They keep your emotions in their control with their threats. You are not allowed to say or do things that you choose. Instead, you're only allowed to say and do what they want you to.
The Cycles Continue
Negative cycles of social interaction can be established effortlessly. Manipulative people seem to be experts at this. A behavioral cycle is a behavior or behaviors that are constant. They're typically bad behaviors that cause problems. They work in the benefit of the manipulative individual and they cause problems for you. These cycles can continue for a very long time if you let them. That is what people who want control of you prefer. Read about how each of the Zodiac Signs can behave in controlling ways and what to do about it here: The Zodiac Signs and Control
Other People Learn It
One of the unfortunate side effects of participating in the nasty cycle of walking on eggshells is that other people learn to do it too. Who is surrounding you that looks up to you? Your children, students, peers, and even friends might automatically imitate your behavior just because they like you. When you teach people that pacifying demanding people is the right thing to do, then they will do it too.
How to Stop Walking on Eggshells
“ If you ever find yourself walking on eggshells and contorting yourself into ill-fitting ensembles just to prove yourself in a relationship- run.”- Elaine Welteroth
When you decide that you're tired of walking on eggshells, you can stop at any time. There are a few simple things you can do to make sure that you never walk on eggshells again. Setting boundaries and flat out telling people that you will not accommodate them is the first step to stop walking on eggshells. If they insist on misbehaving, you can simply avoid them. One easy way to stop walking on eggshells is to say or do whatever you want, regardless of how they react. You could have open communication and talk to them about why their behavior is unacceptable. You can simply ignore them when they have a ridiculous reaction.
Say No
No one can control you unless you let them. When people start to have a meltdown because you did or said what you had every right to, you can look them in the eye and tell them their behavior is unacceptable. You can tell them that you are not going to let them control you, you are in the driver’s seat of your own life, and you make your own decisions. You don't have to come right out and say it if you don't want to. You can just refuse to do what they want. Other people might decide to, but you don't have to. Learn the power of saying no here: How to Say No: Reclaim Your Power
Avoid Them
It might seem like the easy way out, but if someone's behavior is so bad that it makes you nervous, you're allowed to stay away from them if you want to. If not being around them means you don't have to deal with them, that's a win for you. Rest assured they're going to behave that way around other people, so they're not going to miss out if they don't have you to torment. You don't owe it to anyone to be around them if their presence causes problems for you. Ever.
Say it Anyhow
The best way to stop walking on eggshells is to just say or do whatever someone has a meltdown over- no matter how they react. They will find out that they can’t control you, and at first, it’s going to be a huge mess. Some people retaliate and try to control other people’s reaction, getting them to gang up on you with them when you reject their attempts to control you. Eventually, they will get tired of it and push someone else around. People can’t control you if you don’t let them. Say yes to yourself and be in control of your own actions and words. Find out the power of saying yes here: The Magical Things That Happen When You Say Yes
Have a Talk
You may prefer to communicate openly with someone about how they affect you. Some manipulative people might pretend that you're being unfair and accusing them of something they didn't do. However, when they are called out, it makes it more difficult for them to get by with behavior. Let's face it, it's downright embarrassing to be called out sometimes. Some people's pride can't handle it. Openly expressing how someone's unfair behavior makes you feel might open their eyes if they don’t want to hurt you and make them stop. Even if it doesn't, they will take notice that you won't let them control you.
Ignore Them
The most fun option is to allow people to act out, misbehave, make fools of themselves and not even acknowledge it. People who seek to manipulate or get attention with bad behavior will lose their minds if you ignore them. They can act more outrageous and behave worse for a while. However, if you continue to ignore them there is absolutely nothing they can do about it. They won't have any choice but to go and bother someone else. You can also use protection spells. Find out more here: Protection Spell Magic 101- Psychic Self-Defense
Should They be Validated?
“ People want to be validated. It doesn’t mean you have to agree with them. It means you have to make them feel heard. And once you master that, everything changes.”- Anonymous.
Some people believe that everyone's feelings are valid, even if they are invalidating other people's feelings by being manipulative. Such people believe that having a conversation with manipulative people will get them to calm down and be fair. Is it possible that asking your manipulative person who wants you to walk on eggshells what they're upset about will help? Anything is possible, but you don't have to do it if you don't want to. It might be worth a try, though.
If you have tried everything else but having an open and honest conversation with this person it's possible that you have nothing to lose. The way to have a conversation is to ask them why they get upset by certain behaviors and what makes them feel better. Some people will respond well to that conversation. They might listen to you and be more tolerant of what they say upsets them in the future. You will have to decide if it's worth it to have this conversation.
Walking on eggshells is horrible. It consumes your mind, and keeps you anxious and on edge. It’s done to keep people from having an emotional eruption about something, but it gives them control of you. People who expect everyone to walk on eggshells can be manipulative individuals, but you don’t have to let them control you. Easy ways to stop walking on eggshells is to tell people you won’t do it, say and do what you want no matter how people behave, and ignoring their bad behavior is a big help.
If nothing else works, you can sit down and have a serious talk with your manipulative individual. Explaining how their reaction makes you feel can stop them in their tracks. If all else fails, you can ask them how they feel and validate those feelings. You don’t ever have to walk in eggshells again!
Would you like advice on how to deal with an especially manipulative person? Reach out for a reading any time any day.
About the Author: Lady Saoirse has studied magic and lore for most of her life but started walking her own Magical Path after being spiritually reborn in the desert. Today she is a High Priestess for The Temple of the Goddess, she is a psychic advisor and spiritual counselor, she shares her gifts as a Psychic and Content Writer for Mysticsense and SpiritualBlossom, and she writes for PaganPages.Org emag and Green Egg Magazine.
