by: Conrad L. Jones
Have you ever put water into a teapot to make tea before? Do you stop and think about what happens when you do? Like most of us, I'm sure you don't even give it a second thought, but let's examine it a bit.
First, you pour cold water into the teapot, cover it, turn on the stove, and leave. What happens next is interesting. As the water beings to heat, the molecules in it begin to move faster and faster until the water begins to boil.
Next the steam gradually builds and builds until it finds a weak spot in the teapot (the whistle) to escape. Once the opening is found, the pressure bursts from it, creating that noise that alerts you that it's time for tea.
What's fascinating about this to me is that this teapot can teach us a lesson or two about how pressure/frustration/stress builds and accumulates in our own lives.
What's even more deadly about this is that we often don't know how to release these pent-up emotions in ways that don't harm us or those we care about. So, let's examine this a bit more.
Lessons from a Teapot
First, there are often disturbing things that we deal with that instead of letting go, we dump into our teapot (the back-parts of our minds/heart). For example: working with someone who goes out of their way to either get you in trouble or sabotage you efforts. All day long, things that affect us negatively usually gets dumped into our sub-conscious teapot instead of being dealt with consciously and released.
Next, everything is usually fine until we're caught in some situation that lights a fire under us. Sometimes being under stressful conditions that act as a continuous heat source, often causes our hidden feelings/emotions to begin surfacing like water that boils in the teapot.
Lastly, when we've had all we can take and the pressure inside the teapot grows so much that it seeks an outlet, we blow. All the pent-up frustrations and emotions just push their way past our often rational mindset and find the release they craved. Unfortunately, if there is anyone caught in the way of this eruption, they will get burned.
I believe that like most people, you too often find yourself in state of hold-buildup-explode, so, here are a few things you can learn.
Teapot Training 101
Lesson #1 - Health Hazard - One of the most deadly things about stress is the damage it can have on your health. Just as the lime build-up accumulated from water sitting in the teapot begins to eat away at it from the inside, unreleased stress does the same to you.
Gradually, what was once a strong and reliable teapot, becomes a worn, broken metal can fit for the garbage heap. You can't allow this to take place inside you so you've got to learn to release stress properly.
Lesson #2 - Use Communication - Most of the times, we begin accumulating stress by not being upfront and clear with people we're dealing with, so we end up stuck with this negative energy. Whether with spouse, children, friends, co-workers etc, learn to be clear on your position concerning what you want done, or what can be expected of you. Let them know "this works for me" or "This can be done in this particular timeframe but without this" etc.
Lesson #3 - Turn The Heat Off - Sometimes we all find ourselves caught in situations that make our blood boil, but you must learn to either remove the heat source or remove yourself from it. Try not to stay in situations that keep increasing your pressure (literally & figuratively) and try often to seem other ways to deal with them.
Lesson #4 - Turn Off The Earth - Always remember that you need time for yourself. Take breaks from what you're doing; plan a relaxing vacation and take it; take a long drive with friends/family and talk out what's bothering you; sit in a hot bubble bath; do whatever is necessary to release your frustrations at days end. Try a much as possible not to carry yesterday's stress into tomorrow.