How to avoid negatively thinking About Strangers

Try to counter every negative thought with a positive one. So if I think someone is a piece of shit because they parked like an ass hole in the parking lot. I can challenge that thought by coming up with reasons for why they might have parked like that. It takes some creative effort.

Maybe that person parked like an asshole because they were running late.

Maybe they really had to use the bathroom and not a moment could be spared for correct parking.

Maybe their partner is going into labor?

Maybe they are a heart transplant surgeon and they are late for a surgery?

Maybe they are having a really bad day because their hamster, dog, and mother just died?

Maybe they are just an asshole and there is nothing I can do about it. No amount of mental energy spent wondering why they are the way they are is going to change the parking situation. They parked like an asshole, according to me. They have probably already moved on with their day. Clearly they don’t give a shit, look at how they parked. But here I am wasting precious mental energy and time worried about their parking. And now I’m upset. So I’ve allowed them to get in my head and affect my mood. Meanwhile they don’t even know who I am. Why would I let someone else so negatively affect my day. Fuck that. I’m not going to let it happen.

So it’s kind of all of that, every single time someone does something negative. It can be mentally taxing.