Hi Mariposita,

I used to feel this way a lot. In fact, it got so bad I actually got out of my car and started yelling at a complete stranger for being so rude. It took a while, but now I look at it as something very revealing. I was under a lot of stress and pressure at the time, and it really was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Perhaps there is another reason why you are reacting so strongly.

Sometimes I still mildly react when people that cut me off or make a rude comment. Mostly, it just doesn’t bother me much anymore. There are many ways to work on this. One suggestion I have is to label it something else. Is it really an injustice? When I think of the true definition of injustice, I don’t think of a stranger being extremely rude. Next, simply ask yourself, are they really treating you poorly or are you reacting poorly? You’ll never see him/her again and this is a small moment in time. A stranger really should have no power on how you feel about yourself. As @justfabulous said, it’s not about you.

All the best,
Shawn