A stranger was feeling a whole lot of negative emotions from the perceived injustice that he saw, directed towards me.
"It is alright." I smiled, "Everyone is stressed, thank you."
Just a few seconds ago, an angry volunteer was demanding a goodie bag that she felt she was entitled to but was not given to her. Her tone and choice of words, were well not exactly pleasant. Her fellow volunteers were a little embarrassed at her verbal expression.
I smiled and gave her the bag.
The stranger saw the situation unfolding and perhaps felt that the tone from the volunteer could be much better. I am grateful for his empathy for me.
Anger, is like an infectious disease which turns one into a monster. If I had reacted in similar fashion to the anger from her then, I would have been 'infected' by the dark disease. I love myself and there is no need to subject myself to the sufferings of anger.
In the very moment, I felt a slight tingle of sadness for her. Volunteering may have brought happiness to her, but in the single moment of self-interest, happiness had left her. She had 'squandered' her 'emotional wealth' away and was ridden with 'emotional debt'. And the least I could do for her and myself is not to enhance the intensity of the negative emotions. I would want to keep my 'balance sheet' healthy.
Some may think I am a pushover. I guess it really depends on how you define pushover. If I allow her negativity to affect me then to me, I really allowed her to 'push me over' to the side of sufferings. I have a choice and I choose to not, allow her negativity to affect me and hopefully brings a little moment of respite from the negativity for her.
A frustrating morning at work but was grateful to her, the stranger for allowing me to feel a few moments of peace in the midst of the emotional chaos.
May all be well and happy.
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