We don’t know what others are thinking,
so rather than assume something negative,
let’s imagine something good.
When observing others’ behavior, it can be tempting to assign various motives to them, especially when we find their behavior questionable or even objectionable. But we shouldn’t judge others. Period.
And why are we even trying to figure out other peoples’ wandering thoughts? Isn’t this just indulging in our own wandering thoughts?
And why, when we’re imagining other’s thoughts, do we so often paint those thoughts as negative? Might it be that those negative thoughts are more a reflection of what’s in our own mind, rather than someone else’s? After all, we’re the ones who imagined the thoughts.
The next time we’re tempted to write the script for what another person is thinking, how about giving the person the benefit of the doubt. Let’s imagine something good! We’ll be happier, and so will others when we act toward them from our good thoughts.
Article originally appeared on a buddhist perspective (http://www.abuddhistperspective.org/).
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