How do I deal with people's stupidity

[vsedriver]

But dealing with people who by no means hurt you or even want to but still make you literally shake with their silly features, behaviors, idiosyncrasies and basically their views and words you can’t help but find idiotic is another pair of shoes.

I used Mother Teresa’s method by looking at the person and telling myself, “here comes Jesus in that annoying form again”. Once I see Jesus in the person it takes away all the impatience and resentment. Really see Jesus in the other person. Know that he is there. You will find it very hard to treat Jesus badly or feel frustrated with him if you truly love him.

 

[guanophore]

But dealing with people who by no means hurt you or even want to but still make you literally shake with their silly features, behaviors, idiosyncrasies and basically their views and words you can’t help but find idiotic is another pair of shoes.

I find it helps me to imagine that each person is an embodiment of Christ, that it is He I may encounter with the annoying situation or person. His goal is to perfect us in patience, tolerance, and perseverance, not make our lives a bed of roses.

When I get irritated, if I thank God for the opportunity to deepen in His love, I find it takes the edge off.

And ps, don’t EVER pray for patience! God has already given you the gift of the Holy Spirit, which includes patience. Instead, thank Him for having already given you that gift, and to grow it within you. If you ask for patience, He will just provide more annoying circumstances in which you are likely to encounter the end of yours!

 

[Norseman82]

One reaction would be “Thank you for shaving some time off my stay in purgatory”…

Seriously, look for the humor in it, and do an eyeroll or laugh to yourself.

Also, enjoy this humorous movie clip:

 

[Just_Another_Sinner]

Look at forgiveness as a conditioning exorcise.

Just like working out we do not start out as marathon runners.

Padre Pio said to forgive the moment are can.

The first step to to train yourself to recognize a slip in your disposition.

For example is it a feeling, several feelings, a thought, a particular thought, both etc.

After that it is just training.

Like putting a penny in a swear jar you have to catch yourself and then condition an opposite response.

Personally I like repeating Christ’s message to myself “forgive them for they know not what they do”

You have to build new brain pathways from one area which is responsive emotionally to one which controls cognitively. It takes time and practice. Just like lifting weights but in this case its thoughts and feelings.

People are silly but we are all God’s kids.

Peace

 

[stupidisasstupiddoes]

There is something called the big 5 personality traits which is about the only scientifically verified measure of personality. Volatitlity is a sub-division of neutoticism. It’s likely you score highly here and frankly there’s not much you can do to change that. You can however learn to control it.

However, it really depends what you are getting angry about. Some people suggested pride and arrogance and that might explain some occasions. But there is right and wrong and sometimes it’s justified to express anger (Matthew 21). Sometimes anger is a legitimate shock tactic designed to make a complacent person see the error in their thinking. As humans we are prone to lazy thinking (rather the explicitly malicious thinking) but the laziness can enable other peoples malicious ideas to enter our own thoughts. This happens when people hear falsehoods enough times that they start to believe them (e.g. religion is the root of most wars). I’d say anger is an option to make a point, but it should be controlled anger and that is not licence to use it as the default option.