Don’t Let Another Person’s Wrongdoing Become Your Suffering

Evening Reflection

This evening, I would like to share a reflection that became very clear to me through two simple experiences during my day.

Before lunchtime, I was riding my motorbike to pick up my children from school. As I waited at a red traffic light, everyone stopped as they should. Behind me was a Chinese couple on a motorcycle. Instead of waiting patiently, they gently pushed my motorbike forward to create enough space for themselves to pass on the right and make their turn.

For a brief moment, I felt unhappy because I knew their action was inconsiderate and against the traffic rules. Yet almost immediately, I became aware of what was happening inside my own mind.

I asked myself, “Why should another person’s mistake disturb my inner peace?”

The event itself lasted only a few seconds. If I continued carrying anger after it was over, the traffic incident would no longer be causing my suffering—my own attachment to it would.

So I let it go.

The second experience happened at my children’s school.

A mother was arguing with one of the security guards because she was not allowed to enter the school grounds while waiting for her child. I happened to be standing nearby and heard her speaking with great anger. She also shared that another student had bullied her child and forced her child to give money. As I listened, I noticed feelings of worry and anger beginning to arise within me toward the child who had bullied hers.

Again, I turned my attention inward.

I reminded myself that anger, revenge, and hatred already belonged to the people involved. If I allowed those emotions to enter my own heart, I would simply be carrying suffering that was never mine to begin with.

Their actions were theirs.

My mind was mine.

I chose peace.

Later in the evening, I came across a beautiful teaching from the Buddha, one that I had learned years ago during my Vipassana Meditation retreats:

“May I be happy and free from fear. May I be free from enmity, free from ill will, and free from suffering. May I maintain myself in happiness and peace.”

Reading these words reminded me of an important truth.

We often focus on sending loving-kindness to others, yet we sometimes forget to offer it to ourselves first.

If our own heart is filled with anger, resentment, or fear, what do we truly have to offer others?

Peace cannot be shared unless it first exists within us.

Loving-kindness begins in our own heart before it naturally flows toward our family, friends, strangers, and eventually all beings.

Today’s experiences reminded me that the world will always contain people who act carelessly, speak harshly, or behave unskillfully. We cannot control their actions.

But we can choose whether we allow their actions to become our suffering.

Protecting our inner peace is not weakness.

It is wisdom.

And perhaps one of the greatest acts of compassion is refusing to let another person’s unwholesome actions create unwholesome states within our own mind.


🌿 Reflection Question

Today, did I allow another person’s words or actions to take away my inner peace, or did I choose to let wisdom guide my response?


🌱 Today’s Practice

Whenever someone behaves unskillfully toward you, pause before reacting.

Take one slow, mindful breath and gently remind yourself:

“Their actions belong to them. My peace belongs to me.”

Then silently offer yourself loving-kindness:

“May I be happy. May I be free from fear. May I be free from ill will. May I remain peaceful.”


🙏 Blessing

May your heart remain peaceful even when the world around you is unsettled.

May you have the wisdom to release the burdens that do not belong to you.

May loving-kindness begin within your own heart and naturally flow to everyone you meet.

May you, your family, and all beings be free from fear, free from ill will, free from suffering, and abide in lasting peace and happiness.


— Raksmey Koy

Art of Inner Peace

www.artofinnerpeace.com


Continue Your Journey

If today’s reflection touched your heart, I invite you to explore my books on Amazon. Each one is written to inspire mindfulness, wisdom, and inner peace. Thank you for walking this journey with me.

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/raksmeykoy


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