Trying to avoid over-generalizing, but I was thinking about something recently.
Perhaps something that marks someone becoming mature is that they are less likely to project how they feel about something as a value judgment about that thing. This idea resonates with me on a few levels.
For example, driving or riding a motorcycle. 99% of drivers are okay, but every now and then you get someone who is anxious and a little unpredictable behind the wheel and when something unexpected or outside of their control happens; they project their fear onto that person or object.
They believe, on some level, that the other party who has really done nothing to them is responsible for the way they feel about it. That there must be something fundamentally wrong with that person for causing them to feel that way.
I'm being a little liberal in my interpretation. But to me this ultimately showcases why energy isn't worth spending on managing other people's emotions. Because the solution is almost always going to result in you curbing your own freedom.
I have found this boundary can be blurred though and frequently, you need to pause and think when someone tries to lay down a rule in an attempt to control you. I have to admit, I struggle to find a good rule of thumb that applies well in figuring out this aspect at times.