I guess I've been feeling cynical about people lately, distrusting of others, and such, burned and continually disappointed by others. It can be easy for me to blame others for their shortfalls.
However, its not in my nature to be cynical about others. Being cynical itself IMO is a miserable existence, as I'm not really an introvert, I like to be with others.
Perhaps then, I need to be more understanding. I need to understand that culture largely influences people's thought processes and beliefs, that thus lead to actions. I also have to understand human nature, as in that we ourselves have our own instincts, and our minds (and feelings) can resist us in terms of what we'd really like to do. People also vary in terms of maturity. People, especially in individualistic cultures, are largely responsible for their own selves, and in the United States, there is not that much in terms of a safety net, so people have to be extra responsible for their own selves. Thus, they cannot give as much of their time or support as they would like to give, and they may not be able to be as thoughtful as they would like to be. Also, in America, there's not much incentive to be honest given that individualism and capitalism don't reward honesty, and honesty in fact may be a hindrance (for instance, when trying to get a job.) Plus, many people may not want to make others feel bad by being honest.
It thus also serves me well to not expect a lot from others, and just simply appreciate those who give more than would be minimally expected.
