Good intentions

There are different ways you can look at the world. And, of course, how you view the world will change your perception. I am a big fan of Hanlon’s razor:

Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity. — Robert J. Hanlon

Your life will be much happier if you assume that people are always acting with good intentions instead of assuming they are operating with bad intentions. Yes, sometimes you’re mistaken, but most often not.

What if they are out to get you?

pronoia (noun) – the delusional belief that other people are plotting your well-being, or saying nice things about you behind your back. — Brian Little

What if the world consists of great people that want you to succeed? You might say this is naive and that the world (or your social circle) doesn’t work like this, but is that the case? Is everybody out to get you and bring you down? And is this because they are all horrible people, or if everybody plots against you, could it be you?

Shape your environment

When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower. — Alexander den Heijer

Assuming you are not part of a highly toxic environment, why not create an environment that advocates pronoia? What would happen if you conspire people’s well-being behind their backs and lift them up? And when you start doing this, what will your environment look like over time?

Good intentions start with assuming them of others, and it continues by having good intentions with the people around you. That is how you can shape your environment into something you can grow and thrive.