I’m feeling a little zen today.
You get what you put into the world - whether you want to think of this phrase as positive or negative, I really like the zen feeling of the statement. If I approach the world (or a situation) assuming there will be problems, I will likely see them and feel justified. On the other hand, if I approach a situation assuming that people are operating the best they can, I will overlook the same “negative” responses that might cause me to flinch. I even use this in the mundane setting of “information overload” - to get less email, send less email.
I couldn’t find an original source for the phrase, but it has certainly been taking up by a lot of people with variations. Some sound
[Photo from my own collection - Bryce Canyon, Utah]