I had the privilege of spending some time at my grandparents' a couple of months ago. They live on a kind of farm/ranch thing (it's not real big or commerical or anything, but they keep some cows) with a big pond and lots of pastures. I spent some time sitting by the pond, reflecting (man, was I good looking) and writing. As my mind wandered, I began to contemplate some of the common things that people do poorly. I asked myself the question, "What's wrong?". I just kind of let the words flow (you can kind of tell), and here's what came out:
Conflict
The majority of all minor conflicts (and some major ones) could be resolved if the parties involved would just forgive each other. Whatever the other person did was probably not meant to harm, and if it was, they were probably just being stupid and therefore aren't worth worrying about.
Argument
Argument is a GOOD thing. It is a useful tool for understanding the other side of an issue, as well as letting you in on how you really feel. Just make sure not to become too emotionally involved. Don't be stubborn, but don't back down until you're satisfied.
Stupidity
Be smart! Evaluate and re-evaluate. Draw conclusions, but be prepared to be wrong. Don't be stubborn; pride will make you stupid. Learn to learn well. Consume as much knowledge as you can. (Most of the good stuff involves reading.) Take everything with a grain of salt. Remember that truth is usually somewhere in the middle. Extreme is too extreme. Revolution needs not be extravagant. Don't do something without a reason; don't reason without doing something.
Selfishness
Humans are selfish beings. Even the "unselfish" things we do are driven by our personal desires. That said, we are capable of looking beyond ourselves. Use your wants to do good. We are able to help others in the same way that we are able to look to the future.
Near-sightedness
Look towards the future! Don't ignore the here-and-now, of course, but consider the effects of your actions. Not just the ones that directly affect you either; remember the impact you have on others and your environment, and never forget the ripples.
Emotions
Emotions help drive our minds. However, our emotions can also mislead us and make us irrational. Listen to your feelings, but remember that listening doesn't equate to obeying. Control yourself with reason, not emotion.
Dishonesty
Honesty is nearly always the best option. By hiding information or misleading others, you can cause people to make decisions based on poor foundations. Sometimes lying is the better choice, but be very sure of yourself before you venture into the realm of deception.
Oversensitivity
It is better to be open and honest than to protect people's feelings. You may hurt them, at first, but your truthfulness will usually be helpful in the long run. Be sure to question your motives, however- make sure your intent isn't malicious.
Need for Acceptance
Don't worry too much about what others think of you. Try to satisfy and not impede others, but don't make a bad choice to do so. Use others' opinions to better yourself, but don't get caught up in it all.
Discontentness and Lack of Ambition
Be happy with where you are. Don't moan about your situation. Don't just accept it if it's bad, however. Be okay with where you are in life, but always strive for better.
Inproductivity
Always try to create. Don't waste your limited time- use it to make something or improve something that will leave a positive impact on the world.
Sloth and Hyperactivity
Don't waste time; don't forget to rest. Find your perfect balance to make your life great.
Extremism
Both ends of any issue are probably wrong. The answer usually lies somewhere in the middle. If two ideas are avaliable, the best option is probably a combination. Balance is the key; greatness lies in moderation.
Lack of Awe
Life is beautiful. Look around, find beauty, appreciate what there is. Anything can be inspiring from the right perspective.
One-sidedness
Get perspective! You cannot fully understand an issue before you see it through other people's eyes.
Prejudice
Don't judge what you don't know, and always be ready to change your opinions. Don't judge for the wrong reason, either. Would you judge someone's intelligence by their name?
Correlations vs Causation
Things are not always as they appear. Question everything, just to be sure. Assume you're wrong until you're right. Sometimes coincidences are just that.
Some of this may be wrong; I haven't double checked, reviewed, rewritten, or criticized myself like I normally do. I just typed it straight from the page I wrote it on, so forgive me if I've missed something or if I've made a mistake.
