fear and perspective...

negative character traits are really a matter of personal geometry; jealousy, envy, distrust, anger, dishonesty, dereliction, violence, prejudice... all have to do with where you place yourself in relation to everyone and everything. 
many (probably most) of us place ourselves in these perspectives in reference to past experiences. where we place ourselves in relation to everyone and everything in the present is so often not a conscious choice, but rather a default, fear learned perspective based on past events that are not real now.
​awareness of this in the present moment allows us a better chance at seeing people, places and things without the distortion of old lenses.