Observing Reality As It Is
The problem that most people have is that - they want reality to be what they want it to be, and not what it is. If an lion is standing before your eyes, it won't turn into a puppy; because that's what you want to see.
Take things for what they are, and deal with them in the most realistic fashion possible. Don't go around wishing that things change into what you'd like them to be. Rather, work with what you see, and make the most of it, and get the best you can out of it.
Sometimes, people will see a red flag in their friendships - but decide to turn a blind eye to it. Or they'll notice that a person is showing signs that he hates them, but assume that is not the case; because they probably like these people. You shouldn't deceive yourself - see reality for what it is.
If someone has done something bad to you, don't assume that it was a mistake or that it wasn't intentional - because the fact is that he has done something bad to you. See it for what it is, and become more watchful of this person, rather that go against the facts; and the reality that you see.
So many times, before people finally hurt a person, they've shown many red flags to that person; but he chose not to see the red flags. Learn to observe the statistics and history of things - and see reality the way it is, and work with the facts that you see.