You know - the older I get the more I realize that this is the driving force behind almost every negative action I see.
I did not get enough personal evidence in my life until I was over 40 but since then I watch for it and see, and you are exactly right.
There is an old saying "You are what you hate" and that describes 'projection' perfectly.
I teach that to my children all the time- people are generally the exact same way they think others are.
This is why conservatives get nailed all the time I tend to trust everyone and think everyone has loving and caring thoughts and actions, and so when someone comes along and outright lies to me it generally shocks me, but it is usually from a liberal.
I used to own 14 apartment units, and any contractor I hired who said "dont worry, you can trust me" became a red flag that was usually a sure sign they were a lying thief.
The older I get, the more I see its simple wisdom and its unsaid advice and counsel.
You are absolutely right.
“I tend to trust everyone and think everyone has loving and caring thoughts and actions”
I always thought this was one of the things that sunk Bush. He was a Christian and really thought “the good will out”, turning the other cheek, etc.
By the time it really sunk in that the media and Dems really didn’t want to work with him, his legacy had been established by a hateful media. Remember him inviting Kennedy over to the WH to talk about education first thing? He got eaten for breakfast on that bill and then they never worked with him again, except to call him every mean name in the book.