How do your characters react when they face a situation they don't know how to handle? Who do they turn to for advice and why? Is the advice good? If your characters don't know what to do initially, do they fall to pieces or are they determined to find a solution/do their duty no matter what? I find the latter type more interesting as they will respond to conflict and attempt to resolve it. Things simply won't just wash over them. And characters that try to resolve their own problems show determination, grit, stubbornness, all of which I find interesting traits to write about.
I like the American (I believe) saying that "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade". Do your characters do this? What about those characters who are irked by the positive thinking shown here? What stops them from dragging others to their level? Plenty of story ideas there!