What image does the word ‘“stubborn”
bring to mind for you? For me, it used to be a toddler having a tantrum on the
floor of the supermarket, refusing to move and turning into a floppy
dead-weight when their parents try to hustle them out of there. The Oxford English Dictionary defines
‘stubborn’ as being persistent in doing something, or having dogged
determination not to change one’s attitude on something especially in spite of
good reasons to do so.
Stubbornness
has a bad rap. The stereotype of a stubborn personality has garnered a false
perception of negative characteristics that include the following: too much
ego, unwillingness to be wrong, hot-tempered, self-centered, fearful of the
unknown, controlling, overly competitive or defensive. The amount of strength and courage you exhibit in life
influences how content you feel.
If you can learn to cultivate your
passions alongside stubborn perseverance, you will positively impact our
ability succeed. Stubbornness
can hold too much of a negative connotation at times, but it can be an asset,
too. Here are some notable qualities about being stubborn:
Stubborn people feel very strongly their ideas-When you feel
strongly about an idea, it is fine to be stubborn and fight for it until the
end—even if it doesn’t work out. Mainly because your ideas are valid and your
voice is allowed to be, and should be, heard. Doing this can make those around
you know it’s okay to be stubborn too, and fight for the things they are
passionate about.
Just because a
stubborn person isn't easily swayed by opinions, or resists the path of
pleasing others, does not mean he or she is self-centered. It is good to be
able to have a stubborn side so you can stick to your true values without
allowing the opinions of others to move you.
Stubborn people inspire others-If something seems impossible, being
stubborn can mean you have a ‘never say quit’ attitude, and won’t until you
find a solution. So the impossible becomes achievable, and the merely difficult
is something you just laugh at. When they see your determination, and the
results it can bring, it will encourage them to greater things as well.
Following your heart
takes real determination because the path of the heart tends to be fueled by
intuition. It has the tendency to move towards the unconventional and can seem
irrational to other bystanders. Stubborn people move past all onlookers and
unbelievers. They stick to their guns because being stubborn allows detachment
from outside influences.
Stubborn people persevere-Stubborn people don’t
know the meaning of stop when it comes to solving a problem. This kind of
perseverance is what can see you overcoming hurdles and pushing on to success. Stubborn
people have fewer tendencies to give in or give up on their dreams. If you are
stubborn, you can use it to your advantage in all areas of your life. If
you go through a hard breakup, failed business plans, dream job or whatever it
is, you can be stubborn for yourself. It will be good for your well-being to
persevere through the rough patches of life and keep moving forward.
Don’t give in to the
overly critical types saying that you are too hard on yourself. As long as you
are in tune to your values and pursuits, you can go far. Just know that being
stubborn does not always mean you are completely rigid in your ways. It means
you know what you want, and where you stand. Stubborn people never settle
for less than what they want.
Stubborn people tend to be more decisive-Stubborn people know
what they want, and know which direction they want to go. This should make you
feel better about being stubborn sometimes because it means you have excellent
decision-making abilities, and are perhaps also able to make decisions faster
than others, which can be useful in today’s fast-changing business world. For
more passive personalities, this can come across in the wrong light. Stubborn
people can make the person feel like decisions are being forced on him or her,
but that is only the faulty choice of the passive.
A stubborn person is
not always strong-headed in their effort to control others, but in their
knowingness of what is better for them in the situation. Unless it’s an act to
hurt the other person, doing what you know is best for yourself isn’t a bad
thing. In fact, it can be a very healthy act. Everyone is blessed with a
very special gift of individuality. Stubborn people are not all controlling
because a person can choose to be controlled or not be controlled.
Stubborn people will not compromise their ethics-This hopefully will
not happen on a regular basis, but there may be times when you’re asked to do
something your uncomfortable with, or is on the verge of compromising your
morals. If this ever happens, by all means, be stubborn and stand your ground. Being
stubborn does not always mean you are close-minded. I know plenty of
stubborn people who open their ears to other perspectives. They just may choose
to not be swayed due to their own values, opinions or upbringings.
Whatever the case may
be, stubborn people have a mind of their own, which can be a valuable quality
in life. This life is our own, and being stubborn can be a very charming
quality because having the willingness to listen only to your heart creates a
particular magnetism. Deep down, people want to have the willpower to do
exactly what their hearts call for, and stubborn people tend to chase their
passions more wholeheartedly.
“I have always believed that hope is the stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting.” (Barack Obama)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“6
ways being stubborn is a good thing” By Rowena Nagy
·
“Stubbornness Is... A Good Thing? 5 Reasons Your 'Faulty' Quality Is
Actually Beneficial” by Susan Kocab
·
“What makes a person stubborn” by
·
“Why being ‘stubborn’ can be a good thing.” By Joanne Becker
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