Stubbornness really doesn’t impress me, as it seems to be an abundant commodity; it seems that whenever you butt up against anything someone deeply identifies with, you invariably make them stubborn.
I’m impressed by someone who proactively engages with a problem, and does their best to solve it. Regardless of whether it fits within the parameters of their identity.
If I can do that, I can let the results (and consequently the universe, I think) speak for themselves. I can also become fluid and flexible, attaining that free-flowing harmony that’s hinted at in the core of philosophy, in the core of mysticism.
Ironically, I don’t have to even read the texts that describe this state in order to reach it; I can simply direct my full attention onto the problems in front of me.
Dirty Sci-Fi Buddha 
Some people stubbornly read other people’s blogs, even though they dare them not to! “Don’t read me or else”, they will proclaim, but the stubborn person defies logic and says, “I am doing so, just to spite you!” I double-dare you to write another blog, denying me the pleasure of reading that too, then your stubbornness kicks in again, and….
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Interesting! A convolution that never occurred to me, lol!
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Nearly every time i stop in to read your musings, i get smacked by some wisdom, and go away slightly mad. Thank you.
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Haha, relatable!
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Ha ha! You might have been exposed to too much everyday “sanity,” LOL!
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I think stubborness can be a major virtue if it means sticking to your own ideals. As long as you are willing to take an honest look In the mirror and realize when your ideals are no longer a benefit to you. Most often people are referred to as being stubborn when they will not bend to another’s point of view. which can also be called brave or strong. IMO
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It’s a tricky thing—if one is knowingly going into conflict to defend an ideal, then I believe it is fully dependent on—as you said—looking in the mirror. If one is simply taking up arms just because the ideals are something they identify with, then all you have to do is look at the downfall of the Spartans on Sphacteria island who decried the use of Athenian bowmen (apparently it wasn’t a “manly” way to fight) to see when mindlessly sticking to a set of ideals is the wrong way to go.
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Agreed, in that case I think it was their pride and ideal regarding “manliness” which was their downfall, not being stubborn necessarily. The motive behind the behavior is more important than the behavior in this case I think.
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I think now we’re getting into semantics, which is fine, but requires more exacting language. I’d still say it was their stubbornness. If their pride was centered around winning, then they would have aggressively researched battlefield advances and prepared and adjusted accordingly long before they’d been defeated..
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Stubbornness is a character trait, which is an individual’s choice. I don’t believe we “make” anyone anything. Now, Stubbornness does seem to appear when two individuals seem to have opposing view points, made different choices, or believe different things.
One of the wisest piece of advice I’ve ever heard is that, though we disagree, we should still respect one another.
It’s OK to feel differently. Disrespecting someone because of it isn’t.
That’s my thoughts.
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From what I’ve seen, it’s also a refusal to look inward and admit fault, even to oneself, because it might mean that fundamental change is necessary. A lot of folks seem to prefer to cling to their painstakingly built sand castles of ideals and beliefs, even when the tide is slowly coming in and washing them away.
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