No, You’re Not “Too Stubborn”

“Why are you currently so persistent?”

I do not remember what age I had been after i was initially known as persistent. However I remember how my grandmother would always quip, “You’ll add too much should you not improve your ways!” Like a youthful girl, I wasn’t easily swayed I understood things i believed and just what I needed. In typical first-born fashion, I’d huff and puff basically didn’t get my way.

However I only agreed to be a woman, still learning, still working out how you can decipher between true strength and inflexibility. My grandmother’s words were only spoken in jest with affection-nothing like later in existence, when I’d be known as a “stubborn woman” for remaining unyielding within my opinions. Soften your stance. Seek permission prior to making a disagreement. Stop being so persistent. The planet, I learned, preferred me like a people-pleaser, a minimum of that’s the way it appeared. And thus, when I had been within my early 20s, that’s just who I grew to become.

It is true that stubbornness isn’t usually a good factor. It may be dangerous if this turns up as narrow-mindedness or even the refusal to hear (or respect) others. Challenging ourselves and our opinions is a valuable part of learning, even if it feels uncomfortable. Whenever we argue to demonstrate a place, many occasions, we’re just stroking our egos.

“A person [may] seem to be persistent when really they’re exemplifying strength.”

We frequently act by doing this due to fear-we’re scared when we reconsider our views or shift things around very slightly, our entire foundation may crumble. Also it usually does. But crumbling could be essential for growth.

There’s a different type of “stubbornness” though, and it is really not stubbornness whatsoever. Steadfastness, tenacity, and the opportunity to dig one’s heels in around the problems that matter-these may all create a person seem to be persistent when really they’re exemplifying strength.

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“Stubborn is really frequently seen as an negative trait, also it can be when utilized in in a certain style,” writes Jo Becker, an impairment & Inclusion Specialist within the United kingdom. “It ultimately implies that someone won’t let on their ideas, beliefs, or grudges for quite a while. This is often quite annoying for many, but it’s really really effective. It demonstrates persistence, tenacity, perseverance when confronted with everything.”

This is where the stubbornness trope could be most dangerous, particularly when it stifles people’s voices or when one party has more power compared to other. Frequently, we’re forced into situations where we have to remain steadfast, because of ourselves varieties. It isn’t that we’re reluctant to alter, but instead that we are being bold our beliefs and values.

It required me many years to learn this. I went from as being a tenacious girl for an appeasing lady since i was told it had been better this way. I hid any kind of myself that made an appearance to become persistent-areas of me which i i can say that I inherited from my grandmother. Her quips from the time I had been more youthful were likely because she saw herself within me, or me in her own, a powerful-willed spirit passed from down the family. Now within my 30s, I’m only starting to reclaim that spirit, to face firm and unwavering despite possible tropes about stubbornness.

“We require more individuals who trust their gut instinct and aren’t so easily swayed by circulating opinions.”

Language is really a effective tool. And today is definitely an urgent time as always to think about the language which have for too lengthy injured or silenced others, words that possibly we’ve even accustomed to silence ourselves. The planet needs more and more people who are able to fully stand up when confronted with adversity-whether that adversity is definitely an internal fight or everyday activism. So we require more individuals who trust their gut instinct and aren’t so easily swayed by circulating opinions.

We need individuals who can tell no, who are able to set limitations with themselves and within relationships. Friendships and partnerships are difficult work, yet with tenacity and determination, we are able to grow alongside each other, even just in probably the most challenging seasons.

Most significantly, we want individuals to won’t budge around the problems that matter in order to shrink themselves to keep the established order. Too frequently, we have seen people being known as persistent for pushing back against oppressive systems and individuals in power. Yet, we’ve the best, and also the duty, to out narrow-minded policies that positively harm and oppress. Let us switch the script and realize that “stubbornness” doesn’t, actually, describe individuals promoting for equality it describes the parties refusing to pay attention.

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“It’s worth pausing next time someone labels you like a persistent person to inquire about yourself: Shall We Be Held refusing to pay attention? Or shall we be held remaining steadfast within my truth and values?”

Just focus and shoot “too stubborn”? Maybe, but not. It’s worth pausing next time someone labels you like a persistent person to inquire about yourself: Shall We Be Held refusing to pay attention? Shall We Be Held scared when I reconsider my very own stance, my world may crumble? Or shall we be held remaining steadfast within my truth and values?

If it’s the second, you aren’t persistent whatsoever. You’re simply tenacious.