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Clik here to view.Ever been likened to a donkey? Not in THAT way…but meaning that you are stubborn and unyielding. Either way, being likened to smelly animal that resembles an ugly horse is not the ego boosting compliment you hoped to receive. But nay (or yee-haw) being stubborn can actually be a good thing as long as you don’t allow yourself to be short-sighted and ignorant.
The donkey has been famously mentioned and personified throughout theology, mythology, and is famously the US national symbol for Democrats. What makes this bucking wild thing to alluring? Well the pure brash temper and unyielding nature of the animal has made the donkey famous, but donkeys rarely show this side of themselves unless pushed to.
My point is that if you are called stubborn or find that in life you just don’t want to change your opinion, then that is perfectly okay. It is when you refuse to hear the oppositional side with a non-bias, or without at least giving the oppositional side time to be voiced. I have noticed in my life I can look back on times when I was just plain stubborn and it was obnoxious. It was obnoxious because I was also ignorant of the other side. I did not want to hear nor did I care (apathy: another deadly attribute that sometimes gets associated with stubbornness) what anyone else had to say about a subject if I did not agree.
Being stubborn can be a positive thing as long as you don’t associate other negative attitudes with it, such as, apathy, carelessness, ignorance, anger, and cockiness to name a few. Instead, focus on associating positive attitudes with your stubborn qualities like; well-educated, powerful, wise, confident, and self-assured as starters. When you decide to be stubborn about something first ask yourself: Why am I feeling stubborn about this topic? Then evaluate and ask yourself: Would I ever change my answer, if so what would it take for me to change my opinion? Gather all of the facts and opinions of the opposition. By taking time to reflect decide what is most important, you may decide to change your mind about a topic or you might be committed to your opinion right now and realize that could change. If it doesn’t that’s fine too, you don’t need to change your opinion, just make sure if you stick with your initial opinion you are educated about your opposition so that if you do decide to behave like a braying ass you can defend your side with facts rather than relying solely on your opinion. Also, just the knowledge that you gained from learning about another opinion could be helpful in understanding and being empathetic with the other opinion which you may have never before thought about in that way.
Either way, be stubborn but do not be ignorant.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
