A parent’s worst nightmare is a stubborn child, a child who is insistent on having things done their way. They are often unwilling to compromise or sometimes even listen to their parent when their parent is trying to tell them what to do and how to do it. While a stubborn child can present problems at home, leading a stubborn lifestyle might not always be such a bad thing.

Whether they are the oldest, middle, or youngest, any child has the ability to be stubborn. They can be stubborn in deliberately disobeying their parents, or if they have another sibling, they can be stubborn in the sense of strictly abiding by what their parents have told them. A child might either believe a parent does not know what is best for them, or they know exactly what is best for them. All stubborn children, however, have a few key attributes in common.

When presented with a challenge, a “stubborn” mind will not rest until they overcome this challenge. This can be anything from solving a homework problem, to beating a video game, to conquering a hardship that has occurred in their life. Whenever a problem occurs, they are always determined, prepared, and ready to face it head-on, and will not quit until it is resolved.

Over the long term, stubborn people have the ability to be more successful in life. They are more likely to complete a long-term goal such as graduating from college, and less likely to abandon a long-term goal, such as completing a major. Stubborn people can have a tendency to be indecisive, but once they have arrived at their decision, they will be persistent in whatever they have chosen to do. Whether it is deciding on a major, choosing a college, or picking a field to work in, “stubborn” people will strive to be successful at whatever they do.

While many believe that stubborn people can be hard to get along with, they often possess great leadership skills and a commanding presence. They make sure that those around them complete the job as efficiently and as effectively as possible, and their unwillingness to compromise contributes to their leadership skills. They might not always be the most liked person, but they are often the most productive to themselves as well as to those around them.

Equipped with a never-give-up, no-quit attitude, those who are “stubborn” might also be described as “determined,” “persistent,” and “perseverant.” Perhaps they are willing to compromise because they are confident in their own abilities and in what they believe is best for them. Perhaps they are confident in their own knowledge and judgments and are naturally independent human beings who need little to no help in trying to figure out how to navigate through life. Perhaps instead of feeling contempt toward them for their “narrow-minded” way of thinking, we should be open to receiving instruction from them and allowing them to lead and to guide us. Perhaps then they will finally realize an open attitude they never knew they had, become easy to get along with, and cooperate more effectively in order and instruct more didactically. Do not count on it though; the only thing you can count on when interacting with a stubborn person is doing things their way.