Muhammed Hussain Acquah has advised people in marriages, relationships and friendships not to respond to obstinate behaviour with stubbornness, but rather to approach difficult situations with truth, respect and patience.
Speaking on Nyansapo Fie on Plan B FM, hosted by Akosua Gyamfua, Mr. Acquah described an obstinate person as someone who is stubborn and unwilling to listen to or consider another person’s point of view.
He identified some common signs of an obstinate partner as refusing to admit when they are wrong, insisting on always being right, ignoring their partner’s advice and being unwilling to make reasonable compromises.
According to him, obstinacy should not be confused with standing firmly by one’s principles, explaining that strength in marriage does not necessarily come from refusing to bend, but from the willingness to listen, understand and compromise when necessary.
Mr. Acquah explained that obstinate behaviour may be influenced by factors such as pride, past experiences, fear and insecurity.
He noted that some people view compromise as a sign of weakness and believe that giving in means they have lost an argument or surrendered control.
Others, he said, may be afraid of being taken advantage of, losing control or may simply be convinced that their position is right.
Mr. Acquah also pointed to upbringing as another factor that can contribute to stubborn behaviour, noting that the way individuals are raised can influence how they respond to disagreements and differing opinions.
To effectively manage an obstinate person, he advised individuals to choose the right time to communicate and approach difficult conversations with understanding rather than accusations.
He urged people to genuinely listen before attempting to correct others and avoid using absolute words such as “always” and “never”, which he said can make disagreements worse.
He further encouraged couples and friends to give each other room to reconsider their positions instead of forcing immediate agreement.
Mr. Acquah cautioned against attacking each other’s character or turning disagreements into competitions to determine who wins.
He stressed the importance of setting respectful boundaries while also being willing to examine one’s own actions and acknowledge mistakes.
He concluded by urging people not to fight stubbornness with stubbornness, but to respond to difficult behaviour with truth, respect and patience in order to promote healthier relationships.
By: Lydia Owusu
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