Stanley F. Bronstein – Personal Development BlogPersonal Development Blog of the Founder of the Achievement IQ Movement and Creator of the Laws of Positioning

A conviction is that commendable quality in ourselves that we call bullheadedness in others. (Author Unknown)

Some Definitions

Conviction - A fixed or firm belief. The state of being convinced.

Commendable – The state of being mentionable or worthy of confidence, notice, kindness, etc.; recommendable.

Quality – An essential or distinctive characteristic, property, or attribute. Character or nature, as belonging to or distinguishing a thing. Character with respect to fineness, or grade of excellence.

Ourselves – A reflexive form of we. Often used in place of we or us, esp. in compound subjects, objects, and complements.

Call – To announce authoritatively; proclaim. To direct or attract (attention). To name or address. To designate as something specified.

Bullheadedness – Obstinately opinionated, esp. in refusing to consider alternatives; stubborn. Foolishly or irrationally stubborn; headstrong.

Others - Different or distinct from the one mentioned or implied. Different in nature or kind. Those who are distinguished from ourselves.

Source: Dictionary.com

What Is This Quote Suggesting?

It suggests that things we often admire in ourselves are often the very same things we hate about others.

For example, take a typical political situations.  You may strongly believe in the “rightness” of one of the candidates.  You take great pains to “stick to your guns” and defend that candidate at all costs.  You find your actions commendable.  Meanwhile, someone else who believes in the “rightness” of another candidate is doing the same thing.  Your initial inclination is to attack that person and to attack them for being stubborn and unreasonable.

Does This Mean We Can’t Ever Disagree With Someone?

No, it does not.  It merely means that we need to examine our motives (our convictions), just as closely as we examine those of others.

After closer examination, we may discover that we still feel strongly about our convictions and we are more convinced than ever that our position is the correct one.  We may also discover that some of the very faults that we see in the opinions of others are also present in our opinions.

There is an old saying that I believe describes this quite well:

That which we hate most in others is that which we hate most in ourselves.

What Am I Suggesting?

I’m suggesting that we need to constantly and consistently rexamine ourselves and ask:  Do I like what I see?  Am I on the right path?  Do I believe in what it is I’m doing?

If You Answered Yes

If the answers to those questions are YES, then keep on going and do so in the knowledge that you believe in yourself more strongly than ever before.

If You Answered No

If the answers to those questions are NO, then you must ask yourself what needs to change?  What can I do to make things better?  In other words, you must admit to yourself that some things need to change, which will make you a lot more humble and a lot wiser.

If You Are Like Me

If you are like me, you will find that it’s not as “clear-cut” as I’ve made it out to be in the prevoius few paragraphs

You will find that you feel VERY STRONGLY about SOME of your beliefs.  Those are the ones you need to stick to.

You will also find that you are UNCERTAIN about SOME of your beliefs.  Those are the ones that you need to reevaluate and possibly change.

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