People Who Are Stubborn and Set in Their Ways Refuse to Do These Things

People Who Are Stubborn and Set in Their Ways Refuse to Do These Things

We all know someone who digs their heels in at the slightest nudge. They’re fiercely loyal to their way of doing things—even when it makes life harder. Stubbornness can sometimes be admirable, but let’s face it: it can also be frustrating as hell. Here’s a look at the things stubborn people refuse to do, no matter how much sense it might make to everyone else.

1. Forgive Themselves

Here’s the thing about stubborn people: they’re often just as hard on themselves as they are on others. When they mess up, they’ll replay the mistake on a loop, refusing to let themselves off the hook. They hold onto their own missteps like a badge of shame, convinced that forgiving themselves would mean letting go of accountability. But instead of learning, they just stay stuck in self-criticism.

2. Try Something New

New restaurant? New show? New hobby? Hard pass. Stubborn people stick to what they know because change feels risky. Why venture out of their comfort zone when their current zone is just fine? While this keeps their life predictable, it also keeps them from discovering something they might actually love. But hey, at least they’ll never hate their dinner order.

3. Take Advice (Even Good Advice)

Giving advice to a stubborn person is a thankless task. No matter how solid your suggestion is, they’ll most likely end up ignoring it. To them, advice feels like criticism, and they’re not about to let anyone else dictate their decisions. Even if your advice would save them time, money, or stress, they’d rather stick with their way—no matter how much harder it makes their life.

4. Apologize and Mean It

Sure, you might get a half-hearted “Sorry you feel that way,” but don’t hold your breath for a genuine apology. Stubborn people see apologies as admitting weakness, so they’ll avoid them at all costs. They’ll justify their actions, redirect the blame, or just pretend nothing happened. It’s not that they don’t care—it’s that saying “I’m sorry” feels like giving up their power.

5. Embrace Change

Change is one of the scariest things to a stubborn person. Whether it’s rearranging furniture, starting a new job, or trying a different toothpaste, it feels disruptive and unnecessary. They cling to their routines because it gives them a sense of control. The irony? Sometimes the very change they resist is exactly what they need.

6. Consider Another Perspective

If a stubborn person has made up their mind, no amount of logic, evidence, or heartfelt persuasion will budge them. They’re locked into their view, and anything else feels like a threat to their certainty. To them, admitting someone else might have a point is like handing over the reins—and they’re not about to give up control. So, their world stays small, safe, and frustratingly one-sided.

7. Ask for Help

“I’ve got it.” Those three words are practically a stubborn person’s mantra. Even when they’re drowning in stress, they won’t reach out for a lifeline because asking for help feels like admitting they can’t handle it on their own. They’d rather struggle in silence than risk looking weak.

8. Let Go of Grudges

Stubborn people are world-class grudge holders. If you’ve wronged them, don’t expect forgiveness anytime soon. For them, holding onto resentment is their way of staying in control. Letting go would mean admitting the situation doesn’t define them anymore, and that’s a step they’re not ready to take. So, the grudge stays—and so does the tension.

9. Compromise

Compromise is a dirty word for someone set in their ways. They see it as losing, plain and simple. Instead of meeting halfway, they dig in their heels and stand their ground, no matter the cost. Whether it’s deciding where to eat or navigating a serious relationship issue, they’ll fight tooth and nail to get their way.

10. Accept Constructive Criticism

Criticism, even when it’s constructive, feels like a personal attack to a stubborn person. They hear “Here’s how to improve” and translate it as “You’re not good enough.” Instead of taking it as an opportunity to grow, they shut down or push back. It’s not that they don’t want to do better—it’s that admitting they need to feels like admitting they’ve failed. So, they stay stuck in their comfort zone.

11. Admit They’re Wrong

Getting a stubborn person to admit they’re wrong is like trying to move a mountain with a teaspoon. Even when they know deep down they’ve messed up, they just double down to save face. To them, admitting they were wrong feels like a personal defeat, so they’ll argue their point into oblivion—or pretend the conversation never happened just to protect their pride.

12. Try a Different Approach

For a stubborn person, their way is the right way—end of story. Even when their method clearly isn’t working, they’ll keep pushing it, hoping for a different result. They resist new approaches because they don’t want to admit their original idea wasn’t perfect. It’s not about the outcome; it’s about proving they were right all along. Spoiler alert: this rarely works out in their favor.

13. Admit They’re Scared

Believe it or not, fear is often the root of stubbornness, but you’ll never hear a stubborn person admit it. Acknowledging their fears feels too vulnerable, so they mask it with confidence—or sometimes outright defiance. Whether it’s fear of failure, rejection, or change, they’ll dig in their heels and pretend they’ve got it all figured out.

14. Value Input from Others

angry guy upset with girlfriend

For a stubborn person, input from someone else just feels unnecessary—or worse, intrusive. They believe they know best and rarely see the need for second opinions. This resistance can make them appear dismissive, even when the advice is coming from someone with valuable expertise. To them, relying on their own judgment is a point of pride, even if it sometimes leads them astray.

15. Let Themselves Be Vulnerable

angry woman

Vulnerability is terrifying to someone set in their ways. Opening up feels like handing over control, which goes against everything they value. Whether it’s sharing their feelings, admitting insecurities, or letting someone else take the lead, they’d rather keep their guard up. Unfortunately, this often creates emotional distance in relationships, leaving others feeling shut out and them feeling misunderstood.

This content was created by a real person with the assistance of AI.

Georgia is a passionate story-teller and accomplished lifestyle journalist originally from Australia, now based in New York City. She writes lifestyle content for Bolde Media, publishers of Bolde, Star Candy and Earth Animals.