The Art of Stubbornness

By Nancy McLoughlin

Perhaps you have a child with a lazy mind; they never want to obey, or they complain that any assigned task is too hard for them unless its something they really want to do. You may see that trait in a coworker or an employee, or maybe you see it in a classroom setting, or even in yourself. Youve called it by many names, but the end result is that the person is not reaching his or her full potential. Here are the answers youve been looking for in an easy-to-understand format. The Art of Stubbornness will help you understand what causes a lazy mind, the consequences of developing a lazy mind, and the cure, straight from Gods word.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jun 15, 2011
• ISBN: 9781449718992

Nancy McLoughlin

Nancy McLoughlin, while attending numerous seminars on people skills, never received a satisfactory answer on why some people achieve success in life and others don’t. As she prayed, studied God’s word, and worked closely with struggling adults and children, the missing piece became clear. She discovered that many unsuccessful people share the same issue: a lazy mind protected by stubbornness. Ms. McLoughlin’s book describes a lazy mind, what causes it, and how it produces a stubborn refusal to engage in any kind of positive change that requires effort. Fortunately, there is a cure for a lazy mind, and Nancy details it in the final chapter of “The Art of Stubbornness.” Nancy McLoughlin, a retired school teacher and manager in a pharmaceutical company, lives in Augusta, Georgia where she currently assumes the role of daily caregiver for five of her grandchildren.

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Copyright © 2011 Nancy McLoughlin.

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-1898-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-1899-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011931026

Printed in the United States of America

WestBow Press rev. date: 6/13/2011

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction of Arthur Stone

Chapter 2. What Does Stubbornness Look Like?

Chapter 3. Stubbornness and Laziness are Partners

Chapter 4. Create the Perfect Storm: Add Selfishness

Chapter 5. Downfalls of Stubbornness

Chapter 6. Playing the Blame Game

Chapter 7. Refusing All Help

Chapter 8. The Blindness of Stubbornness

Chapter 9. The Spiritual Consequences of Stubbornness

Chapter 10. The Final Outcome

Chapter One

Introduction of Arthur Stone

Meet my friend, Arthur Stone, a man who has an interesting past. Like many people, he struggled with the sin of stubbornness, although he would never admit it. He was a smart guy, and very addicted to following his own thought processes. He was convinced he knew what was best for him AND for everyone else if they would just listen to him! He believed he could figure out problems on his own and didn’t need the help of others, and sometimes that was true! He was positive he’d made the best choices for himself throughout his life; after all, who knew and cared about him better than himself? So, of course, he would be the expert on what he should do at all times.

Art grew up in a home where his parents were very busy and allowed him great freedom to make his own choices. He developed a sense of dependence on himself because there really was no one else he could lean on. He figured out early in life that if he DID trust or depend on someone else, that person would eventually let him down. He was rarely punished because his parents were preoccupied with their own lives, and besides, they thought he was just going through a stage, and that he’d outgrow it. Between the lack of self-discipline resulting from this type of parenting and the lack of boundaries and training he received, Art was left clueless on how to approach life. Eventually he set up his own thoughts as his compass and used them to guide every part of his life. Armed with just his perception of the way things should be, he began navigating through such land minds as friendships, marriage, parenting, and careers.

It was his friends, acquaintances, spouse, and employees who began calling him The Rock. They said it was easier to move a huge rock than to change Art’s mind once he decided on a particular course of action. Instead of reading the dictionary definition of stubbornness and seeing how well it fit (unreasonably obstinate; obstinately unmoving; fixed or set in purpose or opinion; resolute; hard, tough, or stiff as stone or wood; difficult to shape or work; perversely unyielding), Arthur would use words to describe himself like strong, persistent, determined, and RIGHT! He couldn’t understand why those around him didn’t think like he