Show of hands please - my boyfriend calls me difficult. I tell him I don't like it and that most people wouldn't. He disagrees, he thinks most people wouldn't care being called difficult. He challanges me to ask some people.
So help me out - what do you think when/if you were to be called difficult? Are you happy, sad, insulted or what?
Doesnt seem to matter to me if I like it or not. I disagree with it.
I think the first thing I would do is, beseech myself for my emotional state and see if I am reacting emotionally or otherwise irrationally to someone's apparently incessant request. There might be a chance Im being selfish, and refusing to be open minded about the request.
Though, probably not...
Then Id reply back that 'difficult' is indeed the correct term - for someone unsuccessfully forcing another to succumb to their will without any empathy or room for feelings and opinions of their own. Id reply with logical reasons for why I disagree, and if my logic wasnt disarmed in its own way, id demand respect out of the accuser. If respect is returned, Id give time for the other to come up with a more sincere description of what is desired and why, and try to keep an open mind about finding out what the other needs. Id give the person accusing me of being difficult room to convince me in a respectful and rational manner. If not, they can hit the road.
Id respect myself for being 'difficult' to force me to do something I dont want.