These two words sound so similar, don’t they? As if they could be used interchangeably but they’re so very different.
Willfulness is the need for control. The need to be right, the need to make things happen.
Willingness is the desire to do something, it’s this idea that we are willing to listen, willing to try new things, and willing to be wrong.
What an interesting idea right?
Willfulness can feel arrogant, callous even, while willingness can feel humble, open to meeting in the middle.
When we are willful we are impetuous, we only care about ourselves and our own needs, meanwhile when we are willing, we are able to see beyond our own needs.
Willfulness is what we often use when speaking of a child’s actions, willingness? Well, I’d almost say that it’s the feeling of being.
Just being.