Obstinacy can be a good attitude in some instances, but the kind of obstinate mentality you re talking about, that sure negates mental and spiritual evolution.
As you say, the guidance of a guru is fundamental. Traditionally, it was the father figure or the elders of the community who gave guidance but presently this aspect is usually lost. I did not have much guidance from my earthly father, but what I missed from him I had back in abundance from the SRF gurus.
The mirrors is a good figure of speech, we have so many human traits not to imitate around, and a few to imitate, we are reminded by the human mirrors around us what to change in ourselves.
Mccoy Take a look at your Natal chart and the position of Saturn ( the father figure ) and you will see that it is in a fateful aspect to your natal Sun in the 8th house of shared values. The dotted green line connects the two. This 150 degree angle bodes conditions that require adjusting to in life. As if fate itself had a hand in many of the circumstances of your life. (observe all the green dotted lines indicating such inconjunctions (otherwise known as a quincunx) of fate in your life.
