How to Avoid Defining Yourself By the Value of Your Home

I had a conversation with an old friend and current seller yesterday regarding his home that has been on the market for the past four months. He was disappointed that it hadn't been sold yet. We talked about staging and marketing. I gave him solid real estate facts including how many houses had sold in his price point. We also talked about the competition. Finally, we got to the price… It was clear to me that the price was higher than the market would bear. So, armed with my statistics and thirty-five years experience in the business, I suggested a price adjustment.
Much to my surprise, he said he couldn't stomach the suggestion because he had an ego that wouldn't allow him to do it!
I suddenly realized that he was confusing his value as a person with the value of his property. So often in the high end of the market, sellers do this. They seem to think that a price reduction is a personal reflection on their self worth.
Well, guess what? One has nothing to do with the other. Human value will always outweigh the value of your real estate. Put your ego aside, study the facts that are in front of you and price your house to the market conditions.
I am quite sure that if you’re selling and buying in a down market, what you give up on one end, you will make up on the other. Isn't the differential all you really care about?