Discover the 90/10 Principle,
It will change your life (at least the way you react to situations).
What is this principle?
10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90%of life is
decided by how you react.
What does this mean?
We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We
cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane is late arriving,
which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off
in traffic. We have no control over this 10%. The other 90%
is different. You determine the other 90%.
How? By your reaction.
You cannot control a red light, but you can control your reaction.
Don't let people fool you: YOU can control how you react.
Let's use an example.
You are eating breakfast
with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee
onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just
happened. What happens when the next will be determined by
how you react.
You curse. You harshly
scold your daughter for knocking the cup over. She breaks down
in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize
them for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table.
A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change
your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been
too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school.
She misses the bus.
Your spouse must leave
immediately for work. You rush to the car and drive your daughter
to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour
in 30 mph speed limit. After a 15 minute delay and throwing
$60 (traffic fine) away, you arrive at school. Your daughter
runs into the building without saying goodbye. After arriving
at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase.
Your day has started terrible. As it continues, it seems to
get worse and worse.
You look forward to
coming home. When you arrive home, you find small wedge in
your relationship with your spouse and daughter. Why? Because
of you reacted in the morning.
Why did you have a bad
day?
A) Did the coffee cause
it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?
The answer is D. You
had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you
reacted in those 5 seconds was what caused your bad day. Here
is what could have and should have happened.
Coffee splashes over
you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, " It's
ok honey, you just need to be more careful next time".
Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt
and your briefcase, you come back down in time to look through
the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns
and waves. You and your spouse kiss before you go to work.
You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff.
Your boss comments on how good the day you are having.
Notice the difference?
Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended
different. Why? Because of how you REACTED.
You really do not have
any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% was determined
by your reaction. Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle.
If someone says something
negative about you, don't be a sponge. Let the attack roll
off like water on glass. You don't have to let the negative
comment affect you! React properly and it will not ruin your
day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being
fired, getting stressed out, etc.
How do you react if
someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your temper? Pound
on the steering wheel? (A friend of mine had the steering wheel
fall off) Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket?
Do you try and bump them? WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds
later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive?
Remember the 90/10 principle,
and do not worry about it.
You are told you lost
your job. Why lose sleep and get irritated? It will work out.
Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job.
The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for
the day. Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant?
She has no control over what is going on. Use your time to
study, get to know the other passenger. Why get stressed out?
It will just make things worse.
Now, you know the 90-10
principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results.
You will lose nothing if you try it.
The 90-10 principle
is incredible. Very few know and apply this principle.
The result? Millions
of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems
and heartache. They never seem to be a success in life.
Bad days follow bad
days. Terrible things seem to be constantly happening. There
is constant stress, lack of joy, and broken relationships.
Worry consumes time. Anger breaks friendships and life seems
dreary and is not enjoyed to the fullest. Friends are lost.
Life is a bore and often seems cruel. Does this describe you?
If so, do not be discouraged.
You can be different!
Understand and apply
the 90/10 principle. It will change your life.
