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 will be 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 what happened.
What
happens 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 her 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 a 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 a small wedge in your relationship with
your spouse and daughter. Why? Because of how 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 is 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 arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff.
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 sky-rocket? Do you
try and bump them? WHO CARES if you arrive ten minutes later at work? Why
let the cars ruin your drive?
Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it.
- 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 apply this principle.
The result? Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials,
problems and heartache. There never seems 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 and life is a bore. You can be
different! Understand and apply the 90/10 principle. It will change your
life.
AND REMEMBER WE
MUST LEARN TO CONTROL OUR EMOTIONS & NOT LET OUR EMOTIONS CONTROL US...