The 90/10 principle

I am sharing this article I came across written by Stephen Covey 

I hope you Enjoy it

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 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 could not 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 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, "Its 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

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 or dear one /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?

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 outpour 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

We all must understand and apply the 90/10 principle

It CAN change your life