90/10 Principle

Sara · 14-02-2006, 19:38

Just received this of a friend, thought i would share it with you all.

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 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 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 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. 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.

We all must understand and apply
the 90/10 principle.

It CAN change your life!!!