Enjoy, applies to many issues, especially those who asked me how
one can raise one's optimism in life...
The 90/10 Principle
WHAT is the 90/10 Principle? It means that 10 percent of life is
made up of
what happens to you; 90 percent of life is decided by how you
react.
What does this mean? We really have no control over 10 percent of
what happens to us.
For instance, we cannot stop the car from breaking down, the plane
from
arriving late, which throws our whole schedule off. We have no
control
over this 10 percent. The other 90 percent is different. You can
control
the 90 percent.
How? By your reaction.
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
has 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 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 your reaction that 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 been done 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 pulling out 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.
Notice the difference?
Two different scenarios.
Both started the same.
Both ended different.
Why?
Because of how you REACTED.
Apply the 90/10 principle. It will change your life - at least the
way you
react to situations.
--
Strange mutual dependence this, in which the appearance
needs the reality in order to exists, but the reality
needs the appearance in order to be known
- William James
