Inspired Life Styles- 90/10 Principle

CMA Lakshminarayana Pulipaka (Practicing Cost Accountant)   (118 Points)

09 September 2008  

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 Rs.500 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your daughter

runs into the building without saying good-bye. 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.

Can you answer one simple question :

Today what you had in breakfast ?        Suppose you had parantha.

If you want to change Parantha into sandwich, is it possible ?  "NO"

You had no control over what happened with the coffee & you can't change

parantha.

When you have no control over the things & instances happened in past then

why  we over react & spoil our day.

Think ?

 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!!!