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 may 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 them 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 and your spouse kiss before you go to work.
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  ” says ” 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.
The result? Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and heartache.
There never seem 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.
Life is a bore and often seems cruel.

