I am Responsible for Me

Author: Stephen Covey:
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 tous.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 determinethe other 90%.How? ……….By your reaction.You cannot control a red light. but you can control your reaction. Don'tlet 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 cupof coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what justhappened.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 forplacing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battlefollows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, youfind your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and getready for school. She misses the bus.Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush to the car and driveyour daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hourin a 30 mph speed limit.After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive atschool. Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye. Afterarriving 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 andworse. You look forward to coming home.When you arrive home, you find small wedge in your relationship with yourspouse 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 inthose 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 atowel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, youcome back down in time to look through the window and see your childgetting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early andcheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you arehaving.

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 somethingnegative about you, don't be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like wateron 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 resultin losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out etc.How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose yourtemper? Pound on the steering wheel?

A friend of mine had the steeringwheel 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 ruinyour 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. Whytake outpour frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control overwhat is going on.Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger. Why get stressedout? It will just make things worse.Now you know the 90-10 principle.

Apply it and you will be amazed at theresults. You will lose nothing if you try it. The 90-10 principle isincredible. Very few know and apply this principle.The result?Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problemsand heartache. We all must understand and apply the 90/10 principle.

It CAN change your life!!!