You're having breakfast with your family when your daughter accidentally spills coffee on your shirt....
THINK PAD
Imagine this: you're having breakfast with your family when your daughter accidentally spills coffee on your shirt. Frustrated, you scold her. She cries, and the situation worsens as you blame your wife. After arguing, you rush to change your shirt. Your daughter misses the bus because she’s upset. You speed while driving her to school, get fined, and arrive late to work without your briefcase. The day spirals downward, leaving you frustrated and distant from your family.
What caused the bad day? Was it the spilled coffee, your daughter, or the fine? The answer is none of these. The real reason was how you reacted.
Life is only 10% what happens to you, while 90% depends on how you respond. In the above scenario, staying calm would have led to a very different outcome. Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, "It's okay, honey, you just need to be more careful next time," quickly changing your shirt, and moving forward without frustration would have kept the morning smooth. Your day would have started positively, preserving harmony with your family and productivity at work.
The 90/10 principle is about choosing your reaction. If someone says something hurtful, don’t absorb it. If a driver cuts you off in traffic, don’t let it ruin your mood. These situations are out of your control, but your reaction is entirely up to you.
Even in significant challenges like losing a job or dealing with delays in long queue at the airport, your energy is better spent seeking solutions than venting frustrations. A wrong reaction only worsens the situation, while a calm approach opens doors to better outcomes.
By embracing this principle, you can reduce stress, strengthen relationships, and improve your overall quality of life. Life is what you make of it—focus on controlling your response, and you’ll see remarkable results.
The 90/10 Principle, popularized by Stephen R. Covey and other thought leaders, is a concept that suggests 10% of life is determined by what happens to you, while 90% is determined by how you react to it.
The 10% represents situations that are beyond your control. For instance, traffic delays, sudden rain, or unforeseen circumstances that impact your day.
The 90% is your reaction to the 10% - how you choose to respond: your attitude, emotions, and actions, etc. shape the outcome of the situation and often your overall experience.
By applying the 90/10 principle, you can lead a more peaceful and productive life, focusing on what you can control rather than what you can't.
