I visited St. Joseph’s Convent Sr. Sec. School, Bathinda to meet the principal for my son’s (Rehan) admission. I was made to ‘take the weight off my feet’ (sit) in the waiting room where I noticed a blend of words written on a handsome poster. It comprehended, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% of how you respond to it!” I, by and large, stay away from offers, opinions and quotes like most of us do but this ‘row’ had some magnetism and appeal. Now, please lend me your minds as I am gonna explicate this ‘out of the ordinary’ line with an instance.
You are having breakfast with your family and your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over just what happened. What happens when the next will be determined by how you react. You get irritated and 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. 1000/- 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 did you have a bad day?
A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the traffic policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?
The answer is “D”. Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning.

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, “Its 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.

Management Lesson: This ‘Thought for the Day’ proved ‘Thought for the Life’ for, atleast, me. 10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by how you react. We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. 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 passengers. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse. Likewise, you cannot control a red light, but you can control your reaction. Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and heartaches. We all must understand and apply this 90/10 principle. It CAN change your life!!!! (I wanted to plant the picture of that poster but due to various limitations, I couldn’t, but you may stopover the same school for an outlook of that poster in the waiting room at Bathinda). If you think that this principle will bring good days then don’t forget to comment on this article.