E + R = O
This is the most powerful equation in the universe! Used properly and consistently this equation
can completely change your life and the lives of those around you and that is a
fact, not speculation. I would like to
tell you I put this equation together but I read about this many years ago and
I know it works. Appling the equation is
easy and when applied it always works, the hard part
is having the courage to trust the equation.
So here is the equation.
the Event + your Reaction to the event = the Outcome
of the event
You do not have much, if any, control over the Events that happen in your life, but
you always have total control over your Reaction
to the event, and thus you can control the Outcome.
Now you are probably thinking, “Marc, you are crazy!” and you would not be the first person to
claim that about me, but let’s focus on the equation.
It is a fact that Events
do affect our lives, particularly horrific events that happen to you or your
family but how any event affects our life is totally driven by our Reaction to the Event. People simply can’t
make us happy or sad, our bosses can’t put us under pressure, and traffic does not
drive us to outrage. It is our reaction
to all these events that actually cause us stress!
To test this equation, consciously keep track of the events,
your reactions to them and the outcome for week. Then, seriously analyze each event and see if
you don’t agree that you could, and that in fact you did, shape the outcome of the
event had on you by your reaction to the event.
Once you are a believer in the theory you can begin to shape your life
by adjusting your reaction to each event as it occurs. The best outcome will be achieved if you think
before you react!
The adage that you fight fire, with fire, is simply bad
advice. When you do that everyone gets
burned and the situation usually goes from bad to worse. I have found, although I will admit that I
don’t always follow my own advice, that it is much better to fight fire with
water and a great deal of respect, than fire.
Trust me you can make your life different (and hopefully
better) by applying the above equation
constantly. Learn to use what you know
from the equation, chose your reaction to the event carefully to get the
results you want. Do it often enough it
will become a positive habit and one that will give you positive results every
time.
After you master the use of this equation, you will find
that you can in fact “reap what you sow!”
An excellent equation....I believe that attitude also is involved with one's reaction to the event. If you go to some event, say a football game with a prejudged attitude of its results, your reaction is influenced as the game progresses.
ReplyDeletealan waldie
Excellent way to put this. While I'd like to think in my later years I live by this rule, I know from time to time I regress. Remembering this equation? I think I can do better! thanks.
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