American social psychologist Leon Festinger proposed a famous theory later known as “Festinger’s Law,” which states that 10 percent of the troubles in life are caused by what happens to you. The other 90 percent is determined by how you react to them. In other words, 10 percent of life’s events are beyond your control, but 90 percent is within your control.
Leon Festinger (1919-1989) was an American social psychologist who originated the theory of cognitive dissonance and social comparison theory. He received his Ph.D. in child behavior, and in 1945, he became an assistant professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he was first able to establish himself in social psychology. His time at MIT and later Stanford University became critical turning points in his career, eventually leading him to his most notable experiments and research into Festinger’s Law.
Understanding Festinger’s Law
Festinger’s Law can be better understood through an example. Festinger gave the following example: One day, Jastin woke up in the morning to brush his teeth and wash his face. He left his brand-name watch by the sink. His wife was afraid that the watch would get wet, so she took it and put it on the dining room table. When his son woke up and went to the table to get bread, he accidentally knocked the watch down to the floor, where it broke.
Jastin’s reaction to the incident
Jastin liked the watch so much that he lectured his son and then scolded his wife. The wife, who did not plead guilty, explained that she feared getting the watch wet, but Jastin said that his watch was waterproof. As a result, the two of them got into a heated argument.
Jastin left without having his breakfast. When he arrived at the office, he suddenly realized that he had forgotten to bring his briefcase and had to go home again. But because his wife and son had already gone to work and school, and Jastin had left his keys in his briefcase, he couldn’t get in and had to call his wife to open the door.
The consequences of Jastin’s reaction
When his wife rushed home in a panic, she accidentally knocked over a fruit stall on the roadside, and the stall owner refused to let her go, insisting that she pay for it. When Jastin finally got his briefcase and rushed to the office, he was 15 minutes late and was inevitably criticized by his boss. Jastin’s mood was so bad that he had a big fight with a colleague over a trivial matter before he was off work.
Also, his wife’s bonus for the month was deducted by her employer because she left early that day. His son had a baseball game that day. He was expected to win the championship, but due to the incident in the morning, he could not concentrate and played poorly. His team lost the game and was eliminated from the tournament.
The power of Festinger’s Law is remaining in control
In this case, the broken watch caused only 10 percent of the damage; the following events caused the other 90 percent. The 90 percent, which Jastin did not control well, led to later tragedies. Jastin could have suppressed his anger after the incident and reassured his son, who was upset about his mistake: “It’s okay, the watch needs to be fixed, that’s all. It’s more important that no one gets hurt.”
This would have removed his son’s anxiety, and he could have avoided the subsequent arguing with his wife. When his mood was not disturbed and the rhythm of his life continued as usual, all the subsequent setbacks on that day would not have happened.
The benefits of practicing Festinger’s Law
Such incidents are common in our lives. You may not be able to control accidents, but your mindset and behavior can completely control the following situations. People frequently complain that they always encounter bad luck and that living is difficult.
But it is often the person’s mindset that causes 90 percent of the problem. The one who can help him most is himself. If you can practice Festinger’s Law, many of life’s problems will not get worse if not solved.
The power of Festinger’s Law lies in its ability to help you recognize that you have the power to control your destiny. You can choose to be proactive and take control of your life, or you can choose to be reactive and let external forces control your life. The choice is yours.
The benefits of taking control
When you take control of your life, you can make decisions that are in your best interests. You can focus on the positive and take action to improve your life. You can improve your life proactively rather than wait for something to happen. You can choose to be mindful of your thoughts and emotions and use them to your advantage. You can choose to be kind to yourself and others and treat yourself and others respectfully.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Festinger’s Law is a powerful tool that can help you take control of your life and make positive changes. You can choose to be proactive and take control of your life, or you can choose to be reactive and let external forces control your life. The choice is yours.
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