This is actually a Latin term meaning “clean slate.” People who end up successful usually view change differently than the average person.
It was a cold December night in West Orange, New Jersey. Thomas Edison’s factory was humming with activity. Work was proceeding on a variety of fronts as the great inventor was trying to turn more of his dreams into practical realities. Edison’s plant, made of concrete and steel, was deemed “fireproof”. As you may have already guessed, it wasn’t! On that frigid night in 1914, the sky was lit up by a sensational blaze that had burst through the plant roof.
Edison’s 24-year-old son, Charles, made a frenzied search for his famous inventor-father. When he finally found him, he was watching the fire. His white hair was blowing in the wind. His face was illuminated by the leaping flames. “My heart ached for him,” said Charles. “Here he was, 67 years old, and everything he had worked for was going up in flames. When he saw me, he shouted, ‘Charles! Where’s your mother?’ When I told him I didn’t know, he said, ‘Find her! Bring her here! She’ll never see anything like this as long as she lives.'”
Next morning, Mr. Edison looked at the ruins of his factory and said this of his loss: “There’s value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God, we can start anew.”
What a wonderful perspective on things that seem at first to be so disastrous. A job loss, business failure, personal dream gone sour… whether these things destroy an individual depends largely on the attitude he or she takes toward them. Sort out why it happened, and learn something from the experience. Think of different approaches that can be taken. Start over. Ask yourself – (as our friend Gail Hyatt does) “What does this make possible?”
With any failure, there is a lesson to be learned and forgiveness to be found. With the slate wiped clean, look forward. Be wiser and humbler in view of what has happened, but don’t stop living because of it. A key truth of our faith is that our hope lies in a still-unseen future rather than in a miserable past.
Don’t ignore the value of your “tabula rasa.” (See our quotes for today.)
Thank you for this! What a great way to look at what may seem like a bad and hopeless situation and in the end could turn out to be a huge blessing. I recently got laid off from my job and felt completely lost….but I know now that this is my “tabula rasa”…and I’m looking forward to what good will come out of all of this.
Dave, what a beautiful reminder that opportunity is in ashes.
Thanks Dan, Love the Tabula Rasa reference. One of the things I have learned from you is there is no failure, only learning. Your reference to Mr. Edison’s example offers hope, a great illustration of a healthy perspective and the message that hope can exist under any circumstances and at any age.
“Hope lies in a still-unseen future.” Man, that is special. Adopting this mindset sure would cure a ton of anxiety, wouldn’t it?
Wonderful insights, Dan. Thanks a lot.
What a great perspective shift!
Thanks for the reminder. It came at a good time. I really needed this.
I’ve lived it
1987 failed business, product became outdated
1990 house foreclosed, couldn’t find decent paying job
1995 Demoted from Mgmt to non-Mgmt position
1998 Fired from large insurance company. I was a Supervisor of 14 people. One of them forgot to bill the State for $1million. I was Supervisor so I was let go. Employee kept their job.
2002 pay cut $10k/yr
2003 pay cut another $10k year
Decided to go back to school for three years to earn a masters degree in a field I wanted to do.
2007 house foreclosed, owed creditors, credit was trashed, considered taking bankruptcy but friend talked me out of it
2009 Signed up for Dan Miller and Dave Ramsey’s emails, read every book they wrote. I went to the library, borrowed, and asked for them for birthday and Christmas gifts instead of a shirt or sweater.
Took Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University class.
Dave’s books, class and emails gave me hope.
Dan’s books and emails taught me how to dream again and how to pursue those dreams and encouraged me to not give up but keep trying.
2016 debt free including house, love my job NO MORE MONDAYS for me.
I WOULDN’T TRADE ANY OF MY MISTAKES, FAILURES OR HAPPENSTANCES FOR ANYTHING. They gave me wisdom, self confidence, and empathy. I learned success and loving people are not mutually exclusive but should always be interdependent.
I’ve never heard someone tell me they stopped reading a 20 chapter book after 18 chapters because it didn’t end right. I don’t know what chapter you’re on in your life and neither do you.
Finish the book!!!
It may have a twist and an incredible, adventurous ending like mine.
Wow! That is amazing, Dave! Thank you for sharing. You have inspired me:)
Love!
I have recently adopted this philosophy and it has made all the difference in my mental perspective. I have a white board in my office and one day after feeling particularly discouraged by some recent setbacks, I physically erased all that was on the white board (I took a picture with my phone:) I said to myself, “OK, let’s start from scratch! From where I am now, where do I need to go and how can I get there?” I literally started with a clean slate. From there I was able to gain a clear perspective and I felt free to choose other directions and really be honest with myself about what was working and what was not working.
Sometimes closed doors indicate we need to choose another door:)
Love this. We work at various levels. First, the level of appearance. It appears as if certain past events are disastrous. But, second, from the level of reality, there is a different perspective. These events provide insights, lessons, and lead to forgiveness and love. As you say, they help me to be “wiser and humbler.” The issue is: what forms the basis of my level of reality. Thank you so much Dan!
Reminds of one of my favorite verses…We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28 MEV)