Tabula Rasa is a Latin phrase, which, translated into English, means ‘blank slate’. Its most common use is within the philosophical doctrine that individuals aren’t born with mental content pre-programmed and so all knowledge is as a consequence of experience and perception.
That position and the associated nature versus nurture debate is still an ongoing one – as the idea that humans don’t have any pre-built intelligence seems, to many, to be incredibly unlikely, given our innate understanding – such as knowing that if we have two stones, one in each hand, that we do in fact have two stones – that 1 + 1 = 2.
But there’s another interpretation of the phrase, which is that, at one point or another, we all need Tabula Rasa – we all need a blank slate.
We all need the chance to start over, to start afresh.
It’s difficult because to do so often feels like quitting or failing. But it’s not. It’s just starting over.
And that’s important because there are many businesses, products, services, projects and ideas which have yet to be brought to life and will continue to be lifeless until someone, somewhere, wipes the slate clean and starts again.
And of course the key to all of this is that first move. Wiping the slate clean. Taking action. Starting over. Tabula Rosa.