Years ago, while in college, I arrived early at class and noticed that the lesson from the day before was still written on the blackboard. I stood there reading it until the professor walked in, greeted us, and immediately erased the board to begin that day’s lesson. At the time, it didn’t seem very significant. But decades later, as I was preparing to write a speech for my youngest daughter’s wedding, that memory came back to me. I realized how powerful the act of “erasing the blackboard” really is.
Think back to all the years we spent in school. Every morning, the teacher would clear the board. Not because “yesterday’s” lesson wasn’t important, but because space was needed to write something new. Yesterday’s lesson had already been taught—hopefully absorbed if we were paying attention, so the fresh erasing signaled a sense of renewal. It was a new day, a new opportunity to learn, always building upon what came before.
That’s how I think we should approach our lives. Each morning, when we wake up, we should imagine erasing the blackboard. The lessons from yesterday—whether they were good or bad—are already written into our story. Holding onto them too tightly doesn’t leave room for growth. But wiping the board clean allows us to step into the new day open to fresh ideas, new experiences, and yes, new mistakes.
Of course, mistakes are part of the process. In fact, our biggest lessons often come from failure. They sting in the moment, but they leave the deepest marks on our personal “notebooks.” And that’s why erasing the blackboard each day doesn’t mean forgetting the past; it means carrying forward the wisdom we gained while giving ourselves permission to start again.
Dr. Joe Dispenza (www.drjoedispenza.com) is an international lecturer and bestselling author of “Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself”, he is driven by the conviction that each of us has the potential for greatness and unlimited abilities. Dr. Joe Dispenza suggests dedicating just a few minutes each morning to a powerful meditation and intention-setting practice. This involves focusing on gratitude, elevating your emotions, and setting intentions for the future to reprogram your subconscious and align your internal state with the external reality you desire. By consistently doing this every morning, just for five minutes, you can begin to experience positive chances in your life over time. You can literally start to write your own lessons every day, implementing the good stuff that we learn, and learning from our failures.
So tomorrow morning, when you wake up, picture yourself standing in front of that empty board. I do that every morning with a little blackboard on top of my mantle. Take a breath. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, a student, a parent, or a grandparent. Life will keep teaching us as long as we keep showing up ready to learn.
My hope is that each of us embraces that small act of renewal. Erase the blackboard. Make space for forgiveness, for curiosity, for growth. Start the day with gratitude and an open mind. And remember that the most important lesson is always the one being written today.
