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It's a HEART Issue
India White • November 20, 2022
It's a HEART Issue!
It’s a HEART Issue – Dr. India White
Have you heard of the scripture verse Jeremiah 17:9 that states, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
Have you ever encountered an individual and wondered, “Wow, how did they end up with a vibe like that?” What about the person who slanders you to the core of your soul? Or, how about the person that intentionally ignores you with pleasure? Sometimes, we encounter people from all walks of life, who are battling various things.
Some people are battling sickness while others are dealing with abuse from a loved one. There are individuals dealing with eating disorders, and their colleagues could be dealing with stress on the job. One part about life that is tricky is how do you deal with issues of the heart when life shows up, i.e. bitterness, hate, envy, jealousy, greed, racism, lust, fantasy, unforgiveness, etc.?
In all honesty, there is no life manual handed to anyone that details the specifics of various encounters. For instance, you might deal with jealousy differently than your neighbor because it might not be a trigger point for you. However, your neighbor may have grown up in a house where they were constantly provoked by loved ones to jealousy. As a result, they can remain competitive, lack compliments and be difficult to work with on the job.
What about issues like racism or hate? You might not have ever had a personal encounter with racism, so you might not think it’s a big deal. You might find yourself as an individual in society deemed as being privileged, financially stable, or just fortunate. This might tempt you to look your nose down at people who grew up humbly or don’t have as much as you do.
Now, let’s look at the other perspective. What if you are a person who has encountered racism? You might have a growing resentment in your spirit since your elementary school experience with students or teachers calling you derogatory terms. You might have little to no tolerance for jargon as a result, causing a trigger point and tempting you to act out of character. So, how do you deal with this strong spirit of racism and hate, and keep your heart clean from these traits?
There is no clear-cut answer, however, we must learn to conquer these ugly truths about ourselves so we may shine bright with pure hearts, impacting ALL
people in a beautiful way as we encounter them. There is nothing more disappointing than to be a leader, and to be unaware of how hurtful we can be in positions of power because our heart is spewing out hate, unbeknownst to us.
Hence I want to encourage you to take time and deal with your heart. Whether it’s issues mentioned above or something else, take time to reflect before the holidays or before your next major event about a few things:
1. How do I make people that I deem less than me feel?
2. Is there something that keeps me up at night?
3. Why do I keep afflicting that person who did nothing wrong to me?
4. What is the unresolved hurt left inside of me that keeps causing me to hurt people and to feel good about it?
As you work on these areas of your heart, take time and reflect, then make a plan as to how you can move forward from them. Whether your plan includes taking implicit bias tests or watching motivational or informative clips on how you can evolve from your current state, continue to do your best to grow into a healthier and more loving and helpful person.
When progress is made, make note of it and celebrate. Then, repent
from ever going back to your old self again.
I wish you the best as you conquer every heart issue of your life and thrive!
Love,
Dr. India White
Speaker, Author, Life Coach
Join us on the Let's Get Gritty Podcast with Dr. India White. On this show, we will repeat a show from the Grit and Equity talks Podcast with Dr. India White, where we walk through the recently released NAEP data from the National Report Card and speak about moving the needle forward. Listen on Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/india-white3 #grit #equity #naep #drindiawhite #nctm #ncsm #bwxme #math #teachers #students
🌟 Just wrapped up an incredible G.R.I.T. Training session with the amazing leaders from Imagine Schools! 💪✨ We took a deep dive into the G.R.I.T. framework, and I can't wait to see the results unfold! 🚀🙌 #drindiawhite #grit #imagineschools #tedx #nctm #ncsm #bwxme 🎉 (I don’t own music copyright
Check out my Feb. 2025 Newsletter!
Thankful for Partnership and Recognition: A Shoutout to Dr. Matthew Joseph and X-Factor EDU Network I am incredibly thankful to partner with Dr. Matthew Joseph and the amazing leadership of the X-Factor EDU Network! It is truly an honor to collaborate with such a visionary leader who is dedicated to amplifying voices in education and creating spaces for impactful conversations. This month, I was deeply grateful to be mentioned in Dr. Joseph’s newsletter during Black History Month. His recognition means so much, not just for me, but for the work we are all doing to inspire and empower educators and students alike. You can check out the newsletter here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/drmxj_stongertogether-activity-7291502796753809408-0zX3?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAmqD2wBkz8Qc7EA0bvwxWyMJH2HykCUA-Y But beyond the shoutout, I’m even more excited about the opportunities ahead—including the chance to have a podcast on Dr. Joseph’s platform! Partnering with X-Factor EDU Network opens doors to share insights, engage in meaningful discussions, and continue championing grit, resilience, and equity in education. Thank you, Dr. Matthew Joseph, for your support, encouragement, and belief in this mission. Looking forward to what’s to come! 🚀 #StrongerTogether #GRIT #XFactorEDU #BlackHistoryMonth #EducationalLeadership #Thankful
Fired Up for FDLA/FAMTE Keynote: Let’s Build Grit Together! I’m beyond excited to take the stage as the keynote speaker at the FDLA/FAMTE Conference tomorrow! 🎤🔥 We’ll be diving deep into the power of G.R.I.T.—Great Resilience in Time—and how it transforms both educators and students. This opportunity means so much, and I’m grateful to everyone who has supported this journey. Grit isn’t just a concept; it’s a movement. It’s about growth mindset, resilience, self-efficacy, and time management, and it’s what drives success in the classroom and beyond. Let’s empower educators and students across the nation to push past obstacles and embrace productive struggle. Who’s ready to get gritty? 💪🏾 #Grit #DrIndiaWhite #TEDx #FDLA #FAMTE #Education #GrowthMindset
Had an Amazing Time at the Imagine Summit! I had a fantastic time speaking at the Imagine Summit on G.R.I.T.! 🙌🏽 We engaged in powerful breakout sessions, had meaningful discussions about NAEP data, and explored strategies to build **growth mindset, resilience, self-efficacy, and time management** in education. Thank you to everyone who participated and brought such great energy to the conversations! Let’s continue working together to bridge gaps and empower students through grit and perseverance. 💪🏽 #GRIT #ImagineSummit #Resilience #Education #GrowthMindset #EquityInEducation #drindiawhite
Building Grit in Teachers at the Imagine Leadership Summit I am beyond excited to be speaking at the Imagine Leadership Summit today, sharing insights on how we can build grit in teachers and empower them to foster resilience, self-efficacy, and growth in their students. 🌟 This summit is an incredible opportunity to collaborate with principals and education leaders who are committed to supporting and strengthening teachers. When we invest in teacher grit, we build stronger, more effective classrooms where students develop the perseverance to tackle challenges and achieve success. A huge thank you to the Imagine Summit leaders for this amazing opportunity! It’s an honor to be among such an outstanding lineup of speakers, including the incredible Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr. Join our sessions today and take GRIT with you—because when teachers grow in resilience, our students thrive! #GRIT #Teachers #Principals #DrIndiaWhite #NCTM #NCSM #ImagineSummit 😊
🌟 What an incredible time at the ICTM conference in Indiana! The lineup was amazing, and the energy was contagious! 🎉 Since I missed the snow back in Florida, I embraced it fully here and made my very first snow angel! ❄️ So grateful for the fun and gritty spirit of the ICTM rockstars! Huge thanks to Angela and every rockstar for this fantastic opportunity! 💙 #drindiawhite #grit #ictm25 #math #teachers #students #indiana #nctm #ncsm
✨ Today’s Grit training at Stockton Unified was absolutely amazing! We had a fantastic time connecting with friends and meeting some incredible rockstars in California. 🌟 I can’t wait to see how gritty Stockton becomes! Huge thanks to Andrew and the tribe for the opportunity to train your amazing leaders. Let’s all take grit with us as we move forward! 💪 #Grit #Leadership #StocktonUnified #drindiawhite #tedx #nctm #ncsm #nabse
🎊Super excited about this opportunity! Looking forward to connecting with these amazing leaders! 🥰🥳🎉 Please register below and let’s connect so we can bridge the achievement gap together! hashtag#drindiawhite hashtag#ncsm hashtag#grit hashtag#math hashtag#teachers