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YOU Were Made to GROW!
India White • August 7, 2022
It's Time for YOU to Grow!
You were made to GROW! - Dr. India White
As a gardener tills their land, there is always a high hope in their crops, that they will produce a great harvest. Usually, when a seed is planted in an environment conducive for growth, the gardener reaps more than they expected from that seed.
I believe it is the will of God for everyone to prosper, just as seeds in a garden. However, we must all be planted in the right environment. Whether that is being in a stable and healthy home, church or work environment, each environment has a direct impact on your ability to thrive as a purpose and excel in your purpose.
Imagine this: you’re a gardener and you plant a cucumber seed. After a few weeks, you start to see the plant begin to rise from the soil. There’s joy and a hope for many cucumbers. However, you fail to water the plant. Well, after a while, that cucumber plant will not survive because you have not provided it all the nutrients it needs. Similarly, what if you gave the cucumber plant water, but didn’t fertilize it regularly? Well, it will probably produce a small harvest, and will settle below its potential. Or, what if the cucumber plant is growing, but the soil of the plant is hard, and stony? Well, it may last for a few days, but it simply can’t thrive because its foundation is rough on it.
I bring up these examples because people are just like a cucumber. Some people can thrive because they have all the love they need to thrive. Whether that’s from their parents, spouse, children, coworkers, religious leaders and or mentors, they know that they are loved. See, this group of individuals is what makes up their TRIBE and helps them thrive. They can call these people any time and get advice. If they are in a rut emotionally, financially, or spiritually, they know they won’t have to embrace this alone. What is sad is when people do NOT have this support. Then, they end up being like a cucumber plant that is not watered. They have no love coming their way. They constantly pour out with nobody pouring in. People give them the cold shoulder instead of loving them as expected. Or, they go home to abuse, or go to places of worship where they suffer spiritual and emotional abuse versus the love of God and love from saints and spiritual leaders. This should not be, however, there are MILLIONS of people facing this reality.
Further, people enter their workspaces full of joy and ready to “make it happen”. They want to leave a mark and contribute, only to suffocate and feel like they are barely hanging on. Sometimes, they deal with abuse in forms of microaggressions, racism, sexism, body shaming and more, making them feel inadequate, invisible, and unappreciated. This is all an unfortunate plan from abusive bosses and leaders who can’t outright “fire” that individual without cause, so they make their lives a living chaos while on the job. Now, unfortunately, people are made to stick it out until they can become financial independent, enduring the abuse from narcissistic leaders, racists, sexists, and more. In environments like this, many people do not perform at their potential because they lack support from the top. They’ve become a silent threat, not a part of the fabric of the organization. Insecure leaders will shut down a great leader or try to pull the rug out from underneath them instead of giving them permission to soar and even grow beyond the organization.
So, how do you grow beyond the pain, abuse, shortcomings, and more? Well, you’re going to have to find an outlet in which you can thrive and a strategy for detoxing from abuse you receive at work, church, or in the home. Here are some strategies you can use to thrive beyond abusive, narcissistic, and cruel people that have failed you:
1. Don’t take it personal
a. Sometimes, people can be in leadership and downright miserable. They might have various biases that they approach you with. For instance, as a minority, they might not expect you to have much education. Hence, if you surpass their opinions, it might ruffle their feathers. This is nothing to do with you. You simply fulfilled purpose in your life, and messed up what they learned about your “kind”, making them feel inadequate within themselves, and upset with your success. Refuse to buckle to this type of abuse. Continue to move forward in purpose, no matter how many people compare themselves to you.
2. Find an OUTLET!
a. How do you detox from drama, mistreatment, negativity, and your haters? You MUST find an outlet. The last thing you want to do is to take it out innocent people including your family or those around you that support you. Take a trip to the beach, work out, or find someone with great energy to hang out with. Refuse to wallow in the negative energy that people invoke on you due to their personal mental and emotional issues.
3. Find NEW territory!
a. Why continue to knock on the door of rejection, shame, humiliation and blame when there is a world filled with billions of people who will gladly receive you? Take a moment to identify any people or opportunities that present rejection, shame, humiliation and blame to you and close those doors. They are not worthy of you. Period. Find the new door that awaits you around the corner. Make it happen by faith.
4. REFUSE to accept Mess
a. You have every right to ignore and refuse negativity that comes your way. You do not have to sit under abuse or serve a leader who is toxic. Why would you spend your life like this? You might think it is the “will of God”, but I can assure you that God has more for you than this. Choose to grow beyond the negativity and thrive beyond the mess!
Conclusion
In conclusion, it’s time for you to grow. Hence, find time to heal, reinvent yourself and start anew. Find new energy and take advantage of new opportunities. Don’t allow your dreams and your talents to die. Grow beyond your environments of hate and be great! Take this scripture with you: “Isaiah 54:17: No weapon formed against you shall prosper!”
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