Today, I want to talk about the best way to spot someone who lacks depth, look for cruelty. Let me explain. When we encounter someone who doesn’t look, sound, act, love, or live like us, our first reaction often stems from fear or judgment or both. This is a deeply rooted part of human evolution. As a species, we survived by being cautious of things unfamiliar to us.
However, to show kindness, we must override that primal instinct and consciously choose a different path.
Empathy and compassion are evolved ways of being. They require the mental capacity to move beyond our most basic reactions and make a deliberate choice to connect with others on a deeper level. Unfortunately, in recent years, cruelty has often been portrayed as a calculated way to gain power. It's been mistaken for strength, while kindness and empathy are dismissed as weaknesses. Some view the vulnerable merely as stepping stones toward personal success.
After years of teaching Pilates and working with people from all walks of life, I can tell you this is a flawed perspective. When someone's path through the world is defined by acts of cruelty, it reveals a failure to evolve beyond their primal instincts. They have not built the mental pathways needed to overcome fear and judgment, which means their thinking and problem-solving will lack the creativity and imagination that the kindest people often demonstrate so naturally.
In my experience, the kindest person in the room is almost always the smartest. True kindness requires strength, awareness, and emotional intelligence. It takes courage to go beyond our initial instincts and choose connection over division. As Pilates teachers, we work with a diverse range of people, each with their own stories, challenges, and fears. Every session is an opportunity to practice kindness, patience, and empathy, not just with our clients but with ourselves.
In our teaching, we’re not just helping people strengthen their bodies. We’re offering them a space to feel seen, supported, and understood. In doing so, we embody what an evolved society looks like, one built not on cruelty but on compassion, creativity, and kindness. So, as you move into your week, consider how you can bring this perspective into your teaching and interactions. Let’s be the kindest people in the room, both in and out of the studio. It’s not just the smart thing to do, it’s the right thing to do.
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