Are high expectations actually a form of kindness? And what does it really mean when you lower your standards for yourself or someone else? In this episode, Shola Richards breaks down a powerful mindset shift that challenges how most people think about empathy, leadership, and personal growth.

We often believe that being supportive means easing the pressure, lowering expectations, and letting things slide. But what if that approach is quietly doing more harm than good? This episode explores why low expectations can end up damaging confidence and limiting potential, and how holding high standards that are rooted in belief and backed by support is actually the kindest approach.

The Kindness Strategies:

• Do a Belief Check
• Have a Belief Conversation (Using the Belief, Challenge, Support Formula)
• Write a Standard + Grace Statement

Listen to this episode to learn why high standards really matter, and how you can stop letting yourself and others off the hook - all in the name of kindness!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 28 Quieting Your Inner Critic: Transforming Self-Criticism into Self-Kindness
• Episode 51 The Lost Art of Encouragement: 3 Ways to Build People Up in a World That Tears Them Down
• Episode 52 Perfect is the Enemy of Kind: 3 Ways Perfectionism Blocks Your Compassion
• Episode 54 The People-Pleasing Trap: 3 Ways to Know If You're Being Kind or a Doormat

For speaking requests or collaborations: https://sholarichards.com/speaking/?utm_source=kindness_extremist&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep55

🔗 Connect with Shola:
Instagram – @sholarichards
Website – sholarichards.com

Read more on Substack.

This podcast is produced by MicMoguls.