Ode to the Idealists

You’re an idealist. A dreamer. A visionary. A romantic.

The world has seen several like you — Princess Diana, Nelson Mandela, and Gandhi, to name a few. Some of the those who have made the greatest impact on history have been idealists. So it’s safe to say that you’re in pretty good company.

But the world wasn’t made for people like you.

According to the Keirsey temperament sorter, Idealists make up less than 20 percent of the population. And being in the minority is never easy.

Most non-idealists will tell you that your dreams aren’t realistic, logical, or responsible. The more you hear these things — and you’ll hear them a lot — the harder it is to stay true to who you are.

In a way, they’re right. In the world we live in, being an idealist isn’t always the most logical option. Because when A + B = C there can’t possibly be room for an F. But what the non-idealists don’t understand is that for you, the world doesn’t operate in black and white.

As an idealist, you see infinite possibilities. You have the unique gift of being able to see things not just as they are, but as they could and should be. What some may dismiss as unrealistic, you view as simply another opportunity for growth.

You’re an idealist. In your lifetime you will encounter people who view you as weak, silly, overly sensitive, and non-rational. They’ll mock you, doubt you, and make you feel like your dreams are nonsensical. You’ll believe them sometimes.

But please don’t let this world change you or make your decisions for you. Because even though idealists are a small percentage of the population, they have the power to inspire and encourage others in a way that most can’t.

That’s an incredible gift.

It won’t be easy. You won’t always feel appreciated. You’ll care too much. You’ll become frustrated because others won’t understand how important something is. And you’ll feel misunderstood and lonely a lot more often than you’d like.

But you’re also incredibly strong. And none of the things that you’ll experience are more than you can handle. While on the outside you may appear sensitive, on the inside you have an incredible shield built up from years of being an outsider.

You’re an idealist.

The world wasn’t made for people like you… But it needs people like you.

Because it’s people like you who change it.

“No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.” -Robin Williams (ENFP)