Idealist

The natural expression of Idealist is to prioritize the best possible outcomes so they can invest themselves in changing the status quo. An Idealist focuses on the immediate future, but easily sees the long term possibilities. We attempt to see all sides of a situation by being non-critical and open, believing in this way that the best ideas will emerge. We naturally embrace change and therefore fear inertia or being pulled back to the “old” way of doing things. Our thought processes are naturally more abstract and receptive as we try to maintain an open perspective. While we are interested in details to some degree, we consider ourselves “big picture” individuals who synthesize possibilities.

The Idealist attitude reveals a preoccupation with the immediate future causing us to lose track of the present moment. Idealists talk about how the world should be, believing that everything should be improved each time it gets done. This creates conflict with Realists who believe that if something isn’t broken, don’t fix it. Idealists are easily identified by our focus on making changes NOW, and our unwillingness to wait for a better time. We see the world in terms of how “It Should Be.” Being the exalted expression attitude, it is the most energetic, expressive and emotional of all the Attitudes. Idealists change the world through communicating about the dichotomies we see, using our energy and enthusiasm to overcome any barriers.

“It should be” is the mantra of Idealists because they are always focusing on the future. They are responsive to ideas, particularly abstract ones that promise a sense of progress and growth. They trust only those concepts which they have been able to personally validate and experience as effective. Unfortunately, many times this results in trying to use the same tool in all situations even if it is not the best tool for the job. This over emphasizes a passionate, brute force to push things forward to overcome what they fearfully believe is their natural opposition, which is inertia and resistance. They are the most sensitive to impressions, whether intuitive, intellectual, or emotional. Their challenge is to refine their ideas so that others understand what they are trying to change. Their openness and interest in people tends to attract people to consider their ideas without much effort. They can be more ardent and active, tending to mobilize their thought processes to go where they want, or they can be more passive and adaptive and then grow by seeing what is wrong in certain situations.

On the self-reflective side, they are non-assertive, non-questioning, and seek to find the easiest way to make things work in a situation, so the improvements are inside themselves. At the other extreme, assertive Idealists tend to always be drawn to fixing other people’s problems while ignoring their own, fixating on an issue outside of themselves and trying to change it. Regardless, the goal is eventually to unify opposites and bring things together so they can work in harmony. Idealists see everything in terms of a timeframe, so they are always prioritizing their activities so that they work through the issues in a meaningful sequence. Their real challenge following through and following up because they can become easily overwhelmed by all the new possibilities that are constantly showing up. They are so self-referencing, that is difficult for them to acknowledge and understand the objections of others.

Idealists serve those around them by pulling together the needs and perceptions of others to formulate the ideal that is acceptable to all, so they facilitate the process of coalescing or precipitating a set of ideas into some form or plan of action that others can consider. Their desire for improvement, together with their ability to see the brighter side of every circumstance, creates a framework in which everyone can acknowledge their unique interests. In this way, natural Idealists are extremely persuasive and strong-willed in their ability to get the attention of those around them. The primary fear of Idealists is that they will not be seen, heard or taken seriously. They evoke intuitive understandings that gradually attract the interest of others around them. It is the synthesis that matters, or putting all the thoughts in proper relationship to one another. The goal of Idealists is to illuminate all the possibilities, and this only occurs by connecting everything to everything. Idealists are not interested in confrontation or more discrimination, instead they are more inclusive and can bring people together. The Idealist focuses on the future where everything works together. Approximately 30% of the world’s population are Idealists.

Identifying: Indications of a true Idealist are how they dwell, brood, and ponder, and the softness they have both with people and with their ideas. They absorb all possibilities, which stimulates them to come up with the one great thing. While they are interested in details, they frequently delegate them to Skeptics or only engage them when under great stress.

Primary Focus—To serve those around us by pulling together all the ingredients to make a situation work in the best possible way.
Responsive Characteristics—Coalescence, look for improvement, ability to see the brighter side; persuasive, optimistic, good willed.
Primary Fear—Inertia, things remaining the way they are.
Reactive Characteristics—Naive, unrealistic outlook, unable to make changes, ungrounded, perfectionistic (whatever changes made are not enough).
Percent of the population operating from this Attitude: 30%.
How to recognize a person with this Attitude: Dedicated, committed to a cause. Sometimes we look pie-eyed, like we will believe anything.
Examples: Walt Disney, Paul Simon Martin Luther King, Jr., Jay Leno, John F. Kennedy, Jr., George Lucas, Barbra Streisand, Elizabeth Taylor, Whoopie Goldberg, Gloria Steinem