If You're Not Trying to Change the World, Then What's the Point?

I spent the majority of my life trying to be a realist. It seemed like the thing to be. Realists are self-aware. They don't get disappointed very often. They're right more often than not. They usually get the girl.

Idealists are bright-eyed and bushy tailed. They're naive. They spend their time in their own little world. They're often disappointed. They're not particularly cool.

Is it any wonder I spent so long trying to be a realist? It seemed a hell of a lot easier. Here's the thing, though: It was really tough for me. It was tough for me because I'm an idealist at heart. I think all creative people are idealists at heart. And since I believe that everyone has the capacity to be creative, I think everyone is really an idealist. The problem is that being an idealist is rough, so we try to change ourselves into being realists. That's a mistake.

Realists are rarely disappointed because they set their expectations low. They're often right because they always make the safe bet. They usually get the girl (or guy) because they're settling for the convenient one, and not the love of their lives.

Idealists on the other hand set themselves up for failure because they reach for the stars. They take crazy risks. They chase their soulmates. And, sure enough, more often than not, they fail. But, I've already said repeatedly on this blog that failing isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's a learning experience. It's okay that idealists fail a lot, because every once in a while they succeed. And when an idealist succeeds, he knows he's done something special.

What's the point of going through life playing it safe? Sure, you might not fail as often, but you definitely won't get the great rewards, either. Instead, do something crazy, take a risk, try to change the world. Fail enough times and eventually you'll succeed, and when you do, it will all have been worth it.

If you're not trying to change the world, then what's the point?

Starting right now, become an idealist. Go start working on something that will change the world. If it doesn't work out right away, don't worry about it, just keep plugging away. At the very least, you'll know that you're working towards something worthwhile.

Finish that novel. Start that sculpture. Get to work on that business plan. Find your soulmate. Embark on the journey of a lifetime. Change the world.