To idealize something means to imagine it as perfect or better than it really is. When you idealize your favorite author, you might picture them as flawless and brilliant in every way, forgetting they're a regular person who probably has messy days and makes mistakes just like everyone else.

Kids often idealize older siblings, thinking they never struggle or feel uncertain. But those siblings probably felt just as confused and worried when they were younger. People sometimes idealize “the good old days,” remembering only the fun parts of the past while forgetting the difficulties and frustrations that were real at the time.

Idealizing isn't quite the same as admiring someone. When you admire your soccer coach, you respect their skill and dedication while still seeing them as human. When you idealize them, you transform them in your mind into an impossible standard of perfection.

The danger of idealizing is that real life can never measure up to an idealized version. If you idealize what middle school will be like, you might feel disappointed when it turns out to include homework stress and occasional boring days alongside the fun new experiences. Seeing things clearly, including both strengths and flaws, usually leads to more genuine appreciation than idealizing ever could.