An ideal is a thought, isn't it? It is the very best, the superlative, and has no life. It doesn't breathe or feel anything. That is why idealistic people sometimes lack feeling or empathy with suffering. You can be very idealistic and quite cold-hearted.
When we attach to a personality, we 'become' a personality and interpret experience through the distortions of our personal habits.
And as long as that distortion is not seen through, not realized and accepted, we are always going to be frightened.
“Mindfulness or awareness is knowing. It is a direct knowing, immanent here and now. It is being fully present, attentive to this present moment as is. But defining #mindfulness tends to make it into something... ~@AjahnSumedho