Let’s face it, we are all slightly uneasy about going out and meeting new people. Finding people who share the same interests as us can make things only harder, let alone those that are so like-minded as us that you share the same dreams and passions. Of course, you love to hang out with your friends and family; however, there is probably a small part of you wishing you could chat with someone who is a bit more like you.
We are so busy; making time to meet like-minded people can feel like a chore. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be. You can discover how to attract like-minded people! All you need to do is take the first step— that is to show compassion towards others.
You may be pleasantly surprised when you practice tolerance and engage in small talk with people you normally would have brushed off. These encounters might actually lead to you meeting like-minded people.
The following are just as important to consider when searching for your tribe:
- Make an effort to really get to know somebody.
- Practice your conversational skills.
- Expose yourself to as many different people as possible.
- Be prepared to meet with these people each week to cultivate a relationship.
- Better your chances by visiting interesting places.
- Keep in touch with individuals; make it a habit to call to see how they are, or to send a text message now and again.
Taking the first step is always the hardest, but soon, you may even enjoy going out into the world to meet all of its bright and diverse inhabitants.
12 Ways on How to Attract Like-Minded People
You no longer have to feel like you are walking alone in life; here are some ideas about how to attract like-minded people.
- Start talking to people: Begin by making small talk with people in your immediate environment. Do not judge them on their appearance, age, gender, religion, or race. The world is richly diversified, and chances are you’ll meet a kindred spirit who you originally thought you would never engage with.
- Visit workshops and interest groups: Visit local places that spark your interest or sign yourself up for classes to practice or learn hobbies or skills that you are passionate about.
- Stay away from bars and clubs: To spark a relationship with somebody, you need to meet with them regularly. Generally, those who go to clubs and bars are not in the mood to start a deep conversation with a stranger. There is one expectation to this rule, though. Smaller house parties where you can grab a beer and sit on a sofa and chat with somebody without having to contend with the music is an ideal opportunity to meet a like-minded individual.
- Visit social events: Follow social media pages of causes that you are passionate about or that are related to your interests. Look for events where there is room to spark conversations with others.
- Join an online community: Regardless of your interests in life, you can use the internet and social media to find and join a community. Most importantly, remain actively engaged with the community by posting comments, replying to discussions, and keeping up-to-date with the community’s happenings.
- If you can’t find a group, start one: If none of the available groups or communities seem to speak to your interests, don’t give up. Why not create your own group instead?
- Say yes: Be prepared to say yes two out of three times. We are often afraid of things we do not understand and can’t control, but by saying yes, we can alter our perceptions, meet like-minded people, and even boost our personal growth.
- Be kind and open: One of the most important things you can do when finding your tribe is to be your authentic self. Accepting who you are is pivotal and will allow you to filter relationships based on how they serve you.
- Ask the universe for some help: This all might sound “wishy-washy,” but there is definitely some validity in this. Give it a chance. When you reach out to a higher power, you allow yourself to believe that you will be graced with the presence of like-minded individuals. If that seems difficult for you, consider journaling from time to time. Reflect on the people you’d like to meet and which values they possess.
- Invest in the community: Volunteer at the animal shelter or soup kitchen. Visit the local farmers market, join the gym, and go to the library on a weekly basis.
- Be brave: Sitting home alone or keeping to yourself at the office will not bring people to you. You have to be brave, get out there, and start chatting to people.
- It is okay to shed friends: It is completely normal to remove people from your life who do not bring you happiness and joy. Get rid of the people in your life who sour it for you. It will leave more room for you to meet new, similar individuals, such as yourself.
- Patience: Practice patience; socializing takes time and effort. Be intentional about it. Make plans to meet up with people and stick to them.
It can be hard to meet like-minded people if you are unsure about your own values. Here is some information that may help you to establish them. Good luck!
The Meet Like-Minded People Challenge
Are you tempted to take a crash-course in attracting like-minded people? Challenge yourself to daily tasks designed to get you out of your comfort zone and out socializing.
| Challenge | |
| Monday | Join a Facebook Group related to your interests. |
| Tuesday | Sign yourself up for a workshop. |
| Wednesday | Start a conversation with a work colleague who you know little about. |
| Thursday | Download one of the Apps mentioned later in the article and start networking. |
| Friday | Host a dinner party at a restaurant and invite everyone you know, not just your closest friends and family. |
| Saturday | Attend a local event. |
| Sunday | Volunteer at a community center. |
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Meeting People
You may believe that you have this meeting like-minded people “thing” in the bag. But remember we are all human, we can make mistakes and rush into relationships far too quickly.
Here are some reminders on how to avoid mistakes and save yourself embarrassment:
- Do not overthink things: You cannot structure relationships with people. You may feel worried about being lonely, but understand that there isn’t an ideal way to meet the perfect individuals. You cannot force a friendship.
- Only hang out with people you think are your “type”: We have a tendency to only want to socialize with people we have perceived as being the best for us. If you live in a bubble, it will pop at some stage and leave you feeling stranded. Invest in expanding your social group to accommodate people from all walks of life.
- Rushing into relationships: Allow people to open up to you in their own time, and trust the timing of friendships. Be authentic and do not get too attached in the early stages of a friendship, unless, of course, there is an immediate spark.
- Being alone is okay, but not for long: There are periods in our life where we find ourselves rich with friends, and there are periods when we find ourselves alone. This is quite normal but don’t spend too much time isolated and without company. Be mindful of how you feel, and notice when your loneliness is beginning to affect your happiness.
- Do not act your age: Society has made us believe that we have to behave in a certain way and only do only adult things. The best way to empower yourself is to grow, be authentic, and embrace your childlike persona. Be curious, passionate, funny, or silly. When you are happy, you have the chance to meet people in all sorts of places and situations.
There Is an App for That
It can be hard to interact with people when we don’t even have time for ourselves in our busy schedules. But the glorious thing about the 21st century is that we have access to a world of online platforms to streamline almost every part of our lives. These apps are considered the best when in search of meeting new people and sharing common interests with them.
- Meetup: Meetup is a platform designed for people to find others based on hobbies, goals, passions—and pretty much anything. You can search for events related to pretty much any aspect of your personality and find activities based on your location.
- SupperClub: If you love food, then this is the app for you. With this app, you can organize group outings and have social dinners at local restaurants. The app also hosts its own events, which you are welcome to attend and is another great way to meet people.
- Time to Enjoy: This app allows those who frequently travel to view upcoming events related to their schedules. Meaning there will be no excuse of “I do not have the time.”
- GoTribe: For all of you who are conscious about your well-being, GoTribe was created to help you connect with workout buddies in your area.
- Golden: This app was created to match you with volunteering opportunities in your community.
- City Socializer: This app contains an in-depth list of all the social groups and organizations within your city, plus all the events being hosted by these groups.
Look into these apps to help you to locate events happening in your area and get one step closer to connecting with like-minded people.
Why Spending Time With Like-Minded People Is Such a Powerful Experience
How do you feel when you are in the company of others who share your interests? These connections can be quite powerful to experience first-hand.
These deeper connections are not those that you share over coffee while networking with people in the same industry as you. Nor are they related to the chit-chat between coworkers in the office canteen.
When you begin to look back and try to figure out when last you felt this way, you may struggle to find the answer. Don’t stress, though; this is a common response and one you need to be aware of. It is so crucial to identify these moments because you need to find these like-minded people and spend time with them. They are the ones that will inspire and motivate you to reach for your goals. They can also help you realize that you are not alone, no matter how odd you may think you are.
Here is how mingling with like-minded people can be a life-changing experience.
There Is No Shame
Nobody will fully be able to gauge what you’re passionate about if you don’t tell them. Dreams that are shared are often reached; so, it is important to let those around you know about the plans you have in mind for yourself and what you want to achieve in life. There are going to be people who share the same outlook who can support you on your journey. When you find a like-minded person who shares the same interests as you, you won’t feel like you’re being judged. This space of open communication means you can truly be yourself. The time and energy you save from not worrying about criticism can instead be directed towards meeting your goals.
Ideas Have a Chance to Flourish
When you connect with like-minded people, you have the chance to take your aspirations to new heights. When you share with your like-minded counterparts, you are able to let your mind wander and stumble upon new ideas. You can also come across concepts that may lend a hand in helping you achieve your goals even sooner.
Pay Attention to What Makes Your Heart Beat a Bit Faster
While in discussion with like-minded people, be mindful of how you feel when you share new and exciting thoughts. Sometimes you may come across new passions that you would like to invest more time in, which you never thought about beforehand. Sharing these moments helps increase your self-awareness and allows you to delve into your own authenticity.
You Have the Chance to Meet the One
When you fill your life with like-minded people, you might be lucky enough to meet somebody who ticks all the right boxes when considering a mate. Imagine meeting somebody who shares similar passions and dreams in life? How exciting will that journey be, if you go about it together?
You Aren’t Alone
It is an important part of life to open yourself up to hearing every person’s point of view. This can be a powerful experience because you realize that you are not alone and that somebody my be going through the exact same thing as you are. It can help to ease your anxieties about the things in life that you do not have control over. It may even help you to contemplate different paths to overcoming some of the issues standing in your way.
Access to Unlimited Inspiration and Support
In life, we walk a path that is filled with joy but also pain. One does not exist without the other. If you are fortunate enough to share your love with like-minded individuals, it is a win-win for both parties. The reason is that when you spend time with them, you get the support you need to help you through the hard parts of life. As an extra bonus, they will be there to celebrate the good parts of life with you too!
When you receive the support you need from those who share similarities to you, you will want to reciprocate that feeling—it is contagious. This goes both ways, as the same can be said for when we share with them; the need to share is downright inspirational!
Everlasting Connection
It is important to seek out like-minded people and focus on finding your tribe so that you gain access to lasting connections. They will not only benefit you in your own personal life but in other areas, too, such as your career. Partnering up these mutually beneficial people allows you to share your knowledge and skill sets with each other. Goals and dreams are attainable when you have the right people by your side.
Do Opposites Attract?
This is where the science gets a bit tricky to understand. Some agree that when it comes to matters of the heart, we are inclined to pursue relationships with individuals who are more like us. This means that we generally align ourselves with people who share similar values, political outlooks, religions, and areas of intelligence.
The term “birds of a feather flock together” applies in most scenarios, whether it be with a romantic relationship or one that is purely plutonic in nature.
For those who disagree with the concept of opposites attracting, you are not alone. Some individuals who feel drawn to people who are opposite to them, see something in that person that catches and keeps their attention. If this is you, the need to engage with them is probably because they represent the desire and traits that you wish to build up or develop in yourself.
The happiest relationships, some say, are when each person brings something different to the partnership. They may have very different characteristics, but there is a high level of understanding, respect, and tolerance for each other.
Keen to know a bit more about who you are and the type of personality you have? Take a few minutes to take a test and find out.
Related Questions and Answers
How do you find like-minded people?
The best advice is to first seek like-minded people through friends or at the workplace. The second-best route to take it to sign yourself up for classes that you have an interest in. Often these are the best places to start your search.
How do I attract good friends?
Reflect positive vibes, smile, be helpful, kind, and grateful. If you practice these values and ideals, you will attract the right people into your life.
Thoughts
Whatever you wish to call it—your squad, gang, or tribe—the need for belonging and feeling like you are not alone is listed at number three on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. When you have ensured that both your physical and physiological needs are met, the next stepping stone is securing a place of belonging.
Human beings are social creatures who yearn for love, affection, and relationships. We all need to have a place and friends that provide a safety net to land on when the world outside becomes a bit shaky, as it inevitably will from time to time.
It takes hard work and a lot of thought to fill your inner circle with like-minded people. The key to attracting like-minded people is that once you make the commitment, do not look back; keep investing your energy and yourself into these newly formed relationships. The individuals who fill your life with joy, and make you feel safe, creative, and confident are the ones who deserve your time. Now it’s time to go find them!