How to Find Like-Minded People: Simple Steps to Meet Others Just Like You

Do you ever feel like you don’t fit in? Like there’s no one who likes or values the same things as you? You don’t feel like you truly belong – so how do you meet like-minded people? Where can you find others on your wavelength?

Maybe you’re not a big drinker and want to chill at home, but your friends are different. They like to go to hip clubs and stay up till the small hours of binge drinking. Or maybe you’re single and want to find a partner. We all like to complain that we never meet any good options.

Seemingly everybody’s just out for fun or not looking to settle down. But most likely, you’re simply not looking in the right place. Lots of us don’t get out enough to meet people by chance. We don’t meet new people we share a lot in common with.

This is possibly due to the nature of our jobs, lack of free time, or even a natural hesitation to meet people other than trusted friends. However, this always results in being unable to branch out and meet someone your type.

In this article, we’ll share some tips on how to find like-minded people who are just like you. We’ll cover everything from online resources to real-world meetups. So whether you’re looking for new friends, a new love, or just want to feel like you belong, read on for some helpful advice.

Why spending time with like-minded people is such a powerful experience

When you’re around like-minded people who share your interests and values, you feel like you belong. You feel like you can be yourself and be accepted for who you are. This can be a huge relief, especially if you’ve ever felt like an outsider or struggled to make friends.

Here’s why spending time with people who think like you is such a powerful experience.

1. There is no shame

When you’re around people who are similar to you, you can be yourself without fear of judgment. You can be unapologetically you and really let your freak flag fly!

This can be a huge relief, especially if you’ve ever felt like you had to hide who you are to fit in. Most of us will have had to mask our true selves at some point in our lives because we’re afraid of being shamed. Whether this was back in high school, or right now in your day job, it’s not a fulfilling way to live.

When you’re around people who share your interests and values, you can shed your inhibitions and be your authentic self. You don’t have to worry about being judged or misunderstood.

2. Ideas have a chance to flourish

People often say that conflict is good for developing your ideas. When you’re around people who are different from you, you’re exposed to new thoughts and perspectives. This can help you challenge your own beliefs and become a more well-rounded person. However, sometimes, it doesn’t pan out that way. You might just end up being crushed by the haters.

When you’re around people who are passionate about the same things you are, your ideas are more likely to be heard and appreciated. You can bounce ideas off of each other, without the fear of being shut down.

3. You have the chance to meet the One

Are you looking for your soulmate? If so, spending time with like-minded people is a great way to increase your chances of finding them. When you’re around people who share your interests and values, you’re more likely to connect with them on a deeper level.

This could lead to a romantic relationship, a best friendship, or even a true soulmate. Whoever it is, you can only meet the One if you meet like-minded people.

4. You aren’t alone

Everyone feels alone sometimes. But when surrounded by people who understand what you’re going through, it can make a world of difference. They’re always there to offer advice and a listening ear. They can help you to see the light at the end of the tunnel so you keep going when things get tough.

5. Access to unlimited inspiration

When you’re around people who are passionate about the same things you are, you’re constantly being inspired. They can encourage you to improve your hobbies and develop new ideas. Like-minded people can also offer you feedback and advice – but be prepared, cause they’ll always be honest!

6. Everlasting connection

When you find like-minded people, you’ve found a tribe. These are the people who will be there for you through thick and thin. They’re the people who will celebrate your successes and pick you up when you fall. These are the people who will make your life richer and more fulfilling.

In short, you’ve found your people. And there’s nothing more powerful than that.

What should you do to meet like-minded people?

Meeting people is not an exact science. There are a couple of big variables that you can’t control like other people’s behavior. But what you can do is stack the odds in your favor.

With the right strategy, you can give yourself the best chance possible of meeting like-minded people. Here’s how to meet others just like you.

1. Define what your “type” is

You’ll stand a much better chance of meeting the kind of person you want to meet if you know who that person is! Figure out what kind of person you want to meet, defined by whatever you feel is important.

Maybe it’s their hobbies and interests, their probable personality, or their lifestyle. Decide what you think is important, and draw an image of this person in your mind.

2. The “where” and “what”

Okay, once you have an idea of the kind of person you want to meet, you need to answer two key questions: where do they go? What do they do?

For example, if something that you value highly in a potential partner is a clean living lifestyle, you can assume that they probably go to places like the gym, the health food store, yoga class, etc.

Or perhaps they’re in meetups or networking groups in the health sphere. Now you have a pretty defined idea of where you might bump into this person.

3. Go to those places

Start going to those places and moving in those circles! You’re not likely to find this clean living health nut at 6 in the morning at a dive bar, swigging cheap whiskey. If you keep going to the same places that you always go to, you’ll end up consistently meeting the same kind of people.

Maybe you go to these places because you always have, thanks to the security of being with your friends. But always doing this won’t allow you to meet the type of people you’re looking for. That’s not to say don’t be friends or go out with them, just don’t expect to meet the kind of like-minded person you want in that specific place.

4. Put yourself in situations of potential

You have to take action by going to new places – places you might meet the kind of people you are looking for. Getting into a new circle of friends, one which is better suited to your desires, is one of the easiest ways to be introduced to new people and places where you might meet other people.

Besides the obvious improved potential of meeting someone, a new friendship group is never a bad thing. A new group of friends that you didn’t previously have, centered on a certain area of interest in your life, is only going to make your social life better.

Plus, friends are the best connectors and are always looking to play matchmaker. Everyone enjoys hooking two of their friends up, especially if things get serious.

5. Don’t blindly follow your friends or general convention

Sometimes, your friends will give you advice that might not actually be helpful. If they don’t understand that you’re trying to meet a certain type of person, they might actually be hindering you more than helping. They’ll send you off to somewhere totally inappropriate.

It’s generally accepted that we meet people in certain places, like bars and parties, so that is the best place to go. It probably is the easiest and best place to meet people, thanks to the surplus of alcohol. However, these people might not be the types that you want to meet.

6. Make socializing a habit

If you want to meet like-minded people, you need to make socializing a habit. This means putting yourself out there and meeting new people regularly. It can be scary at first, but it gets easier the more you do it – like all habits do!

Try and put yourself in situations where you’ll meet new people, as often as possible. If you can, try and make it happen once a week or more.

7. Get to know people around you on a deeper level

One of the best ways to meet like-minded people is to get to know the people around you on a deeper level. That’s right – you might already have some like-minded people in your immediate circle! After all, you wouldn’t be spending so much time with them if you didn’t at least have some things in common.

This means taking the time to ask questions and learn about their interests, values, and goals. Ask them questions about their lives, their families, and their dreams.

Share your own stories and experiences, and let them get to know you as well. The more you get to know each other, the more likely you are to find common ground that you didn’t know about before.

8. Pay attention to what makes your heart beat faster

Try and identify what it is about somebody that makes you like them. There must be some feature or quality that makes a person click with you, and identifying this will help you recognize like-minded people in the future.

Do you like people with a good sense of humor? Or maybe it’s a passion for a shared hobby? Whatever it is, focus on it and make it your mission to find others who make your heart beat faster too.

9. Go to meetup groups related to your interests

It’s generally assumed that you meet people at bars and parties, or through work or school. But if you’re looking for a shy, introverted, and relaxed person who thinks like you, you will probably have more luck finding them in a corner of the library with their nose in a book.

Go to meetup groups relate to your interests. For example, the voracious reader we just spoke about would do well joining a book group or reading club.

Plus, meeting people comes naturally from developing new interests. So even if you don’t have a hobby or interest yet, picking up a new one could be the perfect way to meet new, like-minded people.

10. Remind yourself that small talk is important

Small talk is often seen as a necessary evil, something to be endured before getting to the real meat of a conversation. But small talk is actually important for building relationships.

Yet when you make small talk, you’re not just exchanging pleasantries. You’re also gathering information about the other person. This information can help you determine whether you have anything in common and whether you’d like to get to know them better.

Of course, not all small talk is created equal. Some people are better at it than others. But if you’re willing to put in a little effort, small talk can be a great way to meet like-minded people.

11. Join an online community related to your interest

There are online communities for just about every interest imaginable, from book clubs to hiking groups to gaming groups. Joining an online community is a great way to connect with people who share your interests.

So, what are you passionate about? What do you like to do in your free time? Once you know what you’re interested in, you can start looking for online communities that cater to those interests. A quick Google search can help you find one that’s a good fit for you.

12. Say yes 2 out of 3 times

If you’re always saying no to new experiences, you’re less likely to meet new people. So, if you want to meet new people, it’s important to say yes to invitations 2 out of 3 times. This doesn’t mean you have to say yes to everything, but it does mean being open to options that you’d usually reject.

Of course, there will be times when you need to say no. Maybe you’re busy, or maybe you’re not feeling up to it. Or maybe the experience won’t take you to where like-minded people are.

But if you want to meet like-minded people, make an effort to say yes most of the time. It’s a small change that can make a big difference!

13. Follow up with people you hit it off with

It’s all well and good meeting like-minded people. But don’t let them slip through your fingers, or all your work will have been ultimately pointless. When you meet someone you connect with, it’s important to follow up with them.

There are many ways to follow up with someone. Just send them a text message, email, or social media message. For example, if you met someone at a party and talked about your shared love of hiking, you could follow up by sending them a link to a new hiking trail that you just discovered.

But remember, when you follow up, be sure to mention something specific about your conversation. This will show that you were listening and that you’re interested in what they have to say.

14. Keep an open mind

This is a guiding rule to carry with you throughout your journey to meet like-minded people: keep an open mind. This means being willing to meet people who are different from you. You have to be open to trying new things and be brave enough to step outside of your comfort zone.

Naturally, you have preferences. And that’s okay! You’re not going to get along with everyone you meet. But if you’re always looking for people who are exactly like you, you’re going to miss out on a lot of great opportunities.

A like-minded person isn’t an exact clone of you, they’re somebody that you feel a special connection with. So don’t think you have to match up on absolutely everything.

15. Give it time

Meeting like-minded people isn’t something that happens overnight, especially if you are looking for a serious long-term partner. You have probably, at least passively, been on the lookout for your entire adult life. Adopting a new strategy and expecting it to work within two weeks is just silly.

All that you can do is give yourself the best possible opportunities and stack the odds in your favor. Unfortunately, you cannot force the issue. You won’t meet the right kind of person just out of sheer will to make it happen.

They say that you will often meet the right person when you aren’t looking for them. And it’s true! You don’t need to try because it happens organically. If you’re hanging around people and places that suit your desired match, you will eventually bump into someone that takes your fancy.

Mistakes to avoid when meeting people

So, now you know how to meet like-minded people, here’s what NOT to do. These are the ultimate mistakes to avoid when meeting new people. If you see yourself in these, it’s time to change your strategy – STAT!

1. Don’t overthink things

It’s easy to overthink things when you’re meeting new people. You might worry about what to say, how to act, or whether or not they’ll even like you at all. But overthinking can actually make things worse. It can make you feel anxious and self-conscious, which then makes it difficult to relax and be yourself.

So, if you find yourself overthinking things, take a deep breath and remind yourself that it’s okay to be nervous. Just relax and let things flow naturally. The more you try to force things, the more likely you are to make a mistake.

2. Stop rushing into relationships

We know the feeling, you’ve just met the most awesome person ever and you can’t wait to include them in anything and everything you do. It’s always tempting to rush into a relationship when you meet someone you like. But take things slow. Rushing into a relationship can lead to disappointment and heartbreak – or even scare the person off.

3. Being alone is okay, but not for long

You know the old saying: nobody is an island. It’s normal to enjoy being alone sometimes, but not every minute of every day. If you find yourself constantly isolating yourself from others, it could be a sign that you’re struggling with loneliness or low self-esteem.

Loneliness is a serious problem that can harm your physical and mental health. If you’re feeling lonely, reach out to your friends and family. They’ll be there for you.

4. Act your age

All of us have the urge to fit in with other people. Nobody likes being left out or being considered weird. It’s crucial that you don’t feel the need to pretend to be something you’re not.

But there are also certain things you just shouldn’t be around new people. One of them is childish, or immature. So even if you face knockbacks, don’t throw a fit or get bitchy. Act your age, be a grown-up, and hold your head up high.

The best apps to find like-minded people

If you’re out of luck IRL, you could try an online friend app to make some new connections. Nowadays, there are thousands of apps out there you can use to meet like-minded people. They’re not just for online dating anymore! Here are our top ten apps to meet new friends.

1. Meetup: A social network for people who want to meet others who share their interests. It’s available in thousands of towns and cities around the world, and it makes it easy to find events and activities happening in your area.
2. Supper Club: An app all about food. Foodies can use it to find new restaurants to try, host dinner parties, and attend events hosted by the app.
3. Time to Enjoy: An app that helps you balance your work and social life. It compares your work schedule with upcoming events so you can plan your time accordingly and make sure you don’t miss out on any fun.
4. GoTribe: An app for people who love exercise. It promotes wellness and fitness events, making it perfect for people who want to stay active and social.
5. Golden: An app to find like-minded people who share your passion for social well-being, and you can invite them to volunteer with you at upcoming events.
6. CitySocializer: A platform that connects people with similar interests. It has a long list of organizations and groups that you can join, and it keeps you updated about upcoming events in your area.
7. Meet My Dog: An app that makes it easy to connect with other dog owners in your area, chat with them, and even arrange meetups for your dogs.
8. Me3: A social networking app that helps you make friends with people of the same gender. It’s a safer and more comfortable way to meet like-minded people.
9. Peanut: A social network that connects pregnant women and new mothers.
10. Nearify: An app that helps you stay up-to-date on everything that’s happening near you. It shows you events that your friends are attending, and it lets you know when your favorite band or comedian is in town.
11. MIRL: A cool new social networking app that connects experts and seekers. It can help you connect with like-minded people who share your interests and passions.