If you want to communicate with people who pursue knowledge for its own sake or want to share your thoughts and gain insights, this article is for you. There are many places and activities that cater to deep thinking. Below are a handful of my favorites, and some ideas about what deep thinking really means and how to connect to deep thinkers, discover a great thing together, and even find a potential partner.
Why Would You Want to Communicate With a Deep Thinker?
Perhaps you are a deep thinker yourself and you want to explore your thoughts and ideas with like-minded people. Maybe you are not a deep thinker and you want to expand your horizons and increase your knowledge of life, your world, and the universe.
Regardless of your motivation, here are the places and things I believe are worth checking out if you are looking to connect with other deep thinkers, expand your thoughts, and challenge yourself intellectually.
What Is a Deep Thinker
Deep thinkers are often a bit different than everyone else. They’re the kids in school who didn’t really fit in. They may have been the nerds, or they may have been those who were so smart that they couldn’t relate to other students.
A deep thinker isn’t necessarily a genius, but he or she is probably above average intelligence.
Deep thinkers tend to be introverts. They think before they speak and tend to be very private people. They are generally not good at small talk.
Some of them are considered “loners.” Many deep thinkers are also highly sensitive people (HSP). This means that they may be shy, withdrawn, have a sensitivity to noise and crowds, and are often creative.
Excellent Listeners
They are usually excellent listeners and take the time to understand others very well. A deep thinker is someone who has the ability to think thoroughly and profoundly. They can develop complex ideas, form thoughts and opinions, and analyze the information that they receive.
They have:
- The ability to think simultaneously on many levels (e.g., abstract, concrete).
- The ability to hold complex thoughts in mind at once (e.g., multiple scenarios, ideas).
- The ability and thinking process to make creative connections between seemingly unrelated topics or objects.
- The ability to shift perspectives between “big picture” and “ground level.”
- A desire to understand how things work, why they are the way they are, and what might happen next.
- Critical thinking skill.
Deep thinkers have a wide range of knowledge about various topics and are able to use this knowledge to make connections between different things.
This makes them very good at problem-solving or taking on a deep question because they can take all of the information that they have learned, identify patterns, and come up with innovative solutions.
Introspection Not Introversion
Deep thinkers are sometimes introverted and prefer to spend time alone so that they can focus on deep thought without being interrupted or influenced by others.
However, they also tend to be more empathetic than others because they are able to understand how others feel based on past experiences or similar situations that happened in their lives.
The key quality that all deep thinkers have is introspection. This is the best technique for them to analyze their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This helps them understand themselves better, which enables them to become more effective and self-sufficient.
But what is introspection? It’s the act of looking inside ourselves and examining who we are. It’s basically self-awareness and the ability to understand what we’re feeling and why.
Self-Reflection
Introspective people are more focused on self-reflection. This can include thinking about their strengths and weaknesses, values, aspirations, and goals. They often turn to philosophy or religion to help answer some of the big questions in life.
This introspection is sometimes mistaken by others for introversion. Being a deep thinker doesn’t necessarily mean you’re an introvert. While there is some overlap between the two, it’s possible to be one without being the other.
Introversion is when you get your energy from being alone while extroverts get their energy from being around other people. Deep thinking is simply a way of processing information and seeing the world.
Signs That Someone is a Deep Thinker
You can sometimes spot a deep thinker in the wild 🙂
Some of the giveaway signs are:
- Abstract Ideas: Deep thinkers love to be creative, and a lot of their ideas are at an abstract level rather than concrete. This means they can come up with creative solutions to problems that others can’t. They love creating maps for unmapped territory.
- Carefree: Deep thinkers are not afraid of taking risks. They enjoy exploring different paths in life without too much concern about what other people will say or whether they will succeed. They’ll succeed or not.
- Internal Worldbuilders: Deep thinkers have rich inner worlds of the mind, and that is where they build their memories, visions, and dreams. Sometimes this will even extend into talking to themselves out loud.
- Hunger for Information: Deep thinkers are assiduous when it comes to learning new things. They are always reading stories, articles, novels, and posts that teach them something new.
- Forgetful: Deep thinkers can be prone to forgetfulness because so much is in their minds at once. They have a lot to think about and are constantly processing new information that it might slip off their memory.
- Truth and Meaning Matters: Deep thinkers are motivated by a search for truth and for meaning. They want to know about things that matter in all their complexity, not just the parts that make people popular or successful.
- Questions: Deep thinkers ask a lot of questions and tend to ask follow-up questions as well; they want to know the origin of things.
How Deep Thinkers Identify
It’s worth considering some of the other ways that people refer to deep thinkers because this will help you find and meet them:
- Thinkers: a thinker is someone who uses his or her mind to think about new questions, problems, or ideas that have not yet been solved. A thinker is someone who is inspired by the past and looks into the future.
- Philosophers: philosophers are people who are interested in ideas, thoughts, and concepts. They ask questions and try to find answers.
- Scientists: scientists are people who are interested in learning about the living world and how it works.
- Scholars: scholars are interested in learning the history of ideas, philosophies, or theories.
- Creative Thinkers: Creative thinkers are a unique mix of thinkers who are interested in thinking about different things. They have a strong knowledge base, but they are also able to have original ideas. They like to explore mental realms that are not easily explored by others. This gives them a unique perspective on things and they stand out. Creative thinkers are especially good at art, music, dance, poetry, painting, and poetry because each of these art forms helps unleash their creativity.
- Alternative Thinkers: Alternative thinkers are people who have strong opinions on various topics. They understand different points of view but are usually not open to different. They tend to be open to new ideas, but they may reject ideas if they disagree with them. Alternative thinkers believe in the sovereignty of their mind and they do not rely on what other people say.
- High Thinkers: High thinkers are people who use their minds to explore new ideas, thoughts, and concepts. They come up with new ideas and concepts and then come up with new questions to explore those ideas. They often challenge conventional ideas about the world. They use their mind to improve society. They question social norms and beliefs. These leaders use their minds to think about different problems in society and come up with solutions to solve those problems.
- Theoretical Thinkers: Theoretical thinkers are people who value learning and theory. They are interested in creating theories or philosophies about other things. They develop theories about how the world works. Theoretical thinkers have more breadth of knowledge than depth. They are very analytical in their thinking. They like to explore ideas and theories rather than focus on one topic. They like, love interacting with people and using their minds, and asking them questions to understand other people.
- Nerds: nerds are a unique group of people. It’s hard to imagine a nerd as someone who uses his or her mind to think deeply about the issues of the day, but nerds are actually deep thinkers. They use their brainpower to think about ideas that aren’t easy to solve.
- Geeks: geeks are nerds who use their brains to code computer programs and video games. They are often passionate about technology and love to use their creative problem-solving skills.
- Intellectuals: intellectuals use their brains to think critically about issues. They like to learn as much as they can and become experts in their field.
- Smart People: smart people have a natural curiosity about the world. They want to learn more about other people, other cultures, and the world. Smart people enjoy reading and writing about new subjects, can relate to many different people, and to many different ideas.
- Deep Souls: deep souls use their minds to solve difficult and complex problems. They use the power of their minds to analyze different problems and come up with smart solutions. They are always looking for new ways to solve problems and ideas. Deep souls are independent thinkers who like to figure things out on their own and don’t give much credence to what other people say.
How Deep Thinkers Function
People who don’t mind thinking deeply about something often enjoy reading books because it gives them an outlet for their thoughts as well as something new to explore and consider.
A deep thinker is capable of thinking in a way that goes far below the surface of modern society. For example, someone who is a deep thinker may look at a work of art and be able to interpret it with a deep sense in ways that most others cannot.
Their thinking style is characterized by being slow, rational, and analytical rather than impulsive or intuitive.
Multiple Perspectives
Deep thinkers are also known for their ability to think critically and analyze multiple perspectives. They have an understanding of different theories and concepts, which enables them to explore those ideas more thoroughly, rather than accepting the “status quo”.
Deep thinkers are usually more open to new experiences. They tend to be curious, imaginative, sentient, and empathetic. They enjoy mental activity, so they seek out stimulating environments and experiences. They don’t shy away from novelty, complexity, or ambiguity.
They tend to have a strong internal motivation to think deeply-to understand the world around them more clearly and accurately.
Metacognition
They like to think about their thinking: metacognition. This is an important characteristic because it means that they are comfortable evaluating their own understanding (or lack thereof). And it means that they can make adjustments to their learning strategies when necessary.
A definition of a Deep Thinker could be: “A person who spends a disproportionate amount of time thinking about the fundamental truths, reasons, implications, and value systems of their existence.”
Philosophy, the Deepest of All Thinking
Philosophy is the deepest of all thinking. You may be familiar with the term “philosophy” as referring to the academic study of the subject. That’s a perfectly fine and respectable field. You may also have heard the term “philosophy of life” which refers to philosophical explorations of life’s meaning, purpose, values, etc. I believe these two concepts are closely related.
There are so many different philosophical approaches to living and exploring life, and philosophy in general, but there are few that I believe are exceptional. One of those avenues is Zen Buddhism.
Buddhism places an emphasis on living with purpose in life. This means being guided by a deep thinker in the way that you do your work, raising your children, raising your animals, and educating yourself. It helps you to look deeply into your own existence and think about how you can impact the world around you.
Contrary to what you may think, Zen is not the only philosophy that can help you to live a meaningful life. But it is my favorite. You can read books about Zen philosophy to improve your lifestyle, watch Zen movies, or documentaries, and even meditate. (which helps you relax your mind and let your thoughts flow).
Minimalism and Deep Thinking
Minimalism has been a hot topic for the last several years. I believe that minimalism is a good way to live, and you should try to live this way whenever possible. I don’t think minimalism and deep thinking are mutually exclusive; I do think they can be complementary.
The less stuff I have, the more time I have available for deep thinking.
Deep thinkers have a certain mindset and they fill their time with activities that foster that mindset. I don’t think a minimalism prerequisite is necessary to be a deep thinker, but I think if you’re a deep thinker, you probably have a minimalist approach to possessions.
The simple fact is clutter messes with your mind. In fact, all that stuff can actually make us less productive.
The Significance of Reading and Writing for Deep Thinkers
Reading and writing are essential to the deep thinking lifestyle. If you’re a writer and you read a lot, you’re likely to encounter deep thinkers who inspire you in some way or another.
If you’re a reader and you expose yourself to a lot of deep thinkers, you’re likely to encounter people who think deeply.
Reading and writing are activities that help you stay in touch with the world around you and inspire you to think deeply. Some people read only for leisure purposes, but I believe that every book reading is an intentional activity that deepens your thinking.
We are all living in a world where information is growing exponentially. It has become more difficult to distinguish between facts and opinions, the valuable and the irrelevant.
In order to develop critical thinking skills, we need to improve our ability to process information. The way we read, understand, and interpret what we read is crucial for becoming a good thinkers.
But it is not only about reading – writing helps us process information, understand it better, and thus develop our critical thinking skills.
How to Connect to a Deep Thinker
Deep thinkers are often seen as snobs. They seem to be looking down on everyone else, even when they’re at a party or in a group because their minds are somewhere else. They have a reputation for being boring and uninterested in other people when the truth is that deep thinkers are simply more interested in ideas than in idle chatter and frivolous social interaction.
However, the fact is that you can have a really meaningful conversation with them, if only you approach it in the right way.
Deep thinkers might be quiet in groups, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to talk to you. If you’re feeling shy or awkward about talking to someone who likes going into detail about things, here’s what you should know about them and why you should try:
They have lots of thoughts and opinions about many different topics. Deep thinkers care about ideas and pressing issues; they love to think and talk about things that interest them.
They’re not necessarily experts – though some of them are – whatever it is they’ve been thinking about lately will likely come up if you ask them what they’re interested in. They’ll be happy to share their thoughts with you, especially if you’re also interested in the topic.
That’s the way to make a deeper connection with a deep thinker. Find an idea that matters to them, and explore it together.
Topics of Conversation
They like to talk about things that really matter to them. Deep thinkers may not be big talkers in ordinary situations, but they do like to talk if someone asks them questions or shows interest in the things they’re thinking about.
They like to talk about things that matter to them: art, politics, science, philosophy, religion, mathematics, history, etc.
Once you’ve established trust and gotten a foot in the door of their mind palace – a meaningful connection – you’ll have a relationship with someone who will never bore you – and who will probably teach you things that you never would have learned otherwise.
Deep thinkers often have interesting opinions and they can help you to see things from a different perspective, which in turn will help you to get better at critical thinking and resolving an important thing in your mind.
Top 5 Places to Meet Deep Thinkers IRL (In Real Life)
- Coffee shops in bookstores
- Chess and RPG clubs
- Science museums
- Fantasy and SciFi Conventions
- Lectures
1. Coffee Shops in Bookstores
Desperately seeking deep thinker.
Coffee shops are some of the most productive places for meeting deep thinkers. Especially ones located in bookshops, where you can guarantee to find a wide variety of books written by deep thinkers. If you are walking around and you see a cafe in one of these places, stop in, sit and strike up a conversation.
Coffee is definitely a source of fuel for many deep thinkers. Deep thinking requires energy and effort-and it requires an ample supply of glucose to do this work!
2. Chess and RPG Clubs
Chess has been called the Game of Kings. It is deep and philosophical, a game that can be played over and over in your mind, a game to ponder. You can never solve it; you can only learn more about it.
In other words, chess is a game for Deep Thinkers.
More than just a game, chess clubs are great places to meet smart people. Buy a chessboard and chess pieces, or show up with a set that you’ve picked up at a nearby thrift store. Hang out and watch the game for a while-and ask people playing about chess.
The other excellent environment is RPG (Role Playing Game) clubs, like D&D (Dungeons and Dragons). You’ll find plenty of (and not just nerds) at these clubs, and you can score some serious points and you can form deep conversations with members.
3. Science Museums
Science museums can be great places to meet deep thinkers.
For many, science museums are places to learn about the world through interactive exhibits, live experiments, and unrivaled displays. But for scientists and engineers, science museums are also places to meet other deep thinkers and discuss the human condition.
When you visit a science museum, you encounter people who are curious about the world around them. And they are usually experts on what they study or do for a living.
4. Fantasy and SciFi Conventions
I’ve gone to sci-fi and fantasy conventions on and off over the years, and I have found that they are a great place to meet deep-thinking people. They tend to be very well educated, and they usually love talking about their interests.
Conventions can be a great place to meet the geekiest of geeks who share your interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The people who attend both types of conferences are part of an overlapping community of people interested in the future, so they naturally have more in common with each other than they do with most regular folks.
These people tend to be curious and open-minded, always looking for new experiences. And in my experience, most of them are also “deep thinkers” in the sense that I’m defining it here: people with a love of big ideas and abstract thought.
5. Lectures
In the olden days, lectures were places to meet Deep Thinkers – philosophers, physicists, and other scholars who had something profound to say. Today, they’re still a great way to hear from people who have an interesting point of view.
The best lectures are like parties where you get to meet the most interesting people.
Online Communities for Deep Thinkers
These are a few of the places I’ve found where Deep Thinkers hang out:
One of the best places to find fellow deep thinkers is Reddit. It’s a huge community platform with almost endless interest-specific ‘subreddit’ communities where the quality of some of the discussions is quite high.
If you’re having trouble finding communities of deep thinkers in real life, some of Reddit’s 100,000+ subreddits might be a good bet.
On Reddit, and elsewhere online you can find communities mirroring the IRL places listed above. Chess, RPG, lectures, exhibitions…they are all there, and many more.
Goodreads
Goodreads is the granddaddy of online communities for readers, with over 75 million members. If you haven’t tried it yet, check out their book recommendations feature which matches you with books based on your taste in reading. You can also keep track of what you’ve read and want to read in the future.
Goodreads has loads of high-quality discussions centered around books, including reviews, recommendations, and discussions of the book’s author or subject matter, and related topics.
AltspaceVR
If you have a VR (virtual reality) headset, consider checking out some of the events you can find in AltspaceVR.
For example, you can find launch parties celebrating SpaceX launches.
Or you can hang out in virtual representations of cities, as you discuss the future of AI, or animation. AltspaceVR allows you to attend events and interact with people in VR as well as chat with them in the usual way.