Dating an intelligent person can be exceptionally stressful for a lot of people, particularly during the early phases of the relationship. Attempting to impress them while assessing his/her personality can be quite challenging.
When you find yourself attracted to someone intellectual, it can become even more difficult to find a common ground. How are you going to talk to him/her if you have nothing in common?
However, you shouldn't feel intimidated by intellectuals just yet. They can actually be good for you. The great about dating someone intelligent is that you get to expand your knowledge and see things from his/her perspective.
So, how do you date an intellectual? In this article, we'll share some tips on how to do just that.
Go to places where intellectuals hang out.
You can usually find them in bookstores, libraries, or museums. These are places where you are likely to meet someone with scholarly interests and you'll definitely find a topic to start a conversation with.
What book are they holding? In which genre aisle did you find them? What art piece are they looking at? Ask about these and an intellectual will most likely talk to you. You can also try signing up for a course in a university, where you can find people who might share the same interests as you.
Take them out for coffee.
Once you've gotten your intellectual crush into a conversation, you should keep it going somewhere else, like a nearby coffee shop. Most intellectuals love coffee. It fuels their drive, stimulates their mind, but relaxes them at the same time. Benjamin Franklin, Teddy Roosevelt, and Johann Sebastian Back are just some of the famous intellectuals who were coffee lovers. Also, a coffee shop is a comfortable place where you can get to know each other.
While conversing, try to observe if they are curious, interested, or bored. Some studies have shown that smart people who aren't that curious may not truly be intellectual.
Show interest.
Show him/her that you're interested in their passions by asking about these. Listen attentively and nod occasionally. Share your own ideas and ask about theirs. Also observe their body language. If he/she seems to be leaning away when you talk, checking their phone, or is looking around, they may not be interested in you. If the person is showing clear signs that they're not interested, don't waste any more time and just call it a day.
Challenge the intellectual.
When you go on a date with an intellectual, try to challenge the person by taking them somewhere new, or by arranging activities that are outside of their comfort zone. Intellectuals don't back down easily as they love taking on challenges and exploring new things. Also try to engage in opinionated conversations and if the person disagrees with you, try to prove your point without being rude. However, only defend your ideas when you're sure of them. Show the intellectual that you also have something to bring to the table. Never get intimidated!
Use your wit and humor.
When you're trying to impress an intellectual, you might think that it's best to talk about scholarly topics all the time. However, that will only make your discussions dull, no matter how intelligent someone may be. A smart person gets bored too. So, throw in some wit and humor into your conversations. Being able to make each other laugh is a good sign of a budding relationship as it will make you more comfortable around each other.
People who are intellectual may be more knowledgeable in many things compared to some, but it doesn't mean that a relationship between an intellectual and someone who isn't on the same wavelength is completely impossible. It just requires effort, patience, and determination to learn how to make the relationship work.
What are your opinions on dating an intellectual? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
