Smart, But Lonely: Navigating Relationships As A Gifted Adult

What the Science Says About Finding Your People When You're An Outlier

☘️ This March, as a way of saying thank you to paid subscribers who support this work, I'm comping one lucky annual subscriber's entire year! All current annual paid subscribers, and those who sign up before April 1st, 2026, will be automatically entered to win. I'll email the winner directly on April 1st (April Fool’s Day)—but yes, this deal is very real! ☘️

Today’s article is the first in a two-part deep-dive for paid subscribers on the research behind finding and forming relationships when you’re a cognitive outlier.

This week, we’re covering:

• What the research says about what we look for in partners

• Who gifted individuals tend to marry, and whether those relationships last

• How our families influence our self-perceptions and expectations in relationships

• The reasons why relationships can be challenging for gifted and 2e people

In part two of this series, I’ll cover:

• The factors that contribute to relationship satisfaction and stability, particularly when you’re gifted

• Six strategies you can use right away to enhance your relationships

Let’s hop in!