1. They have a strong sense of identity They are confident in who they are, which means they also know – specifically – what they do and do not wish in a partner, what works and what doesn’t. While this is great in terms of being able to pick wisely, it ultimately decreases their pool of prospects quite a lot.

2. Left unchecked, their hyper-intuitiveness can wreck relationships

Typically prone to overthinking because of how very sensitive they are, their ability to worry and make assumptions can damage relationships that don’t have an ideally strong foundation.

3. Many are in the throes of twin flame relationships

They’re attached or are with people who are not their “forever” people, but, intense connections they’re meant to learn, and rapidly expand from.

4. They typically have a bigger aim that must be attended to first – one that love would distract them from

They typically have to achieve quite a bit on their own before they find love – this is because old souls love deeply, and completely. To be given love too soon would keep them from the other significant things they are here to do.

5. They will not settle for anything less than soulmate love

They need a lot more than just a surface-level, “average” relationship. They absolutely will not settle, and often, that means biting the bullet and being alone for longer than what’s “average” as well.

6. While many people can bring them passion, few can bring compatibility

Because they feel so deeply and others find them so interesting, it’s simple for them to find infatuation, but to be with someone who is truly their best friend, deepest confidant *and* lover is a challenge.

7. They’re less inclined to go out and meet people in modern ways

Even if they have nothing against online dating, it doesn’t always come naturally for them, nor does finding a random hookup at a club or being set up blindly seem nice.

8. They’re natural healers, and often attract people who need help, not love

And that attraction is reciprocated. There’s almost nothing that feels better to an old soul than being able to help someone who really needs it. Nevertheless, at some point in time, it’s vital for them to understand that they have to pick a partner, not a student, or a charity case.

9. They dislike the “game”

Dating is very tiring to an older-spirited person. Faking disinterest for the sake of looking “cool” or knowing which faux pas other people find off-putting (how long after the first date do you text again?) isn’t instinctive to them, and can stress them out more than they ever find it “fun.”

10. Their standards are sky-high

They expect a lot from themselves, so likewise, they expect a lot from their partners. While this is a good thing, it’s another trait that has to be kept in check: it’s more important to be able to accept the qualities that aren’t deal-breakers than it is to simply write a person off because they’re not ideal.

11. They have baggage

People who developed their inner selves fast did so for a reason: they had to cope, they had to grow, or they had to learn from some challenging experiences that life set up for them. While this is a good thing on its own, unresolved problems can often re-manifest in tight relationships.

12. They feel fear as intensely as they feel love

The degree to which they love something is proportionate to how much they fear losing it, or not being “good enough” for it. They don’t just love intensely, they feel everything else intensely, too, and often, that gets in the way of the really great things in front of them.