Dating and Emotional Maturity

Really sorry if this comes off as pretentious.

I’m a guy in my early twenties. Because of my childhood trauma and early travels, I’ve always felt more mature and self-aware than my age might suggest. I’m a very social person. I can connect with people easily, but I’ve learned to be selective about who I deepen relationships with.

Lately though, as I’ve worked through my trauma and focused on my personal goals, I’ve found it harder to truly connect with people, especially women in a romantic context. I catch myself drawn to a very specific kind of woman: strong, intelligent, and someone who’s been through her own share of baggage (just like me lol).

I’m probably writing this because I just stopped talking to someone who genuinely understood my mindset, and now I’m feeling that familiar sense of isolation especially as I travel. I guess I’m wondering how others handle this stage: when you know who you are and what you value, but the dating world around you feels cynical or superficial.

Life has reminded me recently how fragile everything is. I don’t want to play games or waste mine or a partner’s time.

How do you stay true to your values and emotional depth in a world where casual connections seem to dominate?