There are a lot of misconceptions about what a soul mate really is…

Ask a group of people what a soul mate is and you are likely to get some surprisingly different answers. Some people believe that a soul mate is that one special person in the Universe that you are predestined to happy be with provided that you are lucky enough to find each other. Others believe that there are many potential soul mates out there and that you can encounter many of them over the course of a lifetime. In either case, most people consider soul mates to be two individuals who share a deep bond or connection. It’s important to realize though that you can experience this kind of a soul mate connection with many different types of people. A soul mate can be a best friend, a teacher, or, of course, a romantic partner.

Perhaps one of the greatest myths about soul mates is that such relationships are a lifelong undertaking. Some people are surprised to learn that some soul mate relationships are often short lived, while others can go on for decades.

There is also a spiritual component to the term soul mate. Many people believe that soul mates come into our lives to teach us valuable life lessons and spiritual principles. People are sometimes meant to come together to help each other grow as individuals in very specific ways. One soul mate may help another to learn an important life lesson, survive a crisis, or find a path towards spiritual growth and enlightenment. In this way, a person may form close, but temporary, bonds with several different soul mates over the course of their lifetime.

When it comes to love, a soul mate connection between two people is often perceived as a passionate, intense and deeply attached relationship. It is often idealized as a type of union where one partner does not feel whole without the other. In reality though, these types of relationships are usually not very healthy. Becoming too dependent on a romantic partner can often lead to issues of co-dependency and enmeshment. More importantly, most couples cannot maintain a deep, intense and passionate connection all of the time. Quite frankly, this would be exhausting for both partners.

A healthy relationship includes maintaining one’s own sense of self while still feeling closely connected to one’s partner. These types of relationships provide room for autonomy while, at the same time, maintaining feelings of love and connectedness. There is always an underlying bond of closeness as well as leeway to also be one's own self. In essence, a soul mate is someone you can completely love and trust for who they are, and they for you!

Perhaps it’s more useful to perceive a soul mate as a “soul teacher” or “soul companion”. This type of relationship is based upon mutual understanding, shared values, and good old fashioned compatibility. With a soul companion you have the opportunity to experience true intimacy and healthy attachment. A soul companion can mirror who you are back to yourself and help you to grow and transform. Soul companions always teach us about who we are. More importantly, they are there to always support us and help us to blossom into the person we are truly meant to be.
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