Have You Found Your Soul Mate?
 

Well I saw this on yahoo and thought I'd share. I thought it would be a great topic. Do you believe in soulmates? If so or not why? Any comments are welcome... :)








Do you believe there is a soul mate out there for you? Well, you're not alone. Studies from the University of Virginia have shown that over 90% of young adults believe in the concept. And 88% believe that destiny has determined that there is one and only one person who is your soul mate.
The concept of the soul mate is thousands of years old and probably was originated by the Greek philosopher Plato. Plato described a soul mate as the person's "other half" that has been split from him. The quest of life is to find your missing half. That theme has been explored in movies like "The Butcher's Wife," "The Time Traveler's Wife," and "City of Angels." Other views of soul mates include reincarnation: our soul mate is someone with whom we have shared other lives.
The soul mate concept also carries with it the belief that a perfect person exists for us, if only we could find him or her -- then love and life would be easy. This belief has created a lot of trouble for people, especially in the area of commitment. By insisting on finding a perfect partner, many people have walked away from really great potential partners. Why? Because something was missing. Maybe it was chemistry, or that he/she didn't match their ideal of The One. So they've ended up alone, still looking for that perfect soul mate. The renowned family psychiatrist Frank Pittman once said, "Nothing has produced more unhappiness than the concept of the soul mate."
Having been a psychologist for more than 25 years, and married to one guy for the same long stretch, I can tell you that there are no perfect partners out there. Not me. Not my husband. Not any of my many clients, friends, or family members. Lasting love is a hard-won battle of personal discipline, compromise, dedication, and commitment.
Scientists have found that scent plays a role in physical attraction and desire. Other research shows that those who are of similar educational levels are more compatible. While I don't believe in The One perfect person idea, I do believe that there are better matches for us. And if we are with one of these people, we are more likely to have the experience of being with the one who is a soul mate (which I have had personally and can tell you, is a marvelous thing!).
The Indications
So chances are, there is more than one person out there who fits the bill for you. All of them are less than perfect. But if there are no perfect partners, how can you know whether to stay or go? Here are 10 relationship markers to help you know if he or she is The One:
1. When you're together you feel like you've come home.
2. You feel like your partnership was meant to be, as if kissed by destiny.
3. In your communication with each other there is a rapid "knowing" of what each of you means.
4. You have a shared mission in life, perhaps a cause, a career, or the creation of a family life.
5. When you're together the world seems like a better place.
6. Your mood is elevated when you're together. It's not necessarily passion or excitement, although that's there too at times.
7. When you look at him/her you see a part of yourself that's been missing. Perhaps it's her assertiveness or his joy of adventure. But it's something that when added to your life, makes you feel more complete.
8. Being together makes you more hopeful about the future you are creating.
9. You can be more authentic and fully yourself around your partner.
10. Being together makes each of you work harder on overcoming bad habits and becoming more loving people.
Don't worry if you don't feel all 10 of these things when you're with your partner. That's where the imperfection comes in -- either in you or your partner. If you are experiencing six or more of these markers, chances are you are matched well. Over time you can work towards having all of these qualities. Couples who have lasting love find that their relationships get closer and better over time. And that process has been my privilege and good fortune to experience personally -- after a lot of hard work that continues to this day!
Bottom line: your chances of finding The One are better than you think. So go out there and start looking. Love almost always comes in a surprise package that opens up in marvelous and magical ways

well, I dont believe there is only one soul mate. I have actually found that I have a set of two brothers who are my soul mates. They have both manifested in this life, but at different times. I also know there is at least one other soul mate.

I dont buy into the one and only one true love.

Yes I believe in soul mates.Call me weird but every since I was a wee one,i dreamt of a person in Ireland who was suppose to come to america and marry me and we would live happily ever after.It's the truth.If never happen of course but I always think of him somewhere out there yet,probably married,old and grey,and with many grandbabies.It happen like that cause I never did set foot in Ireland Or maybe he never came to America,end of story.

In kindergarten there was this boy who called me his soul mate.He said I would be his wife one day,he lived several blocks away from our home.He came calling on me everyday up to the time my parents lost our home and we were forced to move out.Afterwards i never gave him much thought,even many years later.But when I do think of him i wonder if he's still searching for me out there somewhere,that or just completely gave up ever finding me.

Yes,I believe in souls mates.

good artical, thanks.
I was thinking about this just yesterday...weird.

I was reluctant to post at the risk of sounding sappy and throwing my butch exterior. I believe in a soulmate of some kind. Someone who makes you feel complete. Someone that makes home feel like home. You only call it home because they are there. But I'm a hopeless romantic and eternally sappy by nature.....so go figure.

I nice notion, but no, I don't subscribe to the idea of a soul mate.

Im not shure I beleave in soul mates.Well because over a lifetime I have met ppl who for what ever time we shared we were both halves of each other..when the time was up we parted.I really beleave that we meet ppl and for what ever time is writen in the stars we have together is ment to be ..we are capable of loveing in diffrent ways.

Well......
 

I have met people who believed I was their soul mate. I didn't think they were mine. I do believe in soul mates. I thought once that I met one, she apparently didn't think so. lol. (It's always a bad sign.) I don't know that I have one. I like to think I do. I'm also not so sure I would see it if it happened to be there. I think perfect and perfect for me are two very different ideas. Perhaps they are not my missing half - that would be kinda creepy. Just different enough to be interesting and just same enough to be comfortable...That would be nice.

Thank you everyone for your response :) I do believe in one true soulmate. I know that their are just a couple of times I thought I met her. But it wasnt! LOL So, apparently she is still out there... And one day when its supposed too our paths will cross... :) Im enjoying reading everyone's responses

Yes I have. His name is Bob.

well hurry up already
 

I do beleive in soul mates i also beleive in love at first site too 2 people just lock eyes and the chemistry is there and you can feel it i have had it happen its too bad people just give up .:countpetal:

AMEN !!!! :)

There have been several women, whom I believed to be my soul mate, however time proved that to be wrong.

If someone gave up then it wasn't a soul connection imo. I believe in chemistry. I believe in love but I think we have many soul mates, not just one. Soulful connections where you know your paths were meant to cross, you feel strong love. I believe I will love many people in my life time. I do now and yet I still wait for that right "connection" , passion, adoration, etc. They might not even be my soulmate but the perfect partner. I need more then chemistry. I need something that fits right. If you're able to obtain it all then lucky you!

funny how that happens huh?

I think that we have strong desires and needs. We project them and hope someone will complete us but the truth is they can't. We want them to be our everything and they can't. You do this for yourself first and if it isn't perfect in love and passion you hope for a really great friend.

My sister is my soul mate. We are mirrors and opposites of one another. But she annoys me sometimes and sometimes we don't understand one another.

Romantically I think you can have a connection with someone but a soul mate connection is not necessary for a successful relationship.

I agree with this. I have the same with my sister. It's very symbiotic and I notice the more I learn to love myself, honor myself, etc the easier it is to share this with others.

I think that for some people the traditional ideal means all or nothing in one. I've never understood this or agreed but then again I've been single more then in relationships, however in retrospect I think about my life and see how full it really was/is and that I've always loved and felt love no matter what. This had nothing to do with one person but a collection and the quality of my life. You only get what you give. Thats a fact.

I believe our spirits/souls connect with like enegry patterns and as we move through life we connect profoundly for many reasons. For me most of this has been an evolving journey, many lessons and all to simply become conscious.

yeah. but I think one soul mate per user is a complete fallacy. Also that your soul mates are only lovers.

one of my soul mates was my half brother. another was my cat boots. Another is my best mate kerri. and another was my ex james.And I've got another one now, that I'm marrying.

I like your definition though, it fits many people and not just one.

:love1:Yes, without a doubt.

I have been fortunate enough to have met two soul-mates and hope to meet another. This refers to romantic relationships. Soul-mate just isn't singular to me. Nor is it only cast in romantic relationships. My closest and oldest friend is my soul-mate, too.

:alieninjar:

yes...soul mates can indeed be friends instead of lovers. For the first brother we started out as friends and went to become lovers. And we could not sustain it. I was younger and not as evolved in my understandings of pathways. Later, when I met brother number two, we started out lovers and became friends. I was older and wiser of pathways. Each took their turn to teach me and help me evolve, as I did with them. One I scorched. The other I provide warmth.

I have also met an incredible Light Being in a dog. He had such an affect on people that everyone who met him (and I mean everybody!) said that he changed their life somehow. He was one of my adopted newfs and had such a Presence that you Knew he was far more than a dog, and yet simply a dog. His name was Joey and yet we all called him my Buddha dog.

I get that the idea of soulmate would put pressure on someone or you...but what I found (and what also was one of the many things that made me so sure this is a true soulmate) is that we connect so naturally and easily - there never was any pressure. We both just knew, and we have a connection that goes down to our cores without the pressure or question of thrusting hopes and dreams etc -- we just ARE. And that is perfect. And that we are together makes it very peaceful and giddily joyful at the same time as it is so EASY and grounded.

I think feeling responsibility and pressure is an indication that one or both of you are hoping/wishing you'd be soulmates and want so much to make it so...but it ain't happenin. That is how my first "wish you were my soulmate" relationship went, and is a wonderful contrast to my "know you are my soulmate" treasure!

YES! I had a boxer that I know was once a Buddhist monk... no doubt in my mind. And he was a true dog ambassador. People that really didn't care for dogs fell in love with him.

I am a romantic in many ways, but, soul-mate just isn't about relationships for me. Its about the varied people in my life that have made a difference in it on many levels. Sure, it can be a partner, but, not necessarily.

Yes, there is light in some beings that just does not shine the same for all.

:sadangel:

I've had so many animal connections. I've felt urges that have prompted me to do something that took me some place to rescue an animal. Some of the most profound emotions I have ever had were with animals.

Love from animals is so pure and unconditional. They just seem to know a part of you no one else can touch.

I would give everything I own to have a deep soulful connection with a lover and partner. It truly is in the hands of God.

Ive heard from even friends that when you meet the one, there isnt any jumping through hoops "making" it work. It just fits like you said. It just is. Its easy and natural. Im glad you found that :) Thanks for the post.