You meet and date a bunch of people through life. You like some of them, and you fall in love with others.
Throughout all that time, you’re looking for the one you’re meant to be with. Deep down, you hope that one day, you’ll finally meet your perfect match – your soulmate.
But do we all have a soul companion? Is it just one person, or can you have more soulmates? Most importantly: what are the signs that you’ve found yours?
Well, you’ll never get the answer to these questions unless you read on.
Soulmate Meaning And History
According to Merriam-Webster’s definition of soulmate, it’s “a person who is perfectly suited to another in temperament.” But where’s the romance in that?
So, what exactly is a soulmate? I’d say it’s someone you have a deep, spiritual bond with. It’s that one person your mind, heart, and body are connected to in ways you can’t always logically explain.
Ancient mythology and religion have talked about this concept since the beginning of time. Plato wrote that initially, people were conjoined. They had two faces, four legs, and four arms but one soul.
The term itself was coined by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a famous poet who claimed that a healthy marriage is much more than social and economic compatibility. He states: “To be happy in Married Life … you must have a Soul-mate.”
In modern times, the pursuit of true love is all around us. Everywhere you look, people are looking for their soulmate – for the one they’re meant to be with.
So I guess there must be something to it. Otherwise, the concept wouldn’t have stuck for so long, would it?
Types Of Soulmates
Despite popular belief, a soulmate is not limited to someone you have a romantic connection with. Actually, there is more than one type of soul companion you encounter through life.
Platonic
A platonic soulmate is your best friend, your sibling, or your favorite coworker. There exists no physical attraction or sexual chemistry between you two, and it doesn’t really matter if you two are of the same or opposite sex.
You have no romantic feelings for them, and you don’t see them as a potential partner. Nevertheless, they’re “your person” – someone who gets you better than anyone else.
This is the person you can tell your darkest secrets and wildest dreams to. They understand what you’re thinking just by looking at you.
Karmic
Even though many relationship experts treat karmic relationships as a different identity, there are also those who claim a karmic relationship is just a type of soulmate connection.
This kind of relationship is characterized by intense, passionate romantic love. But despite the strength of the emotions, it’s quite difficult to maintain.
It’s quite toxic since both people involved are literally obsessed with each other. Karmic romances rarely end well, but they appear in your life with a purpose: to teach you a lesson you otherwise wouldn’t have learned.
Past life
Have you ever experienced instant connection or chemistry with someone you’ve never met before? You can’t explain it, but you feel like you’ve known this person forever, even though you’re certain your paths have never crossed before.
Rom-coms and other romantic TV shows call this love at first sight. But what if you’ve run into your past life soulmate?
What if your soul recognized theirs because you used to love each other, but your mind and body simply don’t recall it?
If you experience this, know that it happened for a reason. You two clearly have some unfinished business, and that’s why they reappeared in this lifetime.
Romantic
A romantic soulmate is what people think of when they hear the definition of soulmate. It can’t exist without strong romantic love and physical chemistry.
Nevertheless, you’re not only in love with your soulmate. Otherwise, every romantic partner has the potential to be your soulmate.
What differentiates this relationship from all other romances in your life is that this person is also your best friend and companion. Most importantly: they’re your life partner.
Teacher
This is the person who gives you guidance. And I’m talking about both life and spiritual guidance here.
Who is the person you look up to? The one man or a woman you can always come to for a piece of advice? The person you admire and whose opinion you appreciate the most?
If you have someone like this in your life, congratulations, you’ve found yourself your teacher soulmate.
Twinflame vs. Soulmate
But what about twin souls? Does your twin have to be your soulmate, as well? Or are there some crucial differences between these two concepts?
1. One soul in two bodies vs. two connected souls
The primary difference between these two concepts is in their souls. While twin flames are two halves of one soul, soulmates have two different souls – they’re just incredibly connected.
Basically, even when you’re not with your soul companion, you don’t feel like a part of you is missing. On the other hand, the absence of your twin makes you feel incomplete.
2. Possibly toxic vs. healthy relationship
I’m not saying that twin flame relationships must be toxic. But they certainly do have a possibility of becoming that way.
To be exact, you have to go through a twin flame journey: different stages in life before reuniting with your twin. Sadly, that usually includes a lot of emotional aches you both experience in the process.
Sometimes, there is ghosting, mixed signals, a lot of fighting, and heartbreak.
On the contrary, a soulmate relationship is always healthy. It’s full of acceptance, tranquility, and true love.
While you spend a lot of time craving affirmation of your twin’s love, you never doubt your soulmate’s feelings. There is no fear that they’ll abandon you, no trust issues, and no power struggles here.
Even though a romantic soulmate bond doesn’t have to awaken fireworks inside of you, there are other things that make it incredibly strong: healthy communication, mutual understanding, respect, equality…
You rely on your twin flame relationship to make you happy, and your entire mood depends on them solely. But your soulmate is just a contributor to your happiness – there is no emotional codependency.
3. Eternity vs. a certain period
Twin souls are not connected to this life only. In fact, you’re connected with your twin through eternity.
You’ll search for each other from your past lives, and that quest will continue in your other lives as well.
What about soulmates? Well, you probably don’t want to hear this, but your soulmate doesn’t necessarily have to stick around until the end of this life, let alone after it.
Sometimes, soul companions come and go after they’ve fulfilled their purpose. They have a strong connection and are definitely attracted to each other on a spiritual level, but their bond doesn’t have to be an everlasting one.
4. One vs. more
Not many people know this, but the truth is that you can have more soul companions in one lifetime. Actually, this is not a purely romantic concept.
Most soulmate bonds end up in a romantic relationship and have a physical connection. But your soul companion can be your best friend, coworker, or even a stranger you pass by and feel an incredible connection with.
This is the person who understands you better than anyone. It’s someone you’re bonded on a greater, spiritual level with.
How would you know you found your soulmate?
Most people will tell you that you’ll simply know when you find the one. But what if you’re not sure? What are the signs of this connection?
1. Their presence feels like home
The main thing a lot of people get confused about is how meeting their true love should look. No, their presence in your life shouldn’t create any kind of tension.
If your hands are shaking, you have a racing heartbeat, and you feel like you can’t stand on your two feet – that’s not a soulmate connection.
Finding your perfect match shouldn’t look anything like an anxiety attack. On the contrary, every relationship expert will tell you that you feel peaceful and relaxed around them.
You know that feeling when you come home from a long trip? Well, that’s exactly how meeting your soul companion makes you feel. It’s like you’ve come to your sanctuary after you’ve spent your entire life wandering and wondering.
They’re your bridge from all the storms in life, your shelter, and your anchor.
You feel like you’ve known this person longer than you’ve known yourself. It’s like you’ve been searching for them and praying for them even before they crossed your path.
2. You balance each other out
Do opposites really attract? And if they do, do they have a chance of staying together after they fall in love?
Will their differences bring an end to their romantic relationship sooner or later?
Or would your life partner be someone as similar to you as possible? Will you get tired of living with your own mirrored version?
But should we go to extremes? A soulmate connection is not your opposite, but it’s also not someone you have no differences with at all.
The key to a successful soulmate relationship is balancing each other out.
It’s too dangerous to be with someone who is overly similar to you. In that case, there is no challenge, and you’re not likely to grow and change.
On the other hand, it frequently seems impossible to find the middle ground with someone so different from you. That’s why opposites hardly last.
But when you two balance each other out, everything is in perfect order. You complement each other, and therefore, help one another become better people and better partners.
3. You’re incredibly connected
Experiencing a soulmate connection is an out-of-this-world experience. A lot of things that go on between you and your partner don’t have a logical explanation.
Being so bonded and feeling exactly what the other person is feeling even when you’re nowhere near each other physically is one of those things.
Even though this doesn’t make any sense, all soulmate matches will tell you it’s the truth.
If your soul companion is hurting or going through a hard time, I promise that you’ll somehow sense that, even if you’re on the other side of the world.
This is especially true if you’re going through a break-up or a relationship crisis. You’ll feel that this person is thinking of you and missing you even though they haven’t done anything specific to make you think that way.
You two can read each other’s minds. You know what the other person is thinking or feeling without them saying a single word.
4. They teach you important lessons
I have to warn you: not everything will go smoothly in your soulmate relationship from the start. You’ll probably encounter some bumps in the road, but all of it happens for a reason and with a greater cause.
You see, there is a purpose of you uniting with your soul companion, and it’s more than finding romantic love. They’re the ones who’ll inspire you to become the person you’ve been destined to be all along.
Sadly, this transformation doesn’t always go smoothly. But eventually, you realize that you can’t meet your perfect match until you become the best possible version of yourself.
Nevertheless, the lessons don’t stop the moment you two finally unite. In fact, it’s where the real fun begins.
You must be wondering what those lessons are. Well, it all depends on the things you need to change to become better.
If you’re restless, they’ll show you patience. If you’re childish, they’ll teach you how to be mature. If you’re too serious, they’ll show you how to have fun.
The examples are endless, but you get the point. After all, they’re not considered to be your other half for nothing.
And you know what the best part is? That all of this happens spontaneously. They won’t ever force you to change – you do it all by yourself.
5. You can be your true self
Nevertheless, they’ll always accept you for who you truly are.
You know how it usually goes. You start dating someone new, and you want them to see you as more interesting, funnier, and more successful than you actually are.
It’s not that you’re catfishing them. Deep down, you’re simply not sure whether they’d accept your true personality, so you pose as a better version of yourself.
But all of this changes when you meet your true soul companion. This is the person who ends up changing you the most, but ironically, they’re also the only one who never asks you to change.
They love you not despite your imperfections but exactly because of them. They’re perfectly aware of each one of your insecurities and flaws but still think of you as the best-looking and most intelligent person in the world.
6. Your gut tells you
Once again, we come to something that cannot be easily explained, but you know it’s real. This time, I’m talking about your gut feeling.
You don’t know why and how, but you just know that this person is meant to be yours. Even when everything is falling apart or when everyone keeps on telling you that you won’t make it, you know that you’ll have your happily ever after.
No, you don’t feel this because you’ve watched too many rom-coms. Your intuition is telling you that you’ve found your other half, and I suggest you believe it.
Soulmate Quotes
Famous authors have talked and written about soul companionship. Here are some quotes that might help you understand what everyone is talking about or help you put your emotions into words.
1. “Our universe grants every soul a twin – a reflection of themselves – the kindred spirit – And no matter where they are or how far away they are from each other – even if they are in different dimensions, they will always find one another. This is destiny – this is love.” ― Julie Dillon
2. “What’s the difference?” I asked him. “Between the love of your life and your soulmate?”
“One is a choice, and one is not.” ― Tarryn Fisher
3. “I recognized you instantly. All of our lives flashed through my mind in a split second. I felt a pull so strongly towards you that I almost couldn’t stop it.” ― J. Sterling
4. “I don’t care,” said Seth. “I would have done it. I would have sold my soul for you. You and me…I told you. Something’s always going to keep us near each other…even if we aren’t together.” ― Richelle Mead
5. “Soulmates aren’t the ones who make you happiest, no. They’re instead the ones who make you feel the most. Burning edges and scars and stars. Old pangs, captivation, and beauty. Strain and shadows and worry and yearning. Sweetness and madness and dreamlike surrender. They hurl you into the abyss. They taste like hope.” ― Victoria Erickson
6. “Maybe love at first sight isn’t what we think it is. Maybe it’s recognizing a soul we loved in a past life and falling in love with them again.” — Kamand Kojouri
7. “A bond between souls is ancient—older than the planet.” — Dianna Hardy
8. “Have you ever felt really close to someone? So close that you can’t understand why you and the other person have two separate bodies, two separate skins?” — Nancy Garden
9. “Our lives may not have fit together, but oh, did our souls know how to dance.” — K. Towne Jr.
10. “Maybe our girlfriends are our soulmates, and guys are just people to have fun with.” — Candace Bushnell
Do soulmates end up together?
Even though, in many cases, soulmates get their happily ever after, they don’t necessarily have to end up together. Your soul companion doesn’t have to be your forever person. They have a mission in your life, and they’re free to go after their job is done.
This is especially the case with other types of soul companions besides romantic ones. For example, if your teacher soul companion has given you valuable life lessons, they can move towards their next mission.
The same goes for past soulmates: they’re out of your life the moment you resolve your unfinished business.
To Wrap It Up: Are Soulmates Real?
Do soulmates exist? Or is it just a Hollywood fabrication that sells rom-coms and TV shows better?
Science says that your soul companion is just someone you’re perfectly compatible with. According to this approach, after a long search, it’s natural that you’ll find someone who suits you best.
But if we’re talking about souls, we’re talking about something beyond our understanding. It’s a divine, metaphysical concept that has nothing to do with our conscious mind.
So, do soulmates exist? Well, it’s up to you whether you believe in them or not.
But I can promise you one thing: when you feel this connection I’m talking about, all of your doubts will be chased away. That’s when you’ll forget all about science and logic and finally understand what everyone is talking about.