Maybe we need to pray that we keep our blessings and take care of them instead of worrying about how long they will last or what will happen if we lose them.
Maybe we need to be grateful for the things we have instead of worrying about the things we want but can’t have.
Maybe life is about trusting more than resisting.
Maybe we need to pray about finding the right things even if they take time instead of praying for the wrong things temporarily.
Maybe we need to believe that praying is sometimes the only solution to the problems we can’t control, to what’s happening inside us, to the feelings we can’t explain and the thoughts we can’t silence.
Maybe life is about letting go instead of holding on.
Because it’s in our nature to run away from rules, to run away from pressure and gravitate toward those who make us feel loved and accepted. We despise being around people who make us doubt ourselves or ask us too many questions because they make us uncomfortable or unhappy.
So maybe we should treat God the same way, maybe we should stop complaining and start accepting him. Maybe we should stop doubting him and start trusting him. Maybe that’s all he needs before he shows us his miracles. Maybe he’s just teaching us how to have faith in him, even if we can’t understand him.
Maybe we need to get closer when he pushes us away, maybe we need to keep praying even when we think he’s not listening and maybe we need to stop worrying so much about things we might lose because he’s never going to take away something that’s good for us. He’s never going to take away something he can’t replace.
Maybe praying is not so much about getting what we want as much as it is communicating with God, our way of checking in with him, our way of letting him know we care, our way of trying to reach out to him and our way of letting him know we need him.
Maybe life is more about faith and less about fear.
Maybe God wants to hear our words more than our silence because he wants us near him. He wants us closer to him than anyone else.
Are you a curious, wise, or all-around calm person? You might just be an old soul. Whether you’ve been called it before or always had a feeling you were, what does being an old soul really mean? Here, we dive into the true meaning, plus, the signs to look out for that you could be an old soul.
What does “old soul” really mean?
It’s likely you know an old soul when you meet one. They probably seem wise beyond their years, mature, grounded, and aren’t interested in superficial things. According to intuitive counselor Randi Merzon, the concept of the old soul is inspired by the idea that our bodies are containers for spirit, and an old soul “is someone who continues to reincarnate in order to heal or complete karmic agreements.”
Of course, depending on what you believe and how you relate to spirituality, another way of thinking about old souls is the idea that we’re all perhaps different incarnations of universal life force, and those old souls are simply tapped into that wisdom on a deeper level (and from an earlier age) during that lifetime.
Is it a good thing to be an old soul?
It’s usually a compliment to be referred to as an old soul, as it implies grace and wisdom. But there can be downsides to being mature beyond your years. As Merzon explains, “No one enjoys being a newbie, but in fact, the benefit of being a new soul is that they carry around a lot less karma.”
Old souls come into this life with an agenda to experience and complete karma, while new souls “want to make form out of light,” and “experience what it’s like to be a being in a body.” As such, the new souls’ experience is a bit more lighthearted, where being an old soul can feel heavy. But in addition to that, because the old soul comes to this life with more experience and understanding, they’re able to handle obstacles and challenges with greater clarity.
It comes down to what the new versus old soul is experiencing in this life. A new soul “wants to be fresh and new and maybe have a more hedonistic lifestyle,” while an old soul “wants to go into the depths and learn.” Old souls may also feel somewhat isolated, as they can see through much of the illusion and separation in modern culture.
11 characteristics of old souls:
1. You have an inquisitive, curious mind.
Old souls very much prioritize truth and wisdom. As such, they often have curious minds about what’s happening in the world and internally “but not in a superficial way. Whether it’s world events or your relationship with a family member or friend, it’s the idea of being curious about what’s emerging and what one might learn or cultivate through the experience.
2. Youcan see the big picture.
If you’re an old soul, you’re likely able to see beyond appearances. You’re probably able to let things roll off your back easier, and you’re less likely to be triggered by certain things.
3. You may feel like a bit of an outsider.
Being an old soul can make it difficult to form meaningful connections, at least when you’re young.
4. …but you know your fellow old souls when you meet them.
While it can be difficult to get along with everyone when you’re an old soul, old souls are actually good at finding their fellow kindred spirits. A true old soul realizes they can’t be the only one. Old souls are looking out for one another, they’re trying to find one another, so they’re trying to make that connection because they realize there’s a connection to be had. This is where you see those instantaneous soul connections that run very deep.
5. You feel deeply connectedto everything.
Not only do old souls feel deeply connected to God, spirit, the universe—whatever it is they may call it—but they also feel that with nature, the people in their lives, and even strangers. An old soul has a sense of connection to the universe and therefore to other souls.
6. You go against the status quo.
Old souls can see the big picture and beyond many of the basic structures that govern our reality, they like to do things their own way. Old souls are quite rebellious in nature meaning they don’t just think outside of the box—they intuit that the boxes doesn’t even exist.There’s a skepticism, a sense of understanding that everything they’ve been shown isn’t necessarily the case, and they’re going to seek to find their own truth.
7. You’re wise beyond your years.
From an early age, you may have been told you’re wise beyond your years. Perhaps you’ve always felt you were more mature or understanding than your peers, especially when you were young. As Merzon explains it, “There is a knowing that they have been around the block before. You may recognize an ‘old soul’ even in a newborn. Their spirit’s wisdom is written over their entire body.”
8. You’re not materialistic.
One of those basic structures that we touched on previously would be materialism. Simply put, old souls are not concerned with it. They have a sense that “we’re living in this material world but there’s something more important, and perhaps the things we’ve been taught in school, or by our parents, or society, aren’t necessarily true.”
9. Your inner world is more important than the outer.
Not to say you don’t care about the outer world, but for old souls, their inner growth, journey, and relationship to themselves and spirit are often of utmost importance. The soul is inside, and it’s about going within. You probably spend good amounts of time in reflection, deeply pondering your experiences and life lessons.
10. You have a particular gift from the past.
Were you always inclined to the violin for seemingly no reason? Or maybe you have a proclivity for baking, even though you never baked with anyone in your family. Having a particular gift, in a particular field out of the blue, whether it’s an instrument or career or even place is somewhat a sign of an old soul.
11. You often need to recharge.
And lastly, these deeply contemplative folks often need to “reset their batteries,” so to speak. They’re probably drawn to meditation and solitude. It’s not that they don’t enjoy people’s company, but they know there are certain times they have to go within. They’re not living just an external life.
The bottom line.
There are so many ways we can think about souls, old and new. Whether we’re all varied incarnations of the same soul, or there really are souls that are younger versus newer, the bottom line is, most of us can imagine what kind of person an “old soul” is and what traits those people embody. From deep intuition to a certain stillness in their presence, these folks have clearly learned a thing or two early on, making them wise and deeply spiritual people.
The spiritual journey—and the subsequent “spiritual awakening” we pursue—always seems to take place in some exotic place or after a dramatic event.
Perhaps you think you need to try ayahuasca in Peru or leave your spouse to experience the spiritual awakening you crave?
(Hint: It doesn’t have to be so hard.)
You can connect with your spirituality and awaken to the lessons that are meant for you—over and over again throughout your life—from the comfort of your own home.
Here are six simple ways to set yourself up for a spiritual awakening:
1. Declutter!
Start by making room! Clear your space of the stuff that you no longer need, the stuff that merely serves as a distraction from your life. And while, yes, decluttering your physical space is important, it’s also important to declutter your mind. Take time every day to sit in silence and solitude.
Allow your thoughts to pass without judgment, and slowly watch your mind clear of mental clutter. Meditation allows you to relax into what is presently true—and what is always present for all of us is that there is only love, no fear—and offers you a greater connection to your intuition (another form of spiritual guidance).
2. Examine your beliefs.
Be conscious of and intentional about what you believe. Understand the energy that you’re putting not only into your world but into the world at large. And be honest—are your beliefs supporting your spiritual growth? Very often, a spiritual awakening requires letting go of beliefs we’ve held for our entire lives. But that’s the thing about awakening: You have to realize first that you have been sleeping.
3. Expand your mind.
Explore new ideas and differing beliefs. Read books and attend lectures and have conversations with people who have lived different lives. An awakening occurs when you have learned something new—when you have, quite literally, “woken” your mind and your spirit from a slumber you perhaps didn’t even know you were in. When you expand your mind to allow in new ideas, beliefs, and possibilities, you increase the opportunity to wake up to a life experience you never knew was possible.
4. Go outside.
There is energy and spirit and magic in the outdoors. So many of us spend our time cooped up inside, sitting behind computer screens, not truly connected to the world (or to ourselves). Take time to reconnect with nature—even in the big cities, you can find trees to touch, gardens to admire, fresh air to breathe. Try not to distract yourself with your phone or even another person’s company. Give yourself the quiet and the solitude and the presence that comes with being outside. You may be surprised by what comes alive within you.
5. Take care of yourself.
Eating healthy and staying active is a great way to stay connected to yourself and your higher power, whether that’s God, the Universe, or simply your own internal guidance system. When we allow our internal systems (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual) to become clogged and bogged down by lethargy and unnatural substances, we block the opportunity for spiritual growth and eventual awakening. Keep your body clean and clear by feeding it well and moving it often, and prepare to receive the messages you seek.
6. Learn to let go.
The reality is you can’t force a spiritual awakening. Anyone can have one—and following tips like the ones in this article—will help you in that effort, but there’s no prescription for enlightenment. Do what you can, then let it go. If you’re attached to the idea of having a spiritual awakening (and attached to your idea of what a spiritual awakening looks like), you’re far less likely to experience one. Know that you are on the perfect path for you.
Keep in mind that a spiritual awakening is not necessarily a one-time thing. The spiritual path is a lifelong journey of growth. Continue to follow the steps above and you will undoubtedly find yourself “waking up” to new awareness and deeper consciousness over and over again.
