I first published this post via As Told By Destiny on March 7, 2016. Somehow, these thoughts have resurfaced and I’m super excited to revisit them.

On Facebook, I posed the question: “Are you supposed to marry your soul mate?”

Prior to me publicly asking this question, a friend and I had this same conversation. We talked about how you’re not “supposed” to marry your soul mate, but instead your “life partner.” I thought he was crazy, honestly. I just didn’t understand how someone as special as your soul mate could fall second to a life partner.

So, I did some research and came across this website. This is how they defined the two:

Soul Mate: Someone who is aligned with your soul and is sent to challenge, awaken and stir different parts of you in order for your soul to transcend to a higher level of consciousness and awareness. Once the lesson has been learned, physical separation usually occurs.

Life Partner: A companion, a friend, a stable and secure individual who you can lean on, trust and depend on to help you through life. There is a mutual feeling of love and respect and you are both in sync with each others needs and wants. 

Years ago, I would have said a soul mate is exactly who you should spend the rest of your life with. NOW, I have a much better understanding of what I consider a soul mate and why they aren’t always long-term beings.

For me, a soul mate is a seasonal being.

It’s someone you accidentally meet on purpose to bring certain parts of you to life during that specific season. A soul mate is someone who triggers parts of you, you didn’t know existed. They tend to shake shit up, but in a good way. It feels like a spiritual, karmic, emotional rebirth of some sort.

This person guides you through things you’re unable to experience with anyone else because it’s only meant to be experienced with them. (If that makes any sense.)

I believe I’ve met two of my soul mates.

How do I know?

I can confidently say these two people helped me become aware of parts of myself no one else has ever been able to. They opened my mind up to new perspectives, challenged my rhetoric and helped me discover and embrace parts of myself that had been hidden so deeply, I wouldn’t have ever known they existed. In a way, they brought me to life.

Then, you have that person who is every emotion and characteristic you need them to be all wrapped up in one– your life partner. This is someone who grows, learns and connects with you. Your life partner is your backbone; they are your stability and they are definitely long-term beings.

I say all of this to say…

It’s refreshing to connect with an energy similar to your own, even if it’s temporary. It’s just as refreshing to connect with someone who doesn’t just “shake shit up,” but can also provide the stability we need.

If you’re lucky enough to meet your life partner within your soul mate, it’s LIT!

For those who aren’t so lucky, just make sure you really embrace the soul mate experience! It is truly a necessary and equally euphoric journey that has prepared me for whatever else life has up its sleeve. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Have you already crossed paths with your soul mate or life partner? Let me know what you’re thinking below in the comments!