Don't Marry Your Soul Mate by Brooke Hampton

What is a soul mate? Is there such a thing? Each of us will answer these questions differently depending on your belief system. I personally believe soul mates are people we've been connected to since the beginning of time. People that weave in and out of this massive interconnected web that is a collection of our many lives. Souls matched perfectly with ours to help us grow. Our soul mate or mates aren't always meant to be our lovers. I think this is really important for all of us to understand. As a culture we seem to struggle with understanding deep relationships that aren't sexual or unions that aren't romantic, but have a greater purpose. Any deep connection sensed between two people is meant to become romantic, right? No. There are all kinds of connections in this wild life. I believe soul mates exist and they will show up in each life when you need them. They come to push you, challenge you, mirror your shit, wake you up and push you forward. Honestly, you're probably better off not marrying that person, because then you'll get caught up in creating the ideal marriage (WHATEVER THE HELL THAT EVEN IS) and forget why your souls were put together from the beginning. You'll all too easily forget that your job is to help each other evolve as quickly as possible not torture each other into this bizarre role we've created that a husband and wife ought to play. Because who knows what that looks like for each of us. Lord knows we've all experienced interesting versions of those characters.

It's this idea that one person is supposed to meet all of our needs that sets us up for heartache and disappointment. Instead, why don't we look first at what it is we would like our relationship with another human to create or accomplish. Then believe that the universe will send us a perfect match for that goal. If you just want to have great sex and travel around the world then you will call forth a completely different soul than if you want to raise a family. If you aren't sure, just trust me on this one. Knowing exactly what we want is the first step to being able to create the most magical union ever.

Listen, I'm not an expert, and I certainly haven't figured it all out. I do know one thing for certain though, and that is the reality that what we are doing is working. How many happy couples do you know? Okay. How many do you know that have been together longer than a few years and have kids? Not just comfortable, but truly happy. It makes you wonder if we have it all wrong. We are all searching for that crazy, wild, intense love of our life to match up with and stay with that person at all costs till death do us part. Maybe, just maybe, we should be looking for something completely and totally different.

Let's rewrite the norm.

Let's hack parenting, love, partnerships, friendships, connections, soul mate unions, LIFE, and marriage as we know it and create what works, what feels right to our soul without being afraid of upsetting the norm.

Because in case no one has told you, normal is WAY overrated.