Solitary, philosophical and wise beyond their years, the Old Soul, just like any social oddity, tend to be mislabeled, and misunderstood by a society that fails to see the beauty of its own kind.
Walking through life feeling like an outsider looking in, the Old Soul can find his matured temperament and outlook on life questioned and criticized.
This article will explore 6 common ‘myths’ associated with the Old Soul temperament, in hopes of broadening the understanding of popular, but misguided perceptions.
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For more information on Old Souls, and whether you’re one or not, see this Old Soul article.
6 Myths About Old Souls
Here are 6 major misconceptions about Old Souls:
Myth #1: Old Souls are lazy deadbeats.
Truth: We long for simple and uncomplicated lives.
Many Old Souls don’t see eye to eye with society. Wealth, material possessions and social statuses have no importance or allure to the Old Soul because they are seen as transient and momentarily fulfilling.
Why waste time complicating life with academic degrees, workplace competition and continuous debt when life can be lived simply and calmly? This is why many Old Souls opt to work in unimportant, low-paying jobs, or decide not to work at all.
If money is the root of all evil, why let your life revolve around it? In this situation, the Old Soul prefers to sit back, relax and smell the roses of life.
Myth #2: Old Souls are asocial misanthropes.
Truth: We tend to be quiet and solitary.
As pointed out in my other Old Soul article, many Old Souls tend to be solitary and/or loners by nature. Understandably, this character quirk can be perceived very negatively by a society that values social stimulation and extroversion.
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Old Souls tend to prefer their own company because only in solitude can they come to think their best thoughts, write their best works, and create their best creations. It is the Old Souls thirst for spiritual self-actualization that fuels their need to be alone.
People, often, can become distractions and hang-ups on their inner quests for meaning and fulfillment.
Myth #3: Old Souls are pretentious know-it-alls.
Truth: We were born with a matured perspective of life.
Young Old Souls, in particular, are met with a lot of judgment when they stay true to their authentic selves.
What person, especially middle-aged or old, wants to listen to a kooky looking young man or woman talking about the meaning of life. Especially if they’re dressed in what appears to be their grandparents clothing!
Understandably, many young Old Souls are measured against what is “normal” for their age, and end up falling short of societal expectations. Thus come negative perceptions that Old Souls are “affected”, “artificial” or “conceited”.
Myth #4: Old Souls are mentally defective.
Truth: We like taking our time to do things properly.
I thank Facebook’s Old Soul Group for sharing their experiences which inspired this myth.
These experiences, as well as my own, have shown that Old Souls as a whole tend to be very meticulous. Their sensitivity and care for the world tends to make them take extra time to complete tasks.
Old Souls show their care and commitment by the amount of time they invest in people and projects. Unfortunately, this can make them “slow” in the workplace, making them seem inept and unintelligent compared to their faster-paced colleagues.
Myth #5: “Old Soul” is a word made up by insecure or arrogant people trying to be unique.
Truth: “Old Soul” is a word used to describe the feeling of being old in mind and heart.
Understandably, there are a few skeptics that try to rationalize “how can you measure the age of a soul? This stuff is mumbo-jumbo“.
Regardless of whether you believe in the reincarnation Soul Age theory linked with this group of people, being an Old Soul is specifically and exclusively a feeling felt by different groups of individuals. This feeling, which can’t be effectively analyzed by the conscious mind, is a subconscious sensation of “just knowing things”, “having been here before”, and “feeling matured and mentally aged”.
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Old Souls don’t feel that they’re any better than other people, nor do they necessarily feel insecure. The term is simply used to describe what they feel inside.
Myth #6: Old Souls are aloof and cold.
Truth: We tend to have a detached, yet sensitive outlook on life.
If all things are passing – good and bad, people and possessions – what’s the point of becoming too attached to anything?
Many friends, lovers and family members are surprised by the Old Soul’s disconnection from the cares of the world. Understandably, this can be unsettling, even a little upsetting for some. However, the Old Soul still maintains a sensitivity that few understand, and often display traits that can be linked to the Empath.
Still, the Old Soul, a perpetual observer of life, tends to have a “been there, done that” mentality, that many, including even the Old Soul himself, finds puzzling. Backstabbing, gossiping, fighting, as well as addictions, money issues and other day to day problems rarely affect Old Souls.
As physical existence begins to lose its charm, the Old Soul faces deeper existential problems. This, perhaps, is why the Old Soul often feels world-wary and tired.
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If you’re interested in finding out more about Old Souls, why not take our Old Soul Test to find out how old is your soul?
Please feel free to share any thoughts or opinions you have below!
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Who is the woman in the first photograph? I look identical to her and a friend encouraged me to contact the author of this article to find out who she is because the resemblance is somewhat eerie.
Thank you for validating how I have felt most of my life. I too have been told I have an “old soul” especially significant for me was how I feel and my understand of religion or religious beliefs because “it was always so simple for me to see that many paths lead to one higher being or power”, I could never understand why others around me didnt see how clear it was or understand me when I tried to explain….. Thank you for being out there……..
While I mostly agree with both of your articles, I believe there are some generalizations or misconceptions. 1. Money, Addictions and other problems don’t often plague the old soul. I think this couldn’t be less true. A lot of old souls turn to substances to help lessen the incessant chatter of modern life. Old souls tend to be extremely sensitive, empathetic and intuitive. This can leave them feeling raw sometimes. In an age of instant communication and constant distraction, old souls can feel overwhelmed by the symphony of distractions. We do crave a simpler life. Many of us feel we should have been born in a different time. It’s for this reason that many turn to substances to quiet the constant assault on their senses. As far as money goes, old souls can experience issues here as well. We are a very sentimental and experientially driven bunch. We crave feeling, emotion and experience over material things. But we often find it hard as money is a necessary commodity needed for almost anything; food, travel etc. It’s a constant battle between our hate of materialism and our need to have the means to pursue our passions. We are never the type… Read more »
Old souls are keen observers of the natural world. There they connect with the calm powerful knowing that they are part of something bigger t.han the sum of its parts. They often communicate in such a way that others are unaware that a question they have not yet asked has just been answered for future reference. This exchange occurs in a world without sound or form. It has no conscious meaning or presence of mind until the right question has been asked. Old souls accept that their own realization as light beings is rarely achieved without projecting the precise wisdom that heals, guides and empowers less-advanced souls. Through their acceptance of these responsibilities and patient, subtle, ego-less, for-the-better-of-the-higher-good contributions to the quickening of human evolution and humanity’s move toward a global community, they choose their own time of ascension. Many have have yet to consider ascension. If they consider their work undone or the progress disrupted according to their wisdom, they very simply choose to remain old souls and will reject ascendance in favor of service to less-advanced souls, who will grow toward their own expression of understanding, awareness and wisdom. When the wisdom these old souls possess is surpassed… Read more »
Thank you- I. Was beginning to feel alone out there. My kids are very young souls, and my son-in-law just above that. And they tend to attract interesting people that are trying to find themselves. I KNOW who I am, but just get lonely from time to time.
Thanks for posting this article – I can relate to it so much (I’m an INFP) it sounds almost exactly like the way I am and also I feel less strange after reading that all these traits are part of being different and not just having a strange state of mind. Also I think one of my closest friends is most likely an ‘Old Soul’ as well, so I’ll be telling him about this :) (I would guess he’s an ENFP or INTP)
You two are a hoot, I like you already if for nothing else, your authenticity. I have been told I am the oldest soul, the first and the last. I have gained some wisdom still from your site understanding my life and interactions in this world nonetheless and am grateful for your work here. Perhaps I will meet some people here in Phoenix that don’t bore me to tears yet through your site. The father knows… Blessings!
Wow!
This is such a fascinating subject for me! I have been labeled an “old soul” since I can remember! I didn’t really understand what was meant until now. Took the test and scored 92… ;)
Thank you for writing about this. I am INFJ as well! :D
Narcissism , being obsessively preoccupied with your own day dreaming mental projection , is a seriously damaging mental illness that alienates the ” old soul” from the surrounding universe……http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder
Ah, yes, Luna, old souls do achieve maturity while they’re quite young, perhaps because they were born mature, as you suggest. Maturity is nothing by itself. We all get smart eventually. Live long enough, get beaten up enough times and everyone finally wises up, but usually when it’s much too late. To achieve maturity, though, while you’re young enough to enjoy it, that, to me, is WISDOM. I envy you young “old souls,” but I’m happy for you. Wish I’d been an old soul before I got old.