“People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life.
A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave.
A soul mates purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life, then introduce you to your spiritual master...”-Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love
First of all, I think it's weird how much I love the movie (haven't read the book), but somehow managed to miss the part where the quote above was made. Except of course it was one of those parts of the book that didn't make it to the manuscript for the movie, in which case, whew! I don't have to spend time looking for the scene where that was said.
I have put in bold the part of this quote that is of interest. Er, I love you Liz Gilbert, but I don't agree that living with your soulmate forever is too painful. For starters, why is it too painful? What's the cause of the pain? Would said pain be different from pain one might feel if they were in meaningful relationships with others who weren't necessarily their 'soulmates'? Secondly the idea that it'd be too painful live with a soulmate forever implies that individuals may have to settle for people they are less compatible with, because they can't stand the pain of being with people that actually complete them and bring forth the best in them. Excuse me, but, what? I'm not buying that.
Liz does say that soulmates are important, "a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake" but then she goes to say it'd be a pain to stay with this person. Forever.
Maybe I just don't get her point, but in my head, a soulmate would stay forever, in spite of the pain because it's what soulmates do. They don't just get up and leave when it's not convenient for them anymore. A soulmate would not only be a catalyst for change but he/she would be a part of the process of that change, holding their partners hands and being encouraging all the way.
They are your soulmates, they must have searched their entire lives for you, and I would think that after they've found you, leaving you would be the last thing they'd want to do.
P.S
I don't even believe in soulmates. I believe many of us are blessed enough to meet people who can put up with us, and everything concerning us, good or bad. I believe that people [we] struggle with thoughts of leaving or staying with their significant other, and that some of them never leave is not an indication that they were meant to stay.
