Do you believe that everyone has a soul mate?

I sure hope so

I believe that for every individual there are thousands if not millions of people on the planet who would fit the role.

i do but i don't necessarily believe that there is one person who will be with you forever. they may only touch your life for a short time physically but will be with you forever spiritually.

I'm with ILJ on this one. Beautifully put.

I'm rather dubious about this whole ``soul mate'' concept. I guess the answer depends on just what is meant by the term.

I don't really think that certain people are ``meant for each other,'' if that's what the question asks. While some people may be more compatible than others, I think that making a friendship or love work requires hard work and dedication a lot more than it does a cosmic stamp of approval.

Maybe I'm just bitter because on the rare occasions when I felt I had a special link with someone, it's always turned out badly. Still, those experiences have led me to believe that being joined at the soul, while nice, is no substitute for a good solid earthly friendship.

No, and I'm not even sure I believe I have one, though I once knew someone who I believe might qualify for that description.

I am going to assume that "soul mate" is meant in the context of a lover. You all seem a good audience to assign my theory to:
People dont fall in love with someone. They fall in love (period).
People have "needs". They need people to attach to emotionally. When they are young, their parents, family, and friends all come together to fill the role. About the time that all these people leave them (They move out, their friends/they go to college, they buck their family), they start to feel alone. They say "I need somebody to love". Then, they find somebody to love. The first person, who is willing to accept/return their love, will be the person they "fall in love" with.

This works for ALL emotional relationships. I dont meet someone, then they become my friend, I say "I need a new friend" and then go and find someone I know who will fit the role.
When everything is right, and someone is ready to "Fall in love", about 1/15 people of the opposite sex, who is in their age range, will do. I mean, seriously, after high school and college, how many people know more than 15 people who are the opposite sex, and +/- 5 years from them?

I don't know. I tend to think that this is a Romantic notion perpetuated by Hollywood.

cody, you've suddenly become so...eloquent...Okay, where's the real cody you bastard? We know you have him!

Cody, that is a flawed theory in a number of ways:

1. Many people fall in love long before they stop living with their family.
2. Many people fall in love with people who don't return their affections.
3. Many people fall in love with people outside their age range (also their racial group/socioecononomic group, etc.), sometimes causing major problems that could be avoided if they were more "practical" as your theory implies.
4. Many people do not follow your practice of deciding they need new friends and then going out and getting them.

You very well may have explained your own personal experience with "love", but it isn't a sound explanation for many if not most people.

I know I do...I can't say for everyone...I don't know

I found mine.

Several. That doesn't kill the meaning does it?

I think everyone has more than one, and they relate to different areas of one's life. My best friend is my soul mate as far as friends go, my cat is my soul mate as far as cats go, and as far as I can tell, and my boyfriend is my soul mate as far as romantic relationships go.

1. So? Perhaps those people needed emotional support they weren't getting
2. Probably a valid flaw to this theory
3. Not really valid in my opinion, just because there are ultimately superficial differences that need to be overcome doesn't mean the person isn't the most "practical" choice
4. Just because they don't consciously do it doesn't mean they don't do it.

Nor of course are examples of "many people" doing things proof that "people generally" don't do them.

I hope so. I haven't found them yet, but when I do I am never letting them go.

I don't know about everyone, but I believe I have at least one. And it doesn't have to be a lover. My oldest, best friend is one.

yes, though I also think that most people have many potential soul mates (or does that violate the definition?)

As idealistic as it is and as utopian as the idea is, I wish it could be true. However, were it true, the world and it's people would be supremely imbalanced. It's too bad though; I'd like to know that I have a 'soulmate' just waiting or find out if my girlfriend *is* the one!

Cody, that is a flawed theory in a number of ways:

1. Many people fall in love long before they stop living with their family. >>

This is not meant to be a set in stone way of things... It is just meant to be a simplification of something whichj a 1000 page book could be written on.. there is not time to account for all the odd exceptions (WHich, when combined, make up the majority of cases!)

<<2. Many people fall in love with people who don't return their affections. >>
This has to do with other things, which interupt this "natural" course.
<<3. Many people fall in love with people outside their age range (also their racial group/socioecononomic group, etc.), sometimes causing major problems that could be avoided if they were more "practical" as your theory implies. >>
True again, but the VAST majority of people married someone in their "Age range".

<<4. Many people do not follow your practice of deciding they need new friends and then going out and getting them. >>
It is more of a subconscious thing.

<>

I am sure it ISNT a sound explanation for most people. We havent even begunt account for homosexuality, polygamy, abusive fathers, penis envy, sexual abuse, drug use, alcoholism...etc. etc. etc. But it is a veryh good "vacuum" theory if you ask me.

I have a feeling that response was meant for "anonymous #1. Which of course was not me. I only use the anonymous function to have conversations with myself for the amusement of the sort of people who might find that amusing. Like me for example.

No you don't!

Yes I do!

Do not!

Do too!

MOM! Zang's picking on me!

See. That sort of thing.

Couldn't've said it better myself!

hey pandora, welcome back?? i haven't seen you around in a while!

What a binary picture...

I think one has to be open to one's own soul before one can be open to other people's souls. Some people may never have any soul mate, other people may be comfortable sharing their souls with multiple people on multiple levels.

I honestly believe that everyone has a soulmate! I never thought that until I met the love of my life, my fiance. We're deeply in love and we've outlasted the test of time, and we're certain that we were meant to be together. Love is for everyone.

a soul mate doesn't have to be lover, just someone you connect with.

And the definition of a soul mate is?

There is a "someone" for "everyone". The trick is finding them. I have found mine.

You people are too optimistic (sugar-coaters)

RainbowDancer: not just for people with a soul mate?

There is no person in the world that is my soul mate, I think that it is ridiculous that people think they'll meet someone and they are just going to click. Sure, there will be people who are similar to each other but none that are "meant to be."

Explain how I found mine then?

i don't know... i think so, but you don't always get to meet him/her

Yes I do. And gosh I hope I find him!

Hey Jettles, I haven't been around too much, not nearly as much as I'd like to. Thanks for the welcoming!!

I'm not sure.

I think we all have one sole mate or more.

It is not predetermined. You make one.

It's nice to believe that there is one soulmate for everybody but if there is the chance of us actually finding them in this population of 6 billion is very slim!

And how do you know that they are YOURS? What if you aren't the one for them?

We both knew. It is the coolest feeling. I really never expected it. I always dreamed of it, finding the one person who I felt was my destiny, but I never really believed it was real. Until I met her.

We all probably have a special someone out there so I believe in it

Yes! But my soul mate does not..

I hate to sound like a cold fish, but I think every person has a LOT of "perfect" matches..its just the random chance of meeting them. You won't meet everyone in the world in your lifetime, so how could you not know if there was someone "better" for you than a soulmate you already have?...

No!