Do you consider yourself an old soul? Many of us tend to feel like our personalities are wise and mature, but is it true or just a misconception?
If you frequently find yourself acting more rational and wiser than people of your age and guiding those around you, then the chances are that you have an old soul.
Your magnetic personality and insightful perspective on life are what make people attracted to you.
What Is An Old Soul? What Is it Like to Have an Old Soul?
We often call people who seem more mature or wiser than people of their age group old souls. They often display high intelligence, experience, strong empathy, and intuition in different situations. Most old souls have done the inner work of healing themselves and are wise beyond their years.
But what is an old soul exactly? The true meaning of the phrase "old souls" refers to people who feel and act much older than their own age reflects.
Most old souls tend to feel like outsiders, often feeling like they don’t belong. At one time or another, they may even wonder if their soul's existence comes from past lives, especially when they feel connected to places, people, or things that have not been part of their own life experiences.
Being an old soul isn’t just about maturity. This person possesses unique talents, has deep wisdom, and is always ahead of their peers.
To simplify this further, let’s look at some characteristics of people who have old souls.
13 Signs You're an Old Soul Who Possesses Wisdom at a Young Age
You may have been called an old soul but are just not sure if truly you’re one. Here are some of the revealing signs that you're an old soul.
1. Old souls don't follow trends.
Unlike most people who are lured by the latest trends, an old soul is so down to earth that none of that matters to them. Sometimes, people with this personality type at young ages are described as "hippies." They focus on true happiness without minding the superficial details.
If you are an old soul, you probably don't care much about material possessions. You understand that fashionable items come and go with time, so you prefer timeless pieces or classic clothing rather than wasting money on certain things that don't make sense. Rather than chasing popular music and movies, you generally crave simplicity and prefer timeless art pieces.
2. People often seek your advice.
One of the most common signs of an old soul is that you possess an incredible gift: the ability to offer good advice and see the big picture. Family members and friends seek you out in times of hardship and rely upon you to help them make critical decisions because you seem level-headed and wise beyond your years.
For old souls, their wisdom seems to come from a place outside of their actual life experiences that doesn't reflect their chronological age. Unlike older people who have gained wisdom through time and a life well-lived, for you, this sense of understanding comes from a place you can’t seem to identify. It’s as if they are born with it as children — or at least an innate ability and higher sensitivity to take everything in and learn from it.
Your good advice provides peace, strength, and clarity during challenging moments and helps others to see the bigger picture. If you want to communicate with different personality types as effectively as an old soul, check this article to gain some unique perspective.
3. People with old souls tend to think before they act.
Taking a moment to contemplate life and consider the implications of any choice you make is essential. As an old soul, you understand this, so when confronted with decisions, you pause to calmly analyze the situation with a deeper level of understanding before forming a conclusion and taking action.
4. As an old soul, you don't seek validation.
An old soul has a high sense of self-awareness. You remain authentic no matter what anyone else says or thinks. You don't let any person's opinion or anticipation prevent you from living your best life. Instead, your inner core of values guides and directs your daily life.
5. Old souls tend to express their emotions honestly.
Understanding and expressing your feelings is vital to maintaining a healthy state of mind. An old soul has high emotional intelligence and is unafraid to let their emotions show, making it more straightforward for others to empathize with them emotionally.
By being honest about your feelings, you ensure that no emotion stays suppressed, which can be damaging in the long run.
6. Old souls live in the present but view life in the long term.
Old souls understand the power of investing in your future, never allowing instant gratification to prevent you from focusing on what really matters. This gives you an advantage in staying on track and recognizing which factors matter for a meaningful life.
As much as they are able to see the bigger picture, old souls are mindful to be connected to the present moment. For some, it's as if they have had a spiritual awakening at a young age
7. Old souls don't engage in gossip.
You consciously try to avoid wasting your time on gossip and instead focus on meaningful connections that can improve you as an individual. Instead of involving yourself in small talk, which could damage the reputations of others you know, it is wiser to center the discussion around personal growth topics. Old souls also take time to show appreciation to the ones around them.
8. You are a deep thinker; old souls struggle with overthinking.
Instead of accepting life as it is, old souls allow themselves to dive into deep thoughts and explore them. By taking a few moments to reflect on the world around you, your relationships with others become more meaningful and resilient.
This tendency toward deep thought can be a challenging aspect of being an old soul. Many old souls struggle with overthinking about everything, something that can eat into their joy and happiness.
9. If you're an old soul, you don't let failures define you.
You recognize that nobody is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. When dealing with bad life experiences, you don't dive into misery and self-despair. Instead, you use it as a chance to gain knowledge and develop.
Old souls perceive past life failures as valuable experiences they can use to become better versions of themselves.
10. Old souls take pleasure in simple things.
As an old soul, you value the beauty of simplicity and understand that life doesn't have to be extravagant or luxurious to please you. A simple life brings happiness to your soul, like a walk through your local park or catching up with an old friend over coffee.
By embracing these simple pleasures with gratitude, you can appreciate life's meaningful gifts without focusing on the material world.
11. You like to spend time alone if you're an old soul.
Alone time is highly beneficial to your well-being. Taking a few hours to enjoy your own company helps provide time to step away from the rush of life. It is also essential for you to create space to refocus on your personal growth and development.
While staying alone is a characteristic of the introverted personality, not all old souls are introverts. Many have a strong extroverted side as well, a duality that makes them ambiverts.
As an old soul, you prioritize self-care, which is the key to maintaining good psychological well-being. You also don't like to waste time hanging around emotionally unavailable people, and that's why you enjoy solitary existence.
12. Old souls enjoy hanging out with older people.
One of the signs you’re an old soul has something to do with your friend group. You are an old soul if you feel connected with people older than you. You enjoy the same things as them, like their music and stories, and generally like their company, often more than that of people your own age.
Old souls tend to gravitate toward fellow old souls because they view them as like-minded people with the same interests. That may explain why they’re richer in wisdom and approach life differently than people in the same age group.
13. Patience is a virtue you possess as an old soul.
Old souls tend to possess the ability to stay patient even in the most stressful situations. You know that some goals take longer than others, yet you persist and remain committed until they are achieved. As an old soul, staying calm and patient is something that comes easily to you!
Recognize These Old Soul Traits in Your Young Soul?
Old souls tend to be extraordinary people who stand out from the masses due to their exceptional qualities. They tend to be wise beyond their years and deeply comprehend life and how it works, so they're not easily confused or overwhelmed by any situation.
The insight and understanding that old souls possess are invaluable. They enable them to stay focused on their goals and make choices with long-term advantages.
Many old souls have a strong spiritual side. It's as if they started their spiritual journey and did a lot of inner work early in life. They engage in habits that protect their inner peace and well-being.
If you identify with the traits we discussed in this article, you may also be an old soul! Use your knowledge and wisdom to improve the world around you.
Remember that these signs are not the only indicators of an old soul. Still, they should give you a good idea if the old soul's personality resonates with you.
Another way to determine if you are an old soul is by taking a Myers-Briggs type indicator (MBTI) personality test. Certain MBTI personalities, such as INFJ and ENFJ, are most associated with old souls. Read this article to learn more about the importance of knowing your personality type and what it can tell you about yourself.
