Awakening to the Soul's Journey

The phrase “old soul” is often used to describe someone who seems wise beyond their years, someone who exhibits a level of understanding and depth that seems to transcend their age. While many interpret this as simply having a mature perspective, the concept suggests something deeper—an awareness that our souls have lived before. It speaks to the idea of reincarnation, a cycle that many believe we are all part of, where the soul learns and grows through multiple lifetimes. As I reflect on my own life, I recognize how this notion has shaped my understanding of who I am and how I got here.

Growing up in Dallas, Texas, I was immersed in a deeply Evangelical Christian household. My early childhood experiences were marked by a strong religious influence, yet even at the tender age of six, I could sense that something wasn’t right. I felt an unease in my environment, an inexplicable awareness that something about the world I was living in didn’t align with my soul’s truth. At the time, I couldn’t put it into words, but the whisper of my spirit was clear: this wasn’t the whole story.

As I got older and started to piece together more about my upbringing, the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. In my early adulthood, after years of research, I started to see what my six-year-old self had instinctively sensed. I felt as though I had been misled, duped into accepting a version of the world that was incomplete, one built on stories that didn’t hold up under scrutiny. I began to question the very foundation of my Christian upbringing, particularly the sacred narratives I had been taught. These stories—the miracles of Jesus, Noah’s Ark, and other seemingly supernatural events—struck me as little more than elaborate fabrications.

When you examine them closely, these stories seemed more in line with fairy tales than divine truths. The idea of a man walking on water or a 600-year-old man building a giant ark to house every species of animal on earth felt absurd. It wasn’t just the details of these stories that bothered me—it was the realization that I had been asked to accept them without question. The more I read and researched, the clearer it became: the religion I had been brought up with was built on myths, not truth. It was like being told about Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy—charming, yes, but ultimately a fabrication.

Despite the disillusionment I felt, I came to understand that not everyone is ready to see beyond these stories. For many, these spiritual antidotes offer comfort, a sense of hope, and a way to cope with life’s challenges. People truly believe in the promise of salvation, in the idea that there is a divine plan in place for them. I had to come to terms with the fact that these beliefs, however misguided I may have thought they were, served a purpose for others. They provided solace in a world that can often feel overwhelming and uncertain.

Now, as I approach my sixth decade on this planet, I see things much more clearly. What once seemed like an unfortunate and deceptive upbringing now appears to be a crucial part of my soul’s journey. I realize that my fundamentalist background, as perplexing and frustrating as it was at the time, was actually a part of my awakening. It was necessary for my growth. This understanding has shifted my perspective on my life’s path. According to spiritual teachings, particularly in the work of Caroline Myss in Sacred Contracts, we are said to choose the conditions of our lives before we are born. We choose our parents, our environment, and even our struggles—everything is part of a greater plan for our soul’s evolution.

This idea of pre-incarnation planning has been a profound revelation for me. When I reflect on my life and the challenges I have faced, I now see them not as random or unfair, but as essential parts of my soul’s development. If I could go back and change things, I would not. Every experience, every hardship, every moment of doubt, was carefully designed to shape me into the person I am today. The concept of soul contracts suggests that we come into each life with a specific mission and purpose, and my path, though difficult at times, has unfolded exactly as it was meant to.

This deeper understanding has allowed me to embrace the concept of déjà vu, a phenomenon many of us experience but often dismiss. When I encounter moments of déjà vu, I now see them not as mere coincidences but as signs that I am on the right path. They remind me that I am in alignment with my soul’s plan, or perhaps nudging me back onto course if I have strayed. These moments are like spiritual checkpoints, reminders that I am fulfilling the purpose I set out to accomplish before I incarnated into this life.

As I continue on this journey, I am more at peace with the experiences I’ve had, both the challenging and the uplifting. I understand that they are not arbitrary; they are the stepping stones to my soul’s growth. The concept of being an “old soul” is not just a metaphor, but a reflection of a deep, eternal truth: that we are all on a continuous journey, and every life we live is a chance to evolve and understand more about who we truly are. As I move forward, I do so with the awareness that I am exactly where I need to be, living the life I chose before I even arrived.