Compromises vital for enduring relationships

When we hear the words soul mates, oftentimes we gaze up into the sky and visualise our knight in shining armour or our Rapunzel who will let their hair down.

This is because the concept of soulmates is very prominent in the childhood fairytales we grew up with, and has since seeped into our adult lives. Some people take the concept of soulmates so seriously that they are not even willing to date until they meet their perfect partner – their soulmate.

But what exactly is a soulmate? What are their characteristics, and more importantly, how do you know you have met a soulmate?

Karabo Madingoane, a registered psychological counsellor, says people sometimes tend to create their own fairytale world where they would meet their soulmate and live happily ever with 25 kids and a big house.

The reality, however, does not always work out that way.

“Sometimes a passer-by ends up being your soulmate, and at times your soulmate ends up being your greatest enemy because they broke your heart,” she says.

“The Cambridge dictionary defines a soulmate as ‘someone, usually your romantic or sexual partner, who you have a special relationship with, and who you know and love very much.’

“If we had to look at this definition, one may argue that almost every man or woman one has been with is their soulmate, which gets us to question whether or not a soulmate really exists.

“Depend ing on the types of

‘ ‘ Your soul mate may end up being your greatest enemy