17 Signs You’re An Old Soul Stuck in the 21st Century

lonerwolf.com/9-signs-youre-an-old-soul

Aletheia Luna December 26, 2012

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?

– Satchel Paige

There is a special kind of person in our world who finds herself alone and
isolated, almost since birth.

Her solitary existence isn’t from a preference or an antisocial temperament – she is

simply old. Old in heart, old in mind, and old in soul, this person is an old soul who
finds her outlook on life vastly different and more matured than those around her. As a
result, the old soul lives her life internally, walking her own solitary path while the rest
around her flock to follow another.

Perhaps you’ve experienced this in your own life, or have witnessed it in another
person? If so, this article is dedicated to you, in hopes that you will come to define
yourself or understand another better.

What is an Old Soul?

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Quite simply, an Old Soul is a person who feels much older than their age reflects. This
feeling is often accompanied by the gift of empathy, high intelligence, intuition, and
keen insight into the human condition.

Old Souls are often outsiders looking in, they feel as though they don’t “belong” in this
world, or this period of time. As a result, most Old Souls long for a sense of true
meaning, purpose and inner fulfillment that money, power, and success can’t achieve.
This longing is often described as the thirst to “return back home.”

There are two major types of Old Souls: those that are born with the sensation of being
“different,” and those who “grow into” becoming Old Souls through the process of
spiritual awakening. We’ll explore Old Souls and spiritual awakening more a little later.

17 Signs You’re An Old Soul

Robert Frost, Eckhart Tolle, Jim Carrey, Oprah Winfrey, and even Nick Jonas have
been called Old Souls. Perhaps even you have?

If you have not yet discovered whether you’re an Old Soul, read some of the revealing
signs below:

1# You tend to be a lone wolf

Because Old Souls are disinterested in the pursuits and interests of the people in their
age groups, they find it dissatisfying to make friends with people they find hard to relate
to. This sense of alienation is one of the major problems Old Souls experience. The
result is that Old Souls tend to find themselves alone a lot of the time. They struggle to
connect deeply with others because most other people don’t have the same interests or
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values as them.

2# You love knowledge, wisdom, and truth

This might seem a little highbrow, but the Old Soul finds herself naturally gravitating
towards the intellectual side of life. Old Souls inherently understand that knowledge is
power, wisdom is happiness, and truth is freedom, so why not seek after those things?
These pursuits are more meaningful to them than reading up on the latest gossip about
the Kardashians or the latest football scores.

3# You’re spiritually inclined

Old Souls tend to have sensitive and spiritual natures. Experiencing a spiritual
awakening, overcoming the confines of the ego, seeking enlightenment and self-
realization, and fostering love and peace are often at the core of the Old Soul’s ultimate
quest in life.

4# You understand the transience of life

Old Souls are frequently plagued with reminders of their own mortality and that of
everything and everyone around them. In fact, it’s not uncommon for the old soul to
have multiple existential crises throughout life, especially during difficult situations that
highlight the impermanence of existence. Being very perceptive and sensitive toward
the reality of death, old souls choose to live their lives differently. Every decision
counts.

5# You’re thoughtful and introspective

Old Souls tend to think a lot … about everything. It’s crucial for an old soul to get
enough space and time to reflect, introspect, and develop more self-awareness. This
natural tendency toward rumination helps them to quickly learn from their actions and
understand the people and environments around them. Many Old Souls practice a
natural form of shadow work in which they are constantly reflecting on how they could
do better, prevent their issues from getting bigger, and create more inner harmony.

6# You see the bigger picture

Old Souls dislike getting lost in the superficial details of gaining useless degrees, job
promotions, social prestige, and better iPhones. Instead, Old Souls prefer to look at life
from a birds-eye perspective, striving to find the wisest and most meaningful way of
living and using their time. After all, life can end at any moment, so why waste time on
trivial details?

7# You aren’t materialistic

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Wealth, status, fame, and the latest tech gadget … Old Souls take little interest in these
things. After all, what’s the point of seeking these socially paraded goals if they can
easily be taken away? What’s the point if the fulfillment isn’t long-lasting or soul-
enriching?

8# You were a strange, socially maladaptive kid

This is not always the case, but many Old Souls exhibit odd signs of maturity at young
ages. Often, these children are labeled as being “precocious,” “introverted,” or
“rebellious,” failing to fit into the mainstream behaviors. Usually, these children are
extremely inquisitive and intelligent, seeing the purposelessness of many things their
teachers, parents, and peers say and do, and either passively or aggressively resist them.
If you can talk to your child like s/he’s an adult – you’ve probably got an Old Soul on
your hands.

9# You’ve undergone an existential crisis

It’s common for Old Souls to ask deep and penetrating questions about life in their
search for love, truth, and freedom. This quest to live a meaningful existence inevitably
means that they will, sooner or later, experience an existential crisis. An existential
crisis is what happens when a person starts to see through the lies and delusions within
society. They may wonder what life is really about, whether they have a true purpose,
and start to think about the human condition more. Is life just a product of chance?
What’s the point of everything I’ve done? What is all this about, anyway? These are the
types of questions Old Souls ask during the existential crisis.

10# You see life through a poetic/contemplative lens

Old Souls take time to enjoy life – they see things that others don’t see. Take nature for
example: an Old Soul will enjoy the way the wind dances through the trees – while
someone else may just walk straight by, disinterested or blind to the simple beauty
before them. Old Souls also take time to contemplate life. The smile and laughter of a
child is something to stop and savor. The striking beauty of a piece of art is something to
ponder. The words of a great writer are something to meditate on. There is so much in
life to stop, appreciate, and reflect on.

11# You tend to overthink everything

While Old Souls are contemplative types of people, this can also prove to be a painful
and challenging quality. For instance, most Old Souls struggle with the curse of
overthinking practically everything. Choosing from a menu at a cafe, for example, can
be a strangely painstaking experience. (There are so many options! Which is the right
one? What would taste the best? What is the most ethical? What is the best value for
money? What is right for this time of the day? etc.) Social situations are no better, which
leads to the next point …

12# You struggle with anxiety in social situations

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Put the tendency to overthink everything alongside conscientiousness and strong
empathy, and you have a recipe for social anxiety. Throw in a little bit of eccentricity
(i.e., not sharing the same interests as most people) and we have an unavoidable
tendency towards lingering social discomfort. Although many Old Souls are confident,
calm, and self-possessed people, social situations are complex and tiring. There are so
many elements to consider (fragile egos, etiquette, boundaries, reciprocity, unspoken
but obvious insecurities, etc.) that they often prefer just being left by themselves. With
that being said, when Old Souls do find someone they connect with or find interesting,
they tend to form strong and intense connections quite quickly. It’s one of the greatest
joys of life to find fellow kindred spirits.

13# You easily fall into the role of advisor or counselor

People flock to Old Souls for advice like a moth drawn to a flame. Attracted to their
level-headedness and wisdom, it’s common for family members, friends, and
workplaces to naturally position the Old Soul as advice-giver. While most Old Souls
don’t mind this, it’s common for them to feel inundated and overwhelmed by the
magnitude of other’s problems. Even so, Old Souls enjoy helping others. It’s more of a
pleasure (than a burden) to give guidance to those in need.

14# You enjoy the company of those much older than you

Old Souls tend to make friends with older folks way more often than younger people
(including those of the same age). There is something so down-to-earth, engaging, and
layered about those who have been around much longer than the rest. Besides, it’s
comforting being around those whose external energy matches the Old Soul’s internal
energy. There’s something compatible there. No need to go running around like a
headless chicken to parties, concerts, and what have you. Instead, Old Souls can enjoy
sitting around a fire or lounging on the patio chairs, having a good old-fashion talk and
exchanging stories.

15# You crave simplicity

In some areas of life, Old Souls respect and even like complexity. But overall, what most
Old Souls crave deep down is simplicity. There is a certain purity, beauty, and Zen-like
appeal in the simple life. Some Old Souls may find themselves drawn toward
minimalism, while others may take a minimalistic attitude toward everyday
responsibilities and other pursuits. The Old Soul’s thirst for simplicity is very much
connected to their love of heart, soul, and essence. Whatever is true and worthy can
easily be found in simplicity.

16# You’re attracted to all things vintage

While this might not be the case for all Old Souls, many find themselves drawn toward
old music, old furniture, old architecture, old books, old clothing – really, anything old.
Some Old Souls feel more at home in bygone eras (18th-century horse and carriage,

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1920’s jazz, etc.), while others have an appreciation for even older cultures (e.g.,
shamanic and tribal periods).

17# You just “feel” old inside

Throw away the ‘Old Soul’ label for a moment and focus on how you feel inside. How
old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? Those who realize that they feel
much older than their age reflects are often Old Souls at heart.

Common feelings that accompany being an Old Soul usually include a feeling of world
wariness, mental tiredness, inquisitiveness, watchful patience, and the sensation of
being an “outsider looking in.”

More In-Depth Help

Want to learn more about being an Old Soul? In my book Old Souls: The Sages
and Mystics of Our World, I give more in-depth guidance:

get more guidance

Have You Experienced Spiritual Awakening as an Old Soul?

Almost every Old Soul, to some extent, has undergone a process of spiritual
awakening.

Spiritual awakenings are periods in our lives when we feel lost, confused, and alienated
from others and society’s rules, expectations, beliefs, and values.

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The spiritual awakening process is a painful and often traumatic experience involving
the complete disintegration of our former habits, perceptions, and even life goals.
Often, the result of such an experience is fear, confusion, depression, anxiety, and social
alienation for years on end. However, despite such devastation, the spiritual awakening
process is ultimately a liberating experience after we have gone through the fires of
rebirth.

You might be wondering what triggers the spiritual awakening process …

Well, usually the spiritual awakening process arises in a person’s life during major life
events such as marriage, divorce, child-bearing, death, illness, and tragedy. However,
spiritual awakenings can also be completely spontaneous, arising as a natural result of
life experience – or in the Old Soul’s case, soulful maturity.

The inevitable product of going through a spiritual awakening process is soulfully

maturing. The more we come to see through the illusions and deceptions of society, the
more we direct our search for true happiness and fulfillment within ourselves. The
deeper we search, the closer we connect with our Souls, which are the ultimate sources
of our joy and peace.

Old Souls are people who are conscious of the Soul’s existence and actively
work to reconnect with it again. In this sense, the term “Old Soul” is metaphorical
rather than literal, indicating a matured and ripened relationship with the Soul or True
Self. A Young Soul, on the other hand, is a person who hasn’t yet experienced a deep
connection with their Souls, or Higher Selves. They remain like a young flower bud:
tight and closed.

However, it’s important to realize that not every Old Soul has a working connection
with the Soul. After undergoing a process of spiritual awakening, it is common to
become so absorbed in the suffering of the world and other personal issues, that a
connection to the Soul is “lost.” While the Old Soul may be aware of a profoundly divine
presence within them and existence, they are not able to sustain a connection with it.
This experience is known as The Dark Night of the Soul.

Old Souls and Inner work

Instinctually, Old Souls know that life is one great spiritual journey towards inner
Wholeness. As a result, most Old Souls spend their lives seeking that which will bring
them true self-fulfillment or self-actualization.

The most vital practice to incorporate into your life as an Old Soul, and indeed as any
person, is inner work.

Inner work is the practice of working to reconnect with your Soul – it is not limited to
any particular religious or spiritual doctrine but embraces all paths.

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Essentially, any practice which helps you to become conscious of the eternal and
unchanging presence within you that is your Soul is helpful. We have dedicated this
website to helping you explore various techniques and sacred inner work practices out
there that aid soulful maturing. You can read more about Inner work here.

Illuminated Souls

Once an Old Soul has learned how to reconnect with and embody the Soul, they enter a
new level of spiritual advancement. We refer to this level as the Illuminated Soul
stage.

Illuminated Souls are awakened beings who have been freed from the dualistic mind
that is at the root of all suffering (read more about the mind and ego for more
understanding). Common Illuminated Souls that we know of include figures such as the
Buddha, Basho, Krishnamurti, Meher Baba, Mahavira, Gangaji, Eckhart Tolle, Mooji,
Unmani, and many others.

You can read more about Illuminated Souls in my Old Souls book.

Old Soul FAQ

Here are some common questions people ask about Old Souls:

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Old Souls: Mystics and Sages eBook:
Are you solitary, thoughtful, and intuitive? Have you always felt like an outsider on this
planet? If so, you may be an Old Soul – and you're not alone. Discover more about your
rare gifts!

How old is my soul?

There are many approaches to discovering the age of your soul – it all depends on your
personal beliefs and preferences. One way to discover the age of your soul is through a
deep guided visualization where you seek out your core essence. You could use imagery
such as ascending to the heavens, descending into a deep tunnel and finding ‘the light,’
or moving through a labyrinth toward the center where your Soul resides. Other
methods include mirror work, soul gazing (with another person), dream work,
meditation, and using plant medicines. However, the question must be asked, why do
you want to discover your soul’s age? How will it ultimately help you? And how can you
know for sure that you’ve found the right answer? These are important questions to
explore as they will help you to use your time and energy wisely.

Are Old Souls rare?

Old Souls are relatively rare and compose a small percentage of the world’s population.
Some speculate that Old Souls compose around 10% of the world’s population.
However, this number is not exact or proven. Regardless of that fact, Old Souls are not
common in today’s society.

What is the definition of an old soul?

An Old Soul is a person who feels much older than their age reflects. This feeling is
often accompanied by the gift of empathy, high intelligence, intuition, and keen insight
into the human condition.

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How do you know if you are an old soul?
Pay attention to the following signs:
1. You have a preference for solitude
2. You’re sensitive and empathic
3. You have a profound understanding of human nature
4. You have the ability to deeply introspect
5. You tend to experience a lot of psychological tiredness
6. You’re disinterested in worldly achievements or status
7. You have an inclination towards spirituality
8. You have a mystical approach to life
9. You thirst for truth and wisdom

***

What makes one person wise beyond their years, and another, young at heart?

What makes one person awaken to the desire for spiritual fulfillment and self-love, and
another person to the desire to content themselves with material gain and social status?
The answer is the age (or level of development) of their Soul.

If you’re an Old Soul, you will likely feel alienated in society, but you’ll also be able to
live a truly unique and meaningful life. There are blessings and curses that accompany
this way of being, but most of all, I hope you know that you’re not alone and there are
others like you.

Are you an old soul? I’d love to hear your stories below.

We also have an Old Soul Test which you might wish to take.

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