We have all seen movies that make us believe that soul mates exist. But what about soul ties? Are they different than soul mates? Here’s what they are.

3 . How does a soul tie compare to a twin flame and other kinds of love?

1. A soul tie can be either positive or negative, whereas a twin flame is typically seen as a positive connection

2. A twin flame is believed to be the other half of your soul, while a soul tie does not necessarily imply this

3. Soul ties can form with various people throughout life, while a twin flame is often considered a unique occurrence

4. Soul ties may form due to deep emotional or sexual experiences, while twin flames connect on a deeper, spiritual level

5. Twin flames often have a strong sense of mutual understanding and progression, while soul ties can sometimes result in stagnation or harm

6. A soul tie can sometimes be confused with infatuation or obsession, while a twin flame relationship is often characterized by mutual growth and understanding

7. Twin flame relationships are thought to be intense and life-changing, whereas a soul tie might not have the same transformative effect

8. The love in a twin flame relationship is often described as unconditional, while this isn’t always the case for soul ties

9. Twin flame relationships often involve a significant amount of personal growth and self-realization, while soul ties might not trigger the same level of introspection

10. The connection with a twin flame is typically immediate, while a soul tie can develop over time

11. Soul ties are often seen as needing management or even breaking, while twin flames are viewed as connections to be nurtured

Most people in the world are curious about the mysterious bonds that exist between themselves and others. Why do you immediately like some people and have an aversion to others? Sure, it could be just personality similarities or differences, but it could be because they have strong soul ties.

You have probably heard of soul mates, but you may or may not have ever heard of the term soul ties. But even if you have, there is a lot to know about soul ties.

What is a soul tie?

Before we get into discussing all aspects of soul ties, we need to first define what it is. So, here are 15 defining characteristics of a soul tie.

1. A deep spiritual and emotional connection between two people

Some people just feel a lot closer to you than others. Even if you just met, you feel like you’ve known each other for a long time and form a deep emotional connection between the two of you. [Read: Emotional connection – 38 signs, secrets, and ways to build a real bond]

2. A bond that goes beyond physical or intellectual attraction

When you go on a first date with someone, you might like their personality and be physically attracted to them, but that’s just normal. A soul tie goes well beyond that. It feels like it runs as deep as eternity itself.

3. An intertwining of two souls, often feeling like one

There is an overwhelming feeling like this person is your other half or your “twin.” You feel like one unit – not two separate people. The place where you end and the other person begins often feels blurred.

4. A connection that is believed to be formed through intimate emotional or physical experiences

Whether or not you feel an instant connection, you build a very intimate bond. This is often accomplished with deep conversations, emotional bonding, and physical/sexual experiences with one another. [Read: How to have spiritual intercourse and experience sexual pleasure beyond orgasms]

5. Often associated with sexual relationships, but can also occur through other types of intimate bonds

We often think of soul mates as being a romantic union. But soul ties don’t always have to be sexual. You can feel it with literally everyone – from your parents to the new colleague who you have zero physical attraction for.

6. An attachment that can either be positive *nourishing and growth-inducing* or negative *draining and harmful*

While most people hear the term “soul tie” and think “soul mate,” sometimes soul tie relationships aren’t always positive or healthy. If negative karma is involved, it could potentially even be toxic.

7. A spiritual concept primarily discussed in Christian teachings, but also found in other spiritual perspectives

The soul ties concept is one that appears in many different religions or spiritual bodies of thought. It’s not specific to just one. However, some put more emphasis on it than others. [Read: Old soul – what it means and 39 traits and signs you’re wise beyond your years]

8. It can lead to emotional dependencies if not healthily managed

Because the pull and connection to someone you have a soul tie with is so strong, some people risk becoming too emotionally dependent on the other person.

If this becomes the case, they have to manage it so the relationship doesn’t get out of control.

9. It’s often hard to break, especially if the tie is negative or toxic

You would think that if the soul tie is negative, then one or both people would be dying to get away from one another.

But it’s really difficult to break a soul tie, even when it’s negative or toxic. It could be because the negative karma bonds the two of them together.

10. It influences behaviors, decisions, and relationships

When an emotional connection is all-encompassing, it is often the center of your universe. As a result, the soul tie can determine how you make decisions, how you behave, and a lot of other factors in your life. [Read: Am I clingy? 23 signs of a stage 5 clinger and how to stop being one]

11. It’s often felt as a strong pull or attraction towards the other person

Imagine that you had a magnet in your heart and another person did too. Just like magnets have an undeniable pull toward one another, when you have a soul tie with one another, you feel the same way.

12. It can lead to feelings of incompleteness when the person isn’t around

Sometimes, this other person can feel like your “other half.” And if the other person isn’t around you, then you can feel empty, alone, and incomplete. 

13. It can make you feel other person’s feelings or experiences

You will probably become much more empathetic to this person than you normally do to other people. It’s almost like you can read their mind and feel exactly what they feel without them even telling you. [Read: The reasons why empathy is important in a relationship]

14. A soul tie isn’t necessarily reciprocal; one person may feel it more deeply

While it might be ideal to have both people feel positively drawn to each other, that doesn’t always happen. One person might feel the draw to the other, while the other one simply might not.

15. A soul tie can last a lifetime, and sometimes, is believed to transcend multiple lifetimes

Unlike normal people in your life, if you have a soul tie with someone, they are likely to remain in your life for the rest of your life.

And if you believe in reincarnation, you might even feel like you have been with them for many lifetimes in the past, and many more to come.

Types of soul ties

Most people probably haven’t thought too deeply enough about soul ties to know that there are actually different types. Here they are. [Read: Soul connection – What it means, 8 types, and 16 signs to find and recognize it]

1. Positive soul ties

Obviously, this is the type of soul tie anyone would want to have. Whether it’s a romantic tie or a platonic one, this is the type where you feel deep love for the other person and the relationship is very healthy and smooth.

2. Negative soul ties

On the flip side, you can have negative soul ties too. This would be the type that causes a very difficult relationship between two people.

It can be mild or toxic, but the relationship is usually very rocky, even though the people feel connected to each other.

3. Parent-child soul ties

Many spiritual traditions believe that souls who are close to each other choose to incarnate on earth with a specific role between the two of them, like parent-child.

But it’s not always the same soul in the same role – they can switch off. [Read: Overprotective and controlling parents – 28 signs, effects, and how to deal with them]

4. Friendship soul ties

You can have strong bonds with your friends in this life and it can be a soul tie. One or neither of you might feel any romantic attraction whatsoever, but you are still emotionally close to one another. 

5. Romantic soul ties

This is the type that most people think of when they think of soul mates. You know the image… two people falling madly in love and living happily ever after. But even if it’s a romantic soul tie, that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily positive.

6. Spiritual soul ties

In essence, most soul ties are spiritual in nature. Of course, if someone is an atheist, they might not believe in the existence of souls. But they can still have a human connection that feels like a soul tie. [Read: Real soulmates – what it is, how it works, 59 secrets and sign to find yours]

7. Unrequited soul ties

This is the type that is one-sided. One person feels incredibly connected to the other person – perhaps even obsessively so – but the other person doesn’t. In fact, the other person might be turned off by the other.

8. Trauma-induced soul ties

If you’ve ever heard the term “trauma bonded,” then this concept applies to soul ties too. There might have been some trauma that the two souls/people went through together that made them become very close to one another.

9. Codependent soul ties

In a relationship, codependency is when each person is involved emotionally, physically, and mentally. They are completely reliant on each other in an unhealthy way.

It can exist between romantic partners, friends, for family, and it is usually dysfunctional. [Read: Why am I codependent? 37 reasons and signs you overstep boundaries in love]

10. Temporary soul ties

If you know the phrase, “People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime,” then you know what a temporary soul tie is. It’s someone who comes into your life for a reason or for a “season” – a short period of time.

11. Long-lasting soul ties

Going back to that phrase we just mentioned, long-lasting soul ties are ones that last for a lifetime. It’s like nothing can break the bond between the two people no matter what happens.

12. Twin Flame soul ties

There is a theory in some spiritual practices that at one point in time, God split souls into halves. And so, everyone is subconsciously searching for their “other half” – or their twin flame. [Read: Twin flame – what it is, 41 signs, and ways to recognize your twin soul]

13. Past-life soul ties

The concept of reincarnation is one that is present in a lot of spiritual traditions. They believe that they keep reincarnating together, and as a result, they develop past-life soul ties.

14. Karmic soul ties

Karma is a law of the universe, and it is cause-and-effect. In other words, if I harm you, then I will get harmed as well *although not necessarily by you specifically.*

But there is positive karma too – you get something good back if you do good deeds. This karma tends to bond people together, for positive or negative reasons. [Read: Karmic relationship – what it is, 27 signs and how to heal from a karmic cycle]

15. Energy vampirism soul ties

An “energy vampire” is someone who just drains all the positive energy out of you. When you are with them, you feel depleted and can’t wait to get away from them.

But if you find yourself “tied” to them, then that is probably an energy vampirism soul tie.

How does a soul tie compare to a twin flame and other kinds of love?

These days, it seems like people throw around the terms soul mate, twin flame, and soul ties quite easily, and they might not even know the differences between all of them. So, here’s how a soul tie compares to a twin flame and other kinds of love.

1. A soul tie can be either positive or negative, whereas a twin flame is typically seen as a positive connection

As we discussed earlier, soul ties aren’t always rainbows and butterflies. They can be tumultuous and rocky.

But it can also be positive. And the twin flame relationship is the ultimate reward – healthy and happy. [Read: 36 soul secrets to find your soulmate, draw them closer, and meet them soon]

2. A twin flame is believed to be the other half of your soul, while a soul tie does not necessarily imply this

If you think of how identical twins started from the same egg and sperm and then split off into two people, well, that’s what a twin flame is *except with your soul*.

So, just like you can have siblings that aren’t your twin, they would be more like your soul “friend” rather than a twin flame.

3. Soul ties can form with various people throughout life, while a twin flame is often considered a unique occurrence

Soul ties are more like “soul friends.” In other words, in your human life, most people have more than one friend. However, they usually only have one romantic partner at a time. [Read: Law of Attraction – 37 secrets to manifest love and bring your dream to life]

This is similar to soul ties vs. your twin. The twin flame is much more unique, and usually, there is only one.

4. Soul ties may form due to deep emotional or sexual experiences, while twin flames connect on a deeper, spiritual level

You may feel a strong emotional or sexual connection to another person, which may or may not be a soul tie *but it probably is*.

But while those connections can feel powerful, they don’t compare to the deeper, more spiritual feeling you have with your twin flame.

5. Twin flames often have a strong sense of mutual understanding and progression, while soul ties can sometimes result in stagnation or harm

Having a twin flame relationship is the ultimate spiritual reward because it’s like being reunited with your other half.

As a result, it is usually loving and positive in nature. But that’s not always true of a soul tie, which can be stagnant or even harmful. [Read: How to keep love alive in a relationship and stay in love forever with your one]

6. A soul tie can sometimes be confused with infatuation or obsession, while a twin flame relationship is often characterized by mutual growth and understanding

We’ve all experienced being infatuated with another person – or even borderline obsessed. While this might feel like a soul tie, it might not be. It could just be sexual attraction. 

But with a twin flame, both of your souls want to grow deeper and understand each other on a completely new level.

7. Twin flame relationships are thought to be intense and life-changing, whereas a soul tie might not have the same transformative effect

Sometimes, you want to hang out with your friends just to have fun and chill out. But there are other people in your life who you feel like you have some sort of life mission together. [Read: Infatuation vs. love – How it feels and 28 differences and ways to turn it into love]

Well, that’s the difference between a soul tie *friend to hang out with* and a twin flame too *life mission*.

8. The love in a twin flame relationship is often described as unconditional, while this isn’t always the case for soul ties

Everyone yearns for unconditional love because it’s the ultimate kind of love in the universe. To love and be loved with no conditions is beautiful. That’s usually what it feels like to be with a twin flame.

On the other hand, soul ties can have conditional love. In other words, love can fade away if one or both people don’t meet each other’s expectations. [Read: Unconditional love – what it is and isn’t, 37 signs you felt it, and steps to find it]

9. Twin flame relationships often involve a significant amount of personal growth and self-realization, while soul ties might not trigger the same level of introspection

Ideally, relationships with other people should help us grow not only as a person but as souls. This happens with twin souls because people become their best selves.

However, with soul ties, the union might not cause either person to look inward and want to be a better person.

10. The connection with a twin flame is typically immediate, while a soul tie can develop over time

When you meet your twin flame, there is something that stirs inside your soul, as if it’s speaking to you and telling you that person is your other half. [Read: Love at first sight – why we fall, how it feels, and 21 signs to prove it’s real]

But that might not happen when you meet someone you have a soul tie with. However, that bond can grow with time, but it may not be immediate.

11. Soul ties are often seen as needing management or even breaking, while twin flames are viewed as connections to be nurtured

Most relationships have problems, conflicts, and issues to be resolved. And that’s true of a relationship you might have with someone you have a soul tie with. 

However, because you have unconditional love with your twin flame, the connection feels more nurturing, loving, and you have fewer problems. [Read: How to resolve conflict – 15 best ways to cut out the drama]

What causes a soul tie to form?

While most people have heard of soul mates and soul ties, they probably haven’t given much thought to why they even form. Here are some reasons.

1. Intense emotional experiences shared with another person

Sometimes two people go through an experience that changes who they are. It could be frightening or it could be a positive one.

But either way, if there are intense emotions that are experienced as a result, they could cause people to form soul ties with each other.

2. Sexual relationships, which are often the most commonly associated cause

Having sex with another person is a very intimate experience – both physically and sexually. So, when people have a sexual relationship with another person, it can cause them to become very emotionally bonded to one another. [Read: What happens spiritually when you sleep with someone]

3. Mutual growth or evolution, where two people profoundly impact each other’s lives

If two people are in a situation where they experience a lot of personal growth, then this can bond them together.

The growth can come in different forms and can be either through positive or negative experiences.

4. Deep spiritual experiences shared with another

Regardless of what religion or spiritual tradition the people believe in, they might have had a profound spiritual experience together.

It could be anything from experiencing the presence of Jesus or a near-death experience or anything else in between.

5. Repeated interactions over time, leading to a deep bond

The more someone is part of your life, the more you get bonded to them.

Even if their presence in your life isn’t necessarily positive, you still have a lot of history with them, and it can create a long-lasting, deep bond. [Read: Long-term relationship – what it means and 30 secrets to have love that lasts]

6. A sense of mutual understanding or acceptance

Let’s face it – life is hard sometimes, and it sure helps if you have people who understand and accept you.

So, if you have someone in your life like that, it can create a strong emotional bond with each other, and even soul ties too.

7. Familial relationships, where deep-seated bonds naturally occur

Not every family is emotionally close to each other, although that would be everyone’s ideal. But either way, the sharing of DNA and genetics is something that naturally bonds people, and it can also create soul ties as well.

8. The need for emotional support or validation

All humans have emotions, both positive and negative. When you’re happy, you want to share happiness with others. [Read: Why am I so insecure? 41 signs & 51 ways to deal with insecurity and fix it]

And when you’re sad, you also need emotional support and validation of your feelings. So, if you have one who can do that for you, that’s another reason ties can develop.

9. A sense of safety and security provided by another person

Everyone has a survival instinct. It’s just part of human nature to want to preserve your life and well-being.

But if you are unable to do that for some reason, having someone else provide you with a sense of safety and security is something that can create deep connections.

10. Sharing secrets or deep personal truths with another person

Most people have some sort of secret. They could be insignificant or they could be very big ones that they don’t want to share with anyone. [Read: How to be vulnerable in a relationship, open up, and 28 secrets to grow closer]

Either way, if you find someone that you can share your truth with and not feel judged, that will make the two people feel like soul friends.

11. Unresolved feelings or emotions towards another person

As we go through life, we meet many people. And we will probably have a lot of feelings for them that could linger throughout our lives whether or not they are still with us or not.

So, if these feelings are unresolved, then they could create ties with the other person.

12. Past life connections *according to some spiritual beliefs*

Some spiritual beliefs say that reincarnation is real and that we keep coming back with the same souls but in different bodies and different lifetimes.

This can also create deep soul connections as they experience lives together throughout eternity. [Read: 37 rules to be a good partner in a relationship and better your love life]

13. Karmic debt or lessons to be learned *in spiritual contexts*

For people who believe in reincarnation, the concept of karma and learning lessons in order to spiritually evolve is very important. 

So, if a soul creates negative karma with another one, they will be tied to them and keep reincarnating until they can do the right things in order to right their wrongs on a spiritual level.

The biggest signs you’ve found a soul tie

Now that you know a lot more about soul ties and twin flames, how do you know if you’ve actually found one in your life? Here are some signs you can look for. [Read: Does he love me? 86 warm signs he’s past like and seriously in love with you]

1. An intense emotional connection that goes beyond physical attraction

We all know that a strong physical and sexual attraction can be quite intense and powerful.

While most people know what that feels like, if you ever feel that intensity with an emotional connection to someone, then you might have found a soul tie with that person.

2. Feeling incomplete or restless without the other person

Most people think of soul mates or twin flames as their “other half.” And both of these soul connections are a form of soul ties. So, if you feel uneasy or incomplete when you are apart from someone, maybe it’s because of the tie that you have to them.

3. Experiencing the other person’s emotions or sensations

Because you are so connected to this person, you might even start to feel what they feel. [Read: Empathy fatigue – the guilt-free guide to recognize it and overcome it]

But it just goes beyond having empathy for them. You might actually sense their feelings and emotions when you’re not with them or before they even tell you.

4. A bond that persists despite distance or time apart

Just because you have a soul tie with someone doesn’t mean that they are still physically in your life anymore. They might have been in the past, but even if you haven’t seen them in years, you still feel bonded to them. 

Or if they are in your life but you haven’t seen them for a long time, you yearn for them. [Read: Long distance relationship – 46 LDR tips to make it work and not screw up]

5. Difficulty in breaking the relationship, even if it’s causing harm

When a bond is very strong, it’s difficult to break it. Obviously, if it’s a loving and positive bond, you don’t want to break up that relationship. 

But if it’s negative or toxic and you still can’t get away from the person, then that’s a big indication that it could be a soul tie.

6. Dreams or constant thoughts about the other person

Souls are connected beyond the body.

So, if you literally can’t get this person off your mind or if you’re even having dreams at night about them, that could be because your subconscious mind is telling you that you have a deep bond with one another. [Read: 17 swoon-worthy signs you’re in love with him and totally obsessed!]

7. Intense reactions to the other person’s actions, even insignificant ones

Whether the other person does incredibly nice things for you or if they treat you badly, you still have intense reactions to what they do or don’t do.

For example, if they don’t text you as much as you would like, you seem to overreact about it more so than you would with other people.

8. Difficulty moving on or forming deep connections with others

If you had a romantic relationship with someone that you have a soul tie with, then you might have a hard time letting them go and moving on with another person. 

Even if it was a friendship, you might obsess over the relationship and have trouble finding the same thing with other people. [Read: Closure after a relationship – 29 sign you don’t have it and ways to move on]

9. Feeling a pull or attraction towards the person, beyond reason

You might be at a crowded party and your eyes lock with someone across the room. You feel an instant “knowingness” about them as if you already know who they are. This pull toward them for no reason could be because of a soul tie.

10. A deep sense of familiarity or recognition upon meeting

Even if you don’t lock eyes across a crowded room, maybe you feel that instant attraction and familiarity once you do meet them and start talking. It might seem like you’ve known them all of your life – and maybe even for lifetimes.

11. A tendency to put the other person’s needs before your own

Whether it’s unconditional love or if you are negatively bonded to this person, you might have the tendency to put their needs above your own.

This is especially true if your true nature is not that of being a people-pleaser. [Read: People pleaser – 21 signs you’re one and how to stop people pleasing]

12. Shared past memories or a sense of deja vu *in some spiritual beliefs*

A sense of déjà vu means that you feel like you’ve been there before or that “this” has happened before. That could be because you’ve subconsciously remembered that person on a soul level or even from a past life that the two of you shared together.

Effects of soul ties

What kind of effects does a soul tie have on your life? Well, there are many, and here are just a few.

1. Influence on behavior and decision-making

When someone has a soul tie to another person, it can be quite overwhelming and intense. [Read: Why am I so indecisive? 25 whys and ways to be an instant decision maker]

Because of this, they might not have a lot of control over their normal behavior or decisions. They might start acting like a different person.

2. Emotional dependency, leading to a lack of individual identity

People who have soul ties are very emotionally connected. And while that’s great, it can lead to them being a little too dependent on each other.

They might get too involved in the relationship and forget their individuality. 

3. Influence on future relationships, creating patterns or barriers

If the relationship doesn’t last with someone you have a soul tie with, then the memory of that connection will stay with you for the rest of your life. [Read: 43 Must-knows to deal with a breakup and move on from your ex relationship]

You might be searching for the same feeling, so that could affect your future relationships too.

4. Emotional distress or confusion, particularly with negative soul ties

If two people have negative soul ties with each other, then it’s probably because they have negative karma. They came back together to move past that and learn to love one another. But until they learn to do that, they might experience emotional distress and confusion.

5. Emotional and physical exhaustion, particularly with negative or energy vampirism soul ties

Energy vampires are the kinds of people who suck the life energy out of you. When you’re with them, you feel drained and awful.

So, if you have a negative soul tie with someone, then you will feel completely exhausted when you are with them. [Read: What is an energy vampire? 19 sign to spot them in your life ASAP]

6. A sense of being ‘stuck’ or unable to progress in life

Again, with a negative soul tie, you might feel like you are stuck and can’t get out of it, even if you want to.

Because of that, you might feel like you can’t move on to anything better in life, so you’re stagnant where you are with that person.

7. Lower self-esteem and self-worth in case of negative soul ties

Obviously, a toxic relationship will not make anyone feel better. Instead, it tears down one or both people’s self-esteem and self-worth.

So, if you have negative soul ties with someone, you’re going to feel a lot worse about yourself when you’re with them.

8. Fear of abandonment or rejection

Soul ties can be so strong that they can actually create fear for one or both people. [Read: Abandonment issues – what it is, causes, types, 34 signs, and how it hurts you]

They might be so in love that they fear being rejected or left by the other person. Or they might even feel that way if it’s a negative soul tie just because of the strong bond between them.

9. Difficulty in setting boundaries

People who have strong soul ties feel differently than they feel with other people. They might be strong and confident with others, but with the person they have a soul tie with, they might be weaker and have more difficulty setting personal boundaries.

10. Negative impact on personal growth and development

Ideally, most people want to grow and become the best person they can possibly be in life – and be happy. [Read: How to deal with negative people and stop them from sapping your energy]

But if there are negative soul ties with someone then it could have a negative impact on your life, not a positive one. You might stay stuck in life or even get worse.

How to maintain healthy soul ties

The whole goal of having soul ties is to make them positive, healthy, and happy. But even if you think your soul tie is a negative one, you can still turn it around with these tips.

1. Cultivate mutual respect and understanding

The healthiest relationships have mutual respect and understanding. [Read: Disrespectful boyfriend – The subtle signs and the best ways to deal with him]

This requires empathy, and empathy is the ability to see a situation from someone else’s perspective – not just your own. So, both people need to make sure they see each other’s point of view.

2. Ensure there’s no co-dependency, but rather interdependency

Co-dependency is a dysfunctional relationship dynamic where one person is the “giver” and the other person is the “taker.”

The giver sacrifices their own needs and well-being for the sake of the other person. Instead of this dynamic, you want to make sure both people are equals.

3. Foster open and honest communication

Healthy communication is key to any successful and happy relationship. [Read: The best communication techniques to finally get them to open up to you]

Each person has to be honest and open about their feelings and thoughts. Having respect for the other person and having a two-way give-and-take about what’s happening in the relationship is vital.

4. Prioritize emotional well-being

It should be everyone’s goal to be happy and love themselves. Many people think this is selfish, but it’s not.

Both of you should equally care about your own and the other person’s well-being and happiness. That creates a loving environment for both of you.

5. Respect personal boundaries

It’s important to set and enforce personal boundaries out of self-love. [Read: 23 secrets to set personal boundaries and guide others to respect them]

And not only is it important for you to set your own, but you also need to respect the boundaries of the other person. Don’t roll right over them out of your own selfishness.

6. Regularly reassess the health of the relationship

All relationships are dynamic and constantly changing. But that doesn’t mean they are always moving in a positive direction.

That’s why it’s important to always keep an eye on how healthy it is. Regularly assess whether or not you’re in a good place or not.

7. Avoid manipulative or controlling behaviors

Many people are naturally controlling or manipulative. But you can’t have that kind of behavior in a healthy relationship. [Read: Controlling relationship – 42 signs and ways to love without bullying]

You have to be loving and accepting of the other person and let them be who they really are without your trying to dictate everything. But both people have to do this, or else it won’t work.

8. Resolve conflicts in a healthy, constructive way

Most people don’t know how to work through conflict in a healthy manner. Usually, they approach it as a “win-lose” or “me vs. you” mentality.

But you have to view yourself as a team and find solutions to your problems that make both of you happy, not just one person.

9. Maintain a separate identity and life outside the relationship

While being in a relationship can be extremely rewarding, you don’t want to lose your entire identity. [Read: The spirited steps to be independent in a relationship and love better]

There are other people and other things in your life that need your attention too. This is healthy not only for yourself but also for the other person and your relationship as a whole.

10. Ensure the relationship is adding to your life, not subtracting from it

Ideally, everyone in your life should be making you happy. And the same goes for you – you should try to be a positive influence on other people’s lives, not a negative one.

So, make sure that both of you are making the other person better, and not worse.

11. Support each other’s goals and aspirations

It’s important for people to have dreams. And even if the other person’s dreams and goals seem a bit lofty or unrealistic, you should be their cheerleader anyway. [Read: 17 signs of a supportive partner who supports you and your goals]

Be a light in their life and encourage them to pursue those aspirations if it makes them happy. They should do the same for you, too.

12. Nurture the relationship regularly to keep the bond strong

Relationships are like plants. If you don’t water a plant, it will die. The same is true of relationships.

You can’t ignore your partner or the quality of your relationship or it will wither away too. Instead, nurture it and try to make the other person as happy as you can.

13. Be patient and understanding of each other’s growth and changes

As the saying goes, the only thing constant in life is change. [Read: 37 rules to be a good partner in a relationship and better your love life]

While some changes are for the better, some may be for the worse. But you should both be patient and help each other on your path to personal growth.

How to break soul ties

When you have negative soul ties, you want to try to break them if you can. Here are some tips to try to get away from the negativity.

1. Acknowledge the soul tie and its impact on your life

Don’t be in denial about the negativity this person is causing you. Putting your head in the sand isn’t helping anything. [Read: Toxic relationship – what it is, 107 signs, causes, and types of love that hurt you]

So, just be honest with yourself and acknowledge that you really need to break this tie to this person. Do it for your own mental health.

2. Understand the reasons behind the formation of the soul tie

If you can’t understand why you have a hard time breaking these soul ties, then try to understand why they are there in the first place.

Do you think it goes back to a past life *if you believe in reincarnation*, or do you think there’s another reason for it? 

3. Seek professional help if needed, such as a counselor or therapist

Sometimes people don’t have the strength to do what they need to do on their own. [Read: Relationship counseling – The signs you need it to save your love]

So, if you have the resources to seek out a counselor or therapist, then they can really help you break the soul ties that are negatively affecting your life.

4. Practice self-care and self-love

It’s so important to take care of and love yourself. It’s not selfish at all. In fact, it’s necessary to be the best person you can possibly be.

Love yourself to draw personal boundaries and not allow any more negativity into your life – even if it’s with a person you have soul ties with.

5. Establish firm boundaries

Speaking of personal boundaries, make sure you set them and demand that the other person respect them. It all goes back to self-love. [Read: Boundaries in a relationship – 43 healthy dating rules you MUST set early on]

You deserve to be happy, and you won’t be if you are a doormat and let the other person take advantage of you and walk all over you. So, you need to learn to stand up for yourself.

6. Forgive and let go of resentment

It might be difficult to forgive a person who has harmed you. But that says more about their character than it does yours. So, don’t hold on to resentment. 

Forgive the other person and let it go. As Buddha said, “Holding onto resentment is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” [Read: How to forgive and forget – 24 thoughts to decide on the right step]

7. Disconnect from the person, if it’s possible and healthy

If you can possibly get away from this person, then that is probably the healthiest thing you can do for your mental state.

Avoid them as much as possible. Even if you have to block them everywhere, it will be worth it because it will bring more peace into your life.

8. Remove reminders of the person from your environment

Just because you know and want to break soul ties with someone doesn’t mean that it’s going to be easy.

You feel very strongly about this person, so it will be difficult to move on and forget them. That’s why you should remove all reminders of them as you possibly can.

9. Replace negative patterns with positive ones

If this person can’t or won’t leave your life, then you will have no choice but to try to change the negative patterns you have into positive ones. [Read: 105 Most common gaslighting phrases, techniques & signs to recognize them]

True, you can’t control the other person’s behavior, but you can control your own. Just be the best role model you can be.

10. Practice mindfulness and grounding techniques

When people are in toxic relationships, they frequently don’t have much control over their emotions and actions. That’s why you should practice mindfulness.

Be in the moment and self-aware of how you feel and what you do. Ground yourself and stan in balance.

11. Surround yourself with positive influences and support

Another very important way to get yourself out of a negative relationship is to be around as many positive people as you possibly can. [Read: 26 Whys and ways to surround yourself with positive people and remodel your life]

Let their happy vibes seep into you so they can lift you up. Stay away from the person who drags you down with their negative soul tie.

12. Find closure, either alone or with the person

Closure is so important to just about everything in life. If you don’t see the other person anymore, then you will just have to achieve closure in your own heart.

But if you can get it with the other person together, that would be ideal. Either way, you need to do it.

13. Use affirmations to reinforce your self-worth and independence

If you’re not so good at loving yourself, then you can try using affirmations because they can be very powerful. [Read: Low self-worth – 5 steps to see yourself in a better light]

Just write down and repeat everything that is good about yourself. You also need to realize that you are a self-sufficient, capable human being who is deserving of happiness.

14. Allow yourself to grieve the loss of the relationship

It’s never easy to lose anyone in your life, even if they are a negative influence. In fact, for some people, it’s even more difficult to let go of a toxic person. [Read: Letting go of people – why it’s so hard, 29 signs you must, and steps to do it]

We grow attached to people, but that doesn’t mean that we should allow them to stay in our lives if they are not serving our best interests. So, it’s okay to grieve the loss. In fact, it’s necessary.

15. Be patient with yourself and understand that breaking a soul tie takes time

Completely breaking soul ties is a painful and lengthy process for most people. It doesn’t happen overnight.

So, just be patient. It will happen eventually, and then you will feel much better and so happy you did it. As the saying goes, “And this too shall pass.”

[Read: 60 must-knows to end a relationship on good terms and not leave it messy]

Now you know everything you have to know about soul ties. So, what do you think? Do you have soul ties in your life? If so, are they positively or negatively influencing you? The more you are aware of them, the better your life will be.

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