What's the difference between a twin flame and a soulmate?
- What is a twin flame?
- Common misunderstanding
- What's the difference from a soulmate?
- Does everyone have one?
- Signs you've met your twin flame
- You have a similar past
- Your insecurities and doubts are amplified
- Your relationship hits road bumps
- Your perspective on the world shifts
- You feel a divine quality about your bond
- Your communication is nearly psychic
- They push you to do and be better
- Twin flames aren't always meant to be together
- Pay attention to the time of entrance
What is a twin flame?

Twin flames are generally understood as an intense soul connection between two halves, or "mirror souls." It's based on the idea that sometimes one soul gets split into two bodies.

These mirror individuals tend to have similar strengths and weaknesses, and feel intensely connected over something shared, as licensed psychotherapist Barbara Spinelli, a relationship expert and CEO of Babita Spinelli Group and Opening the Doors Psychotherapy, told Healthline.
Common misunderstanding

Vitally, each person is still "whole" on their own, says Spinelli. "There is a misnomer that a twin flame completes you," she explains. "In reality, relationships are meant to encourage you to be more complete in your own right."
What's the difference from a soulmate?

While some people consider twin flames to be the most intense kind of soulmate, others say they are completely different. Soulmates feel a deep familiarity and closeness, but twin flames take that further by being two halves of the same whole. Soul mates can also bring you closer to your authentic self, but they decide to be together instead of being drawn together.
Does everyone have one?

The answer across the board seems to be no. It's a rare connection, to be twin flames, so most people won't find one. "Ultimately, not everyone feels that pull toward the other part of their soul because it hasn't had this split," spiritual author Shannon Kaiser told Mind Body Green.
Signs you've met your twin flame

First of all, you both instantly recognize something in the other. Spinelli says there will be an intense sense of attraction, recognition, and longing. "Meeting a twin flame often feels like home," she notes. "They feel familiar—an undeniably intense bond as though you have known them before." Still, they might not be what you thought was your "type."
You have a similar past

You'll even share past experiences and be surprised by a lot of things that align. "Both of you will find that your past story has a lot of coincidences and similar experiences," Spinelli says. Intuitive energy healer Tasha Nassar emphasized to Allure that often your twin flame will have experienced similar childhood trauma—usually on a broader scale, like abandonment or neglect.
Your insecurities and doubts are amplified

Not because they are purposely making you feel insecure, but because your twin flame relationship is meant to support and help you with your weaknesses. The key is that these problems and insecurities are amplified in order for you to better heal and grow through them, not in order for them to emotionally abuse or manipulate you.
Your relationship hits road bumps

A twin flame relationship is tumultuous because you are constantly being confronted by yourself, or rather the parts of yourself that you probably haven't made peace with. The challenges are meant to be opportunities for growth.
Your perspective on the world shifts

The time spent with your twin flame is one of rapid growth and change, and that often involves the way you look at the world on the whole. You might feel suddenly ready to change careers or move.
You feel a divine quality about your bond

Much of the lore around twin flames and the history of your souls likely comes from this feeling that your connection was predestined in some way, or that you've been brought together by a higher power.
Your communication is nearly psychic

You can likely communicate with just a glance, and you often know what the other is thinking.
They push you to do and be better

As a mirror, they also see themselves in you, and want you to do and be better because your purposes are aligned. You challenge each other to rise together, and you grow very quickly with this person.
Twin flames aren't always meant to be together

Though people might romanticize the idea of finding a twin flame, there comes a point when it's often in both people's best interests to walk away. Sometimes twin flames come into your life merely to teach you something or steer you on your course before you go your separate ways.
Pay attention to the time of entrance

It's said that a twin flame reunion is divinely timed for when both mirrors are ready to experience intense growth and the challenges required on the way.