Finding True Love

Crave Authentic Understanding (3.7)

Table of Contents

Dedication

Foreword

Introduction: Deep Soul Intelligence 1

Life of Abundance 1.1

Brilliance Underrated 1.2

A Label to Correct Mislabels 1.3

Profound Connections 1.4

Seasons of Ebb and Flow 1.5

Unfolding Your Strengths 1.6

Deep Soul Strength One: Bravely Independent 2

Stand as One 2.1

Defend Your Independence 2.2

Map Your Autonomy 2.3

Thrive with Constraints 2.4

Risk Growth 2.5

Courageous Idea-Sharing 2.6

Deep Soul Strength Two: Crave Authentic Understanding 3

The Silence of Shared Resonance 3.1

Living as a Paradox 3.2

Seeking a Champion 3.3

A Parent’s Support 3.4

Occasional Angels at Work 3.5

A Friend for a Deep Soul 3.6

Finding True Love 3.7

Being understood is important. In the entire trajectory of our lives, we whose shape is hard to define may encounter only a handful of people who truly understand us. As quoted in the last section, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s character Anne of Green Gables was always on alert for a “kindred spirit.” Often, kindred spirits will be other deep souls. But even if we can’t find someone who fully understands us, we can encounter supporters who understand a part of us. As we advance through life, we become more grateful for these individuals who may weave in and out of our experience. We realize that true friends, seers, and supporters are rare gems to treasure. We may experience a newfound flood of gratitude for people we took for granted years before. We might even be compelled to reach out and thank them. It’s likely that none of these supporters will understand all of our nuances, but a collection of people who understand different aspects, taken together, can make us feel understood.

In his book Square Peg, Harvard Graduate School of Education professor Todd Rose wrote that his grandmother was the believer who got him through even when he was misunderstood in most contexts. “Unlike almost every other adult in my life, my grandma showed no interest whatsoever in trying to fix me, or change me, or even talk to me about how I was doing in school. Instead she’d praise my fledgling sense of humor, even as she taught me about comic timing, and the thin line between wit and sarcasm.”¹ Rose’s grandma simply loved him. In doing so, she noticed and encouraged one of his deep soul strengths: humor.

Being understood by another is being loved.