by Mark Pitstick MA, DC

(Note: All of my articles, e-books, audio programs, documentary film, and radio interviews are FREE at SoulProof.com/Articles and SoulProof.com/Shop)

If you’ve not already, please read . . .

  1. ‘The Great News‘ (article #19 at SoulProof.com/Articles)
  2. ‘Eight Developments for Widespread Conscious Living Now’ (#125)
  3. Greater Reality LIVING Program: Integrating ‘The 8 Developments’ Into Your Daily Life (#72)
  4. Greater Reality HEALING Program: Journeying FROM Deeply Grieving TO Brightly Shining (#82)

The evidence-based information and holistic resources outlined in these articles will help you to:

  • realize your true nature as an eternal being of consciousness / life-force / energy 
  • receive guidance and assistance from highly evolved energies and Source / The Light
  • heal old wounds, release lower energies, and update erroneous teachings
  • create the greatest life YOU have envisioned (YOU = your higher self / soul)
  • help others by sharing your greatest gifts
  • make our world a better place

As enough people do this, widespread personal and planetary change will naturally unfold.

 

Are You a More Advanced Soul?

Considering this question is ultra-important for at least three reasons:

  1. More advanced / evolved souls often have better earthly experiences when their higher-energy needs are addressed. (To learn more, see articles #23 Are You More Empathic / Sensitive? #66 Optimal Relationships for More Evolved People, #128 My Advice If You Might Be ‘An Old Soul’.)
  2. Soul advancement is always an open-ended opportunity; this article can serve as ‘a status check’ at this point in your earthly visit.
  3. Children in your life can benefit greatly from guidance in these matters. Otherwise, they will likely ‘learn the hard way’ like most people have to date. If and when it seems appropriate, please discuss this and the above mentioned articles with your children, grandchildren, and others in your sphere of influence.  Also share The Big Picture of Life book (the e-book is free at SoulProof.com/Shop) for ages 10 – 16. 

Note #1: I use the term ‘advanced soul’ versus ‘old soul’ because of clinical data from ‘Lives Between Live’s research by Michael Newton PhD and his team of therapist.  This indicates that soul advancement is due to how quickly and well a person / soul learns, grows, serves, and loves.  That is, soul advancement is not necessarily a factor of how long a soul has been in existence.  

In his book Journey of Souls, Newton describes actual cases with people / souls who have been to earth (or similar learning settings) many times.  Despite all their experiences and opportunities for growth, they are still considered to be at ‘beginner’ levels of soul advancement.  On the other hand, some people / souls who have only been to earth-school a few times have attained remarkable growth and reached intermediate to advanced levels.  Simply put, soul age does not always equal level of soul advancement. 

Note #2: The evidence for my statements in this article is largely subjective / empirical, that is, not based on scientific or clinical research.  Rather, I’m sharing my current thinking after much study, thought, and working with many people in health care settings for 50 years.

For a rough estimate of your level of soul advancement, rate each factor below using a 0 – 3 scale for how much it applies to you: 0 = none; 1 = mildly; 2 = moderately; 3 = significantly.  After reading the factors and rating yourself, see what your score might mean. 


You might be a more advanced soul if . . .

1. You are more kind and compassionate than ‘average’ people. Many bereaved parents, whose children passed on at a relatively young age, observed that their children were exceptionally thoughtful. This is especially notable for teenagers who are often swayed by peer influence.  These young ones, who were likely more evolved souls, were good athletes and popular with ‘the in crowd’.  But they still befriended others who were labeled ‘geeks’ or ‘slow learners’.   At their funerals, the parents heard about the many random acts of kindness that their children showed to others. 

2. You have an urgency to accomplish a lot as soon as possible. More advanced people / souls may not need a long earthly experience for karmic or growth reasons. They may know this on some level and, thus, want to experience and do all they can on earth while they can.  I was certainly this way until I realized that I have eternity to learn and do my long list. 

3. You saw through religious BS at a young age. Many religious denominations have much that is good about them.  However, some — especially the more fundamentalist ones — are full of limiting and erroneous teachings about life, death, the afterlife, and Creator.  For example, did religious teachings about a loving God who would allow His children to suffer for eternity make sense to you? Many people first began to see through power / control ploys of some denominations when taught obviously nonsensical notions about Creator. 

Again, some denominations are more open-minded and love-based while others, in the same religion, are more dogmatic and fear-based.  I won’t name examples of the latter, but they’re pretty easy to spot.  More advanced souls / people listened to their inner wisdom versus established doctrine.  Some of them left that denomination while others stayed in an attempt to create positive change within.  (To learn more, see article #16 Evidence-Based Spiritual Teachings)

4. You deeply love pets. Animals provide unconditional love and nonjudgmental companionship. More evolved persons are often sensitive and can feel the lower energies of humans: anger, fear, anxiety, guilt, blame, etc.  As such, more advanced souls often prefer the higher energy emotions of animals: love, peace, joy, faithfulness, gratitude, enthusiasm, etc. (see article #108 Higher Energies, Emotions, and Ways of Being)

5. You love being around nature. Plants, soil, water, and rocks have tremendous positive energies. That’s why, for example, earthing – walking barefoot on grass, sand, and earth – confers benefits for body, mind, and spirit. Some people prefer being outdoors in nature while others like lots of indoor plants. Being in nature helps you be still and know that YOU are an integral and beloved part of G.O.D. / All That Is. (see article #77 Centering Practices)

6. You are more empathic / sensitive. In my experience, advanced beings of energy can often feel the energies and emotions of others. They may be significantly bothered by news reports of people half way around the planet suffering because they can feel their pain even. They can get sapped (drained) or zapped (harmed) by their sensitivity to lower energy emotions of others. Fortunately, these negative outcomes can be prevented and reversed by means described in article #23 Are You More Evolved and Sensitive / Empathic?

7. You had trouble understanding earthly ways. More evolved souls may, during their youth, feel like a stranger in a strange land. They have to work to learn how the ‘average human’ thinks and why they act as they do.  I certainly felt this way during my teens and sometimes felt like an alien observer.  It can take time to learn how to be more fully on this earth while remembering you’re not solely of this earth.  (article #56 Are You “The Weird One” In Your Family?)

8. You love altered states of consciousness. As Alan Watts – author, philosopher and Anglican priest – put it: ‘In order to come to your senses, you sometimes need to go out of your mind.’ Much of the brain’s function is inhibitory.  That is, it filters out much that exists but isn’t essential for surviving on earth.  That’s adaptive for basic survival but greatly limits perceptions of the fullness of life.  More evolved souls enjoy periodically shifting their brain’s focus for the many benefits therein.  However, seeking other states of consciousness via alcohol and/or drugs can lead to addiction, suboptimal functioning, injury / death, etc.  (articles #51 Meditation, Yoga, and Relaxation, #64 Drugs, Alcohol, and Greater Reality Living, and #114 Out of Body Experiences)

9. You have sensitive abilities. Many people have extrasensory perceptual abilities that extend beyond what the five senses usually report. They can see, hear, feel, and know more of the greater reality than average.  As a young person, this can feel like a curse; later in life, this gift can be used to excel in any field.  Some sensitive persons become evidential mediums to help others communicate with departed loved ones.  As with empathic persons, those with greater than usual perceptions must learn to stay balanced and not let their energy become drained or impaired.  (article #6 Evidential Mediums)

10. You have a special appreciation for angels and The Divine. Those with higher energies often love art depicting and stories about angels. Likewise, they savor stories about a wise and caring power and presence that operates throughout the cosmos.  Thanks to Star Wars and other movies, some people can relate to The Force more than they can archaic Judeo-Christian images of God.  Parents of children who passed on have showed me their artwork that depicted the child communicating with an angel in the sky.  Others tell of sensing angels and being told it’s their time to graduate from earth.  Again, all signs of likely evolved souls / people.  (article #73 Angels and Higher Energy Assistance)

11. You asked big questions at a young age. Fifty years later, my Sunday School teacher still remembered questions I asked around age 7. I was taught that Adam and Eve, two white people who were the first and only humans created by God, had two sons who married other women and populated the world.  For me, the obvious question was: ‘Where did the wives come from?  Also, if that’s true, why would people have different skin colors?’  Over the years, I’ve heard from many people who also wondered about such big questions. They usually show signs of having more advanced energies.     

12. You tend to avoid large and noisy crowds. More evolved persons often limit their exposure to many people in extremely noisy environments. They dislike the lack of social graces when people are packed together like sardines.  When given a choice, they usually prefer quiet and natural spaces with fewer close loved ones. 

13. You serve others in some way. The work of Michael Newton PhD showed that advanced souls usually choose a helping profession. Other more evolved people serve others at least part time if their day job doesn’t involve that.  Loving compassion – a priority for people with higher energies – can be expressed when teaching, healing, or otherwise helping others.  Being in those fields also introduces them to others who can collaborate and help make the world a better place. 

14. You are fascinated with soul / consciousness and afterlife topics. Wayne Dyer noted that self-actualized people quickly disappear when conversations shift to how bad things are or new curtains. Advanced people / souls like to learn about more meaningful topics; they focus on solutions instead of rehashing and lamenting problems.  They enjoy discussions with like-minded kindred spirits who help make living on earth more joyful and sensible. 

15. You question authority and don’t automatically trust mainstream views. ‘The unexamined life’ is a term to describe those who don’t seek their own answers. If you’re more evolved, you may listen to conventional wisdom and then explore other explanations or theories for yourself.  In the younger years, this can be seen as rebelliousness and can cause problems for those in very conservative families and denominations.  Over time, however, regularly questioning authority can result in greater wisdom, respect for diversity, and appreciation of important nuances. 

16. You care for your body, the temple of your soul. In my observation, people with advanced energies are more likely to try yoga, meditation, and other ways to communicate with Source.  They often eat less or no flesh foods but, rather, appreciate the health benefits and higher energies of requiring no animals to die.  They may gravitate toward natural health care – acupuncture, clinical nutrition, chiropractic, deep tissue massage, etc. – whenever possible instead of taking multiple medications and having vital organs cut out.  More evolved ones recognize that the human body, while only a fragment of their totality, is a sacred vehicle that allows them to have optimal earthly experiences.  (articles #12, 32, 51, 54, 86, 87, 88, and 89)

17. You aren’t interested in having excess materialism. It’s fine to have nice things, a great home, good car, etc. But more evolved persons often disdain extravagances when others are starving and lacking shelter.  As often is the theme, they choose The Great Way or a middle and more soulful road.  They recognize that ultra-wealth can lead them away from remembering and doing what is really important.  When the body dies, you can’t take big homes, fancy cars, and huge bank accounts with YOU.  That’s why more advanced souls / persons focus on what – as The Bible puts it – ‘rust and moth can’t corrupt’.   

18. You have survived, and even thrived, through multiple difficulties in life. Old / more advanced souls often can handle adversity because of their conscious or unconscious knowing about the nature of reality / the big picture of life.   This ability can be due to experience and more strength of spirit.  Kathy’s son, father, and dear aunt all passed on last year.  Even so, she has been able to remain awakened and focus on healing and serving others. 

In her words ‘I’ve felt that I was an old soul for as long as I can remember.  I’ve always had this strange sense as though I was living in two worlds.  After my son passed on, the communication was immediate.  I felt his love wash over me, lift me out of my grief, and help me towards my highest path.  I believe that I chose a really tough soul path in this life.  I’ve survived childhood trauma, a narcissistic and abusive husband (now ex) and the deep pain of losing a child.  But I’ve turned that pain into purpose.  I have another son who is autistic and has big emotional meltdowns; I now have the strength to handle it.  I’ve made it my mission to help other women heal from trauma because I know what it’s like to feel broken, and I also know what it’s like to find light again.  No matter how dark it gets, I still remember the light, and try to help others find their way back to it too.’

*       *       *       *       *       *       *

For a rough estimate of your level of soul advancement, rate each factor using a 0 – 3 scale for how much it applies to you: 0 = none; 1 = mildly; 2 = moderately; 3 = significantly.  After reading the factors and rating yourself, see what your score might mean.  The following range of scores MIGHT indicate the following level of soul advancement:

  • 0 – 18: beginner
  • 19 – 36: intermediate
  • 37 – 54 advanced

I say MIGHT because it’s wise to ‘leave room’ for other factors that are difficult to gauge.  For example, it’s possible that . . .

a. It’s not time yet for you to awaken to who you really are and live accordingly.

b. You are a ‘contrast soul’ who, for reasons designed during soul pre-planning, is playing the role of a negative, limiting, or even abusive person.  To learn more about this possibility, see article #67 Contrast Souls.

c. There are one or more ‘X Factors’ that limited human perspectives can’t fathom.

I hope this article helps you consider your current level of advancement.  Remember . . . this level isn’t ‘set in stone’; you can upgrade and evolve more easily and quickly than you might imagine.  To start that process, see article #128 My Advice If You’re a More Advanced Soul OR Want To Become One.  It’s well worth the time and energy since becoming the highest-energy version of yourself benefits others and allows you to enjoy the greatest life YOU have envisione

*       *       *       *       *       *       *

Thank you for telling others about this article!  Your life, and that of others around you, will be more enriched when you:  

  1. read the article again so you really know it.
     
  2. discuss with close family and friends to more deeply internalize it.
     
  3. take action steps that seem right for you.
     
  4. share it with others via social media, discussion groups, and other ways.

Hugs, love, blessings, and let it shine!
Mark

Mark Pitstick, MA, DC
author, lecturer, counselor, and holistic chiropractic physician; spokesperson, research assistant, and strategic planner for the SoulPhone Project; founder of Greater Reality Living, Healing, Helping, and Sharing Programs

SoulProof.com    SoulPhone.org   GreaterRealityPrograms.com

Mark Pitstick, MA, DC is a master’s clinical psychologist, holistic chiropractic physician, and clinical nutritionist.  He has also helped others in pastoral counseling and suicide prevention / education settings.  His goal is to help you know and show that this earthly experience is a totally safe, meaningful, and magnificent adventure amidst eternity. 

To learn more about the Greater Reality LIVING, HEALING, HELPING, and SHARING Programs, visit ‘Greater Reality Programs’ top tab at SoulProof.com and SoulPhone.org.  Also see  articles #19, 72, 82, 119, 122, and 125 at SoulProof.com/Articles.

SoulProof.com provides many FREE resources:

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Instead of payment, he asks that you: (1) fully use and appreciate the products, (2) share them with others, and (3) help others in ways you feel called, that is, pay it forward.

The following are also available for a fee:

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Note: This article is intended as a reference source, not to replace professional treatment for physical, emotional, or mental problems.  The author disclaims any liability arising directly or indirectly from the voluntary use of action steps discussed in article. 

I created this article while ‘wearing the hat’ of a clinician, counselor, and educator.  My statements are based upon some scientific research; much clinical and experiential evidence; my personal experiences; and my best current understandings.  This program does not reflect my roles with the SoulPhone Project since those require solid scientific data for all statements.