Personality Part 5
May 16, 2026
Personality Part 5
Personality is made up of the traits and patterns of our surface self—the part of us that adapts, presents, and interacts with the world. But beneath this outer layer lives something far more essential: the soul. And the qualities of the soul form what we might call our soulality—our truest identity.
When we touch this deeper place, something begins to change. Our personality no longer feels like something we must manage or defend. Instead, it becomes a vessel—an expression of something alive, steady, and deeply real. The soul flows through it, and we come alive in a way that is unmistakable.
How is this possible?
Because the soul is not something we construct—it is something we uncover. It is an inner wellspring of love, already present within us, already connected to the infinite divine. We do not manufacture it; we remember it.
The qualities of the soul are extraordinary. Each one reflects something sacred—something we were created not just to admire, but to embody. We see these qualities most clearly in very young children. There is a purity in them, an openness, a lack of pretense. They have not yet learned to hide or perform. They simply are. And in that being, the soul shines.
The first and most foundational quality of the soul is love. But soul love is not sentimental or self-serving. It is not dependent on response, nor is it weakened by rejection. It does not cling, control, or possess. Soul love is steady. It is grounded in presence, not performance. It resembles the deepest form of parental love—not indulgent, not enabling, but unwavering. It seeks what is truly good for the other, even when that path is difficult. It is willing to sacrifice comfort, reputation, even closeness, if doing so serves a deeper truth. Soul love is strong enough to endure misunderstanding. It is wise enough to release others when holding on would harm. It is courageous enough to remain when leaving would be easier.
This kind of love is not fragile. It does not bend with every emotional current. It is creative, resilient, and enduring. It holds both tenderness and strength in the same breath. And perhaps most beautifully—it rejoices. Soul love delights in the flourishing of another. It is not threatened when others accomplish and bloom. It finds joy not in possession, or in outdoing, but in connection.
As the Dalai Lama reminds us, “Take into account that great love and great achievements require great risk.” Soul love is willing to take that risk, not in self-doubt, but in faith.
There are many other qualities of soulality, each one revealing another facet of who we truly are. But love is where it begins. Love is the doorway. And once we step through it, we begin to recognize something powerful: we are not learning how to become loving. We are remembering that we already are.
When we remember this, our personality takes on a different aura. We relax into the core of who we really are, warts and all. We actually return to the genuineness of the soul child, and add to him or her, the many expressions of love we acquire over a lifetime.
Self-inquiry: What empowers you to love when you feel empty, discouraged, or without hope?
Prayer:
Dear God, May I return to the wellspring of love within me. When I am weary, may I not close my heart, but deepen it. Teach me to love with courage, with wisdom, and with truth— not for reward, but because it is who I am. Amen
