In the past, this was understood to be the soul and you are correct when you describe it as atomic, though depending on which tradition is describing the soul i

In the past, this was understood to be the soul and you are correct when you describe it as atomic, though depending on which tradition is describing the soul it can have further attributes. My username is based on such a tradition -- the Nous (pronounced like noose) is considered the eye of the soul. Extrapolating that further, we focus the eye of our soul on whatever we want to, which can be ourselves, worldly aspirations, or spiritual aspirations. This would be considered the free will we are given at the basest level - we get to choose what we focus our soul on, and that can be changed at any moment. Such a tradition would say that since we are a body/soul composite, whatever we focus our soul on, our body willingly and immediately focuses on as well, for good or ill.