Sohaila Sophia Coaching

Kicking off Mental Health Awareness Week with a powerful session for Carrington West as part of their Staff Wellbeing Week 💬✨

We explored:

🎭 The different types of imposter syndrome—and the ‘masks’ we wear to hide it

🧠 How self-doubt can affect both our mental and physical health

🔁 The cycle of negative thinking—and how to break free from it

💭 Simple, practical tools to shift our mindset

🪞 Tapping into self-reflection—because real growth starts with getting honest about what’s going on beneath the surface

So great to work with companies who truly care about their people 💛

One of the things that really helps motivate me in life is having accountability partners in different parts of my life.

I have a fitness trainer who helps me keep my exercise and nutrition on track and in line with my goals.

I have my friends and family who help me keep perspective in life when I need it and remind me to be kind to myself when life is difficult.

I have my own coach who helps me to navigate all the thoughts that go on in my head, plan for all the things I want to achieve and supports me to better understand myself.

Having others support me means I get:

✨ Reminded of my accomplishments
✨ Challenged
✨ A different perspective
✨ Encouragement
✨ Strategies for success

For me, accountability gives me consistent motivation to make more happen for myself.

What accountability partners could you foster in your life today? Perhaps this is something to consider for your 2025.

60% of managers step into leadership positions without any formal training.

What can that mean for your business?

Mistakes. Pressure. Client dissatisfaction. Loss of revenue.

Sounds scary, doesn't it?

With the increasing frequency of interviews focusing on personal skills and leadership qualities, executives find themselves in need of guidance and support to navigate the complexities of their roles effectively.

Executive Coaching steps in to bridge this gap by offering personalised guidance, feedback and tools tailored to the specific needs and challenges of each individual leader.

This type of support leads to transformations in how executives approach their work, relationships, and overall well-being.

Many business owners do not take these factors into consideration - Will you think outside of the box and make a change?

Years ago, I used to hide behind different masks.

I would be different things to different people based on my assumption and perception of who they were and what I felt they wanted from me.

As a result, I felt totally burnt out when socialising or interacting with work colleagues because I never felt like I could be myself.

I felt like I was always on show, never really being real.

I remember thinking only a few people in this world really knew me, and if I wasn't around them then I wasn't being me and that was so exhausting.

So, I consciously worked on improving this.

It was not an overnight fix - how could it be when these were habits and behaviours I had practiced since school?

I started by:

Removing the people-pleasing tendencies.

Practicing actually considering what my opinion was on something rather than just automatically agreeing like I had become so used to doing.

Learning not to overthink people's responses to me when I was just being myself.

As a result, I now feel so much more confident going into new situations or meeting new people as I know I will just be myself.

I've also made some really amazing friendships at this time in my life (a time that often gets quoted as a difficult time to make new friendships), and I know this is down to being comfortable in my own skin and not holding half of myself back.

I love helping other people in this space so much, as I have first-hand experience of how much it has freed me up to live a much happier, enriching and fun-filled life.

"I'll get to that later."

"I don't have time right now."

That's something we've all heard before.

In our busy lives, it’s easy to push mental wellbeing to the bottom of our list. In reality, later often never comes. We end up overwhelmed, burned out, and struggling to find balance in both our personal and professional lives.

Here’s the truth - Mental health is just as critical as physical health. Just like we wouldn’t neglect our bodies, we can’t afford to neglect our minds either.

Whether you're managing a team, juggling deadlines, or simply trying to navigate your way through a busy workday, mental wellness is key to staying resilient, productive, and fulfilled.

Remember, making this a priority doesn't have to be complicated, it’s about creating small but impactful habits that work for you.

When we start to see our worth, life shifts in remarkable ways.

Decisions become clearer as they align with our authentic selves.

Relationships deepen as we engage with others from a place of self-respect and confidence.

The journey towards uncovering your self-worth may be long, but it’s within reach.

There is no doubt about it, relationships take work. They are not always smooth sailing, however much we might want them to be.

When relationships start to break down, normally this can be traced back to a lack of communication or misinterpreted communication, and/or a lack of teamwork/unionship.

Sometimes it can feel like you are on completely different pages, and this can lean to withdrawing, resentment, anger, giving up....

It doesn't have to be this way. I have worked with couples who had completely stopped relating to one another be able to listen, hear and respect each other again. I have seen people be reminded of why they once fell in love with that person ❤️

I have started a new chapter in my coaching journey!

I have recently began working towards a diploma in Corporate and Executive Coaching.

Coaching is an ever evolving space, and as a coach I believe it is our responsibility to make sure we are trained to high standards, have the emotional depth to be able to truly support our clients and be able to combine warmth and professionalism with ease.

I am a big believer in:

Continued Professional Learning & Development

Challenging myself as a coach

Expanding my knowledge to give more to my clients

Supporting others has always been my calling and I’ve wanted to extend my reach and impact beyond the realm of individual coaching for a while now, and with this new programme, I am able to empower professionals, leaders, and organisations to reach their full potential too.

I’m so looking forward to combining my expertise in life coaching to make a meaningful difference in the corporate world.

As ever, this is a journey and I’m excited to elevate my coaching practices and facilitate positive change on a broader scale.

There’s no I in team, but there’s a leader in every one.

Executive coaching is not just a personal investment, but a commitment to the collective growth and success of your team.

Are you a leader who is looking for....

➡️ Skills to navigate team challenges and conflicts

➡️ The ability to empower, inspire and uplift your team

➡️ Clarity on your own values and purpose

➡️ Better positioning to articulate a compelling vision for your life and workplace

➡️ Building a shared vision that unites your team

Through effective conflict management and skill development, leaders pave the way for stronger relationships, enhanced collaboration, and sustainable success for the team as a whole.

How to stop catastrophising.

Catastrophising is a cognitive distortion where we imagine the worst possible outcomes of a situation, often without any real basis.

For example, you might think that making a mistake at work will lead to getting fired or disagreeing with your partner means your relationship is over.

This kind of thinking is harmful because it increases anxiety and prevents you from seeing solutions.

To combat catastrophising, you can take several practical steps.

First, write down all your worries about the topic at hand.

If you're worried about a presentation, list out your fears like "I'll forget my lines," or "people will laugh at me."

Then, go through each point and question its validity. Are these worries based on past experiences or are they assumptions?

Next, ask yourself how much this issue will matter in six months on a scale of 1-10.

This helps put your problem into perspective.

Most likely, the impact will be lower than you initially thought, which can reduce immediate stress.

Finally, demand evidence for your worries.

Where is the proof that this catastrophe will happen?

If you do find evidence, consider its relevance and how old the evidence is.

Ask yourself if you would view the situation the same way if a friend came to you with the same concern.

Often, you'll find that your fears are exaggerated and not as grounded in reality as they seem.

By following these steps, you can gradually learn to manage and reduce catastrophising thoughts.

Have you taken care of yourself today?

I know it sounds ridiculous, but it's something we all forget from time to time!

Here's a little reminder to try and do at least one of the following...

💧 Hydrate

🏋️ Exercise

📝 Journal

📺 Unplug from technology

🚶 Take a walk

📲 Text a friend

🧘‍♀️ Take a movement break

😀 Think of the good

Which have you ticked off this list today? ✅

Throughout life, we often encounter various elements and experiences that can impact our energy and vibration ✨

One of the biggest areas that I notice a lot of people struggle with, is with energy. Not just physical energy, but emotional and mental energy too.

A big reason why, is because we engage with things so often in life that lower our vibrations, and have a knock on effect to our minds and bodies too.

Alcohol, for instance, is one of those things that can lower our vibration and cloud our clarity – despite seeming to lift us up.

It's essential to be mindful of what we consume, not only in terms of food and drinks but also in terms of media, thoughts, and emotions.

By being conscious of what we allow into our bodies and minds, we can take a significant step towards raising our vibrations and enhancing our overall wellbeing.

To increase our vibrations, we need to focus on practices that nurture our soul and uplift our spirit.

Exercise, whether it be a gym session or a nice long walk, works wonders for me in raising my vibrations - especially when I pair it with music too. I can literally feel myself shift into a better head space.

Certain people also really help raise my vibrations as well. When I chat to my sisters or my best friend, I just know we will see the funny side of things and that laughter brings light to any situation which raises our vibrations as a whole.

Dancing is another thing that never fails in raising my vibrations...and of course, sunshine helps too ☀️

Positive influences like these can all contribute to elevating our energy levels.

Cultivating self-love and compassion, setting healthy boundaries, and listening to our intuition are also powerful ways to raise our vibrations and live a more fulfilling life.

Remember, you have the power to choose what you invite into your life and how you shape your energy.

What are your go-to energy raising practices?