A Spark Of Awareness

Welcome to ’s Spark of Awareness, a weekly 15-minute reflection for leaders to reclaim inner authority in a world shaped by algorithms and constant stimulation.In this episode on suppressed emotions at work, Sophie Vo focuses on Sadness as the process of something that used to be and is no more, an inevitable companion to transformation, endings, and rebirth in teams, projects, and leadership identities.Unprocessed grief creates organizational inconsistency, broken trust, cultural erosion, and a backlog of sadness that can turn into anger and toxic behavior in team cultures.Sophie shares her own grieving in shifting from tech executive work to deeper transformative and somatic leadership spaces, including letting go of misaligned clients and identities, tolerating the void that follows, and making space for what is aligned. Practices include noticing sadness in the body (heart contraction), tracing what’s being released, allowing tears, asking what must be closed, and creating gratitude-based closing rituals such as burning paper, starting a new journal page, followed by a short heart-centered breathing meditation.01:39 Why Sadness Matters at Work02:46 Defining Sadness and Loss03:44 Workplace Change and Grief05:03 When Grief Turns Toxic06:34 Personal Grieving Story11:16 Making Space for the New12:19 Somatic Signs and Awareness13:34 Inner Child and Abandonment15:00 Reflection Questions and Letting Go16:11 Rituals for Closure and Gratitude18:33 Closing Meditation and FarewellThanks for tuning in to a Spark of Awareness. Subscribe for free to receive your weekly dose of consciousness. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com

Welcome to Sophie Vo’s Spark of Awareness, a weekly 15-minute reflection for leaders to reclaim inner authority in a world shaped by algorithms and constant stimulation. Continuing her series on unconscious emotions at work, Sophie examines shame and guilt as a sneaky, damaging force that breaks trust when hidden: in women it often shows up as self-blame, harsh inner critique, idea-killing, and over-apologizing.In men it often appears as burying wrongdoing, blaming others, and over-justifying harmful actions. Sophie traces shame to an unconscious belief of being unlovable and unsafe, shares her own shame around immigration, difference, and womanhood, and offers repair through self-forgiveness, compassionate self-talk, and clean apology: “I am sorry.”without justification.We close each episode with grounding meditation and will tackle next week’s emotion: sadness.02:10 What Shame Looks Like03:02 Women and Self Shame04:22 Men and Hidden Shame05:37 Root Beliefs and Fear06:28 Shame Breaks Trust08:48 My Personal Shame Story10:14 Repair Through Forgiveness13:26 Apology That Heals15:52 Resources and Practices16:50 Grounding and ClosingAdditional Resources:* Non-Violent Communication Framework (by Marshall Rosenberg)Thanks for tuning in to a Spark of Awareness. Subscribe for free to receive your weekly dose of consciousness. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com

Welcome to Sophie Vo’s Spark of Awareness, a weekly 15-minute reflection for leaders to reclaim inner authority in a world shaped by algorithms and constant stimulation. We begin a special series on emotions in leadership—often discouraged publicly yet present in private—because self-awareness supports integrity, nervous system regulation, and healthier workplaces. This episode focuses on Anger, commonly labeled as negative or violent, and reframes it as life force and a boundary-setting compass. Suppressed anger can surface as passive-aggression, conflict, burnout, or chronic tension and symptoms, and may be passed through transgenerational patterns. Sophie shares her own experience of suppressing anger in a disciplined Vietnamese upbringing and learning to release it somatically. She offers practical steps to let anger move through you: locate anger in the body, acknowledge the boundary crossed, release safely (movement, gym, screaming), then assert boundaries calmly.01:39 Why Emotions Matter at Work03:03 The Emotion Spectrum Series04:18 Anger Misunderstood05:28 Suppressed Anger at Work06:39 How Emotions Live in Body07:17 Anger as Boundary Signal08:36 Personal Anger Story11:01 Release Then Assert Boundaries12:29 Anger Bucket and Blowups13:30 Four Step Anger Practice14:45 Resources and Regulation15:24 Guided Body Check In17:03 Closing and Next Episode💡Additional Resources:* When The Body Says No (by Gabor Maté)* Heal Your Trauma & Finally Break Free (by Gabor Maté)Thanks for tuning in to a Spark of Awareness. Subscribe for free to receive your weekly dose of consciousness. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com

Shame often hides in the parts of ourselves we try the hardest to avoid.Judgment.Self-criticism.The quiet inner voice telling us we are not enough.But what if the practice isn’t to fight those parts…What if the practice is to meet them with love?In this live session from the ORIN Fire Gathering, Sophie Vo shares a simple yet powerful mirror practice: learning to speak to ourselves with compassion instead of judgment.A small shift — but one that can change how we relate to every part of who we are.Try the practice:“I love every part of myself.I accept them.I integrate them.I forgive myself.”Notice where resistance appears.Because often, the part of us we try to hide the most…is the part asking to be loved.✍️ Journaling prompts: * Which parts of myself feel hardest to love right now? * Where do I still hold shame? * What would acceptance look like in my thoughts, words, and actions today? * What might integration mean for this part of me?Thanks for tuning in to a Spark of Awareness. Subscribe for free to receive your weekly dose of consciousness. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com

In this episode of Spark of Awareness, Sophie Vo Vo explores energy as the primary currency behind execution, leadership, and business growth—more foundational than money or time. She shares how she sees low energy as a core challenge in her coaching clients, often showing up as feeling frozen, overthinking, and lacking movement, and connects this to the idea of leading from an “empty cup.” Sophie frames energy in a grounded way: the felt presence someone carries that creates warmth, trust, inspiration, and momentum. She invites listeners to assess their “cup” of energy each morning and redesign routines to support it—especially the night before (going to bed earlier, reducing late screens, using blue-light glasses after 8pm). She emphasizes protecting the first part of the day from emails/messages and creating a non-negotiable morning ritual tailored to what energizes you (silence, breakfast, movement, meditation, reading). Sophie shares her own 30-minute routine: music, singing, tea, lemon and coconut oil, connecting with her cat Lio, light movement/dancing, and a short grounding meditation before starting work. She also highlights that energy is shaped by exchanges with others, encouraging listeners to check how they feel after meetings—energized or drained—and to adjust boundaries, frequency, and timing of interactions (especially triggering conversations). She cautions against relying on stimulants like excessive caffeine or drugs to sustain performance, suggesting instead a restructuring of days and weeks around what nurtures energy. Finally, she explains how her business is built on energy through consistency, discipline, clarity, warmth, and regulated presence—allowing her to convert clients without overselling. The episode ends with a short guided grounding meditation focused on breathing, body sensation, and gentle movement to integrate the topic.00:00 Energy Is the New Currency (Not Money or Time)01:12 What “Energy” Really Means: Presence, Trust & Vibe01:54 Why Most People Get Stuck: Empty Cup, Self‑Sabotage & Frozen Action03:06 Morning Energy Audit: How You Wake Up Sets the Whole Day03:55 Build a Non‑Negotiable Routine: Sleep, Screens & Starting Right05:21 My 30‑Minute Morning Ritual (Music, Movement, Meditation)07:41 Social Energy: Who Drains You vs. Who Fuels You09:29 Protect Your Energy with Boundaries & Strategic Scheduling10:21 Stop Relying on Stimulants—Restructure Your Week Around What Nourishes You11:46 How My Business Runs on Energy: Calm Presence Over Hustle13:50 Grounding Meditation to Integrate the Episode17:02 Closing: Keep Working on Your Energy FlowThanks for tuning in to a Spark of Awareness. Subscribe for free to receive your weekly dose of consciousness. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com

Recording from Eagle River, Wisconsin closing the first US ORIN Retreat co-led with Devon Wyland, Sophie Vo Vo reflects on feminine–masculine polarity in leadership and why this theme is triggering, at the moment.Sophie describes masculine leadership as structure, boundaries, control (and when imbalanced, dominance, aggression, and competition) and feminine leadership as flow, intuition, and emotional attunement—qualities she says are often missing at workplaces. She notes many women leaders have learned to lead through masculine models, which can be exhausting and can hide feminine power, while in business operations many women lean too far into unstructured feminine flow when building a business requires masculine structure, method, discipline, and strong boundaries. This podcast reflection invites both women and men to develop missing parts of their polarity: women reconnecting to feminine presence without shame or stereotypes, and men cultivating empathy, listening, and emotional presence rather than outsourcing emotional labor to women. Sophie shares her personal journey of being raised in a performance-driven, competitive, controlling environment, feeling uncomfortable in women’s spaces, and later reconnecting to her feminine side to lead and build her work from authenticity, truth, and soul alignment rather than performance. The episode closes with reflection prompts to identify where listeners are overdeveloped (masculine force/control or feminine lack of structure), suggestions to rebalance through learning structure or practicing softness and imperfection, and a short grounding meditation focused on breath, sensory awareness, and a held inhale. 00:00 Welcome to A Spark of Awareness (Why inner authority matters)02:44 Feminine & Masculine in leadership: Why this theme triggers us05:02 Redefining the feminine leadership: Presence, authenticity, and trust07:15 The reversal for women: Masculine presence, feminine business ops09:22 My personal journey: From performance to feminine reconnection11:23 Practical reflection: Diagnose your polarity + rebalance practices13:06 Guided grounding meditation (breath + senses)15:05 Closing: Next retreats, integration prompt, and how to connectRecommended Books on Feminine Leadership 🌹* Women who run with the wolves (by Dr Clarissa Pinkola Estés)* Muse: The Magnetism of Women Who Stop Abandoning Themselves (by Dr Amanda Hanson)Enjoy this Self-Awareness practice 👁️Thanks for tuning in to a Spark of Awareness. Subscribe for free to receive your weekly dose of consciousness. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com

In this episode of ‘A Spark of Awareness,’ Sophie Vo Vo delves into the concept of the Drama Triangle, also known as the Triangle of Karpman. She outlines its three roles: rescuer, victim, and persecutor, and explains how these roles manifest in various relationship dynamics including business, co-founding partners, client relationships, and romantic partnerships. Sophie emphasizes the importance of recognizing which role one is playing to break free from the cycle of conflict. She shares personal experiences and techniques for how to stop the drama, highlighting the importance of self-awareness, self-compassion, and personal responsibility. The episode also provides actionable steps for regulating oneself and moving from being in a reactive mode to a more proactive, creator mindset. 00:44 Understanding the Drama Triangle Roles07:01 Real-Life Examples of the Drama Triangle07:06 Personal Journey and Insights10:26 Breaking Free from the Drama Triangle13:11 Practical Steps to Avoid Drama14:56 Grounding and Closing MeditationOther resources: * Triangle of Karpman: READ* Book Attached (by Amir Levine, Rachel S. F. Heller)Enjoy this Self-Awareness practice 👁️Thanks for tuning in to a Spark of Awareness. Subscribe for free to receive your weekly dose of consciousness. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com

In this episode, Sophie Vo dives into the fifth self-sabotage pattern, known as the 'survivor syndrome,' where leaders prefer to do tasks alone and rarely ask for help. We revisit the previous patterns like shutting down intuition, people-pleasing, leading from fear, and having an empty cup. Sophie shares her personal story of growing up in an immigrant family where she had to take on responsibilities at a young age. This pattern, born from early experiences of mistrust and betrayal, impacts professional and personal life. She suggests examining the origins of this distrust and encourages small experiments towards trusting others to break this self-sabotage cycle. Trust cannot develop by thinking alone; it has to be practiced. The episode concludes with grounding meditation and journaling exercises to help listeners reflect and reprogram behaviors to stop sabotaging themselves.Extra resources recommended:* It Didn’t Start With You (by Marc Wolynn)* Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents (Lindsy Gibson)* Life is a Game. You don’t like your life? Rewrite it: READ HEREEnjoy this Self-Awareness practice 👁️Thanks for tuning in to a Spark of Awareness. Subscribe for free to receive your weekly dose of consciousness. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com

In this episode, Sophie Vo Vo discusses the fourth self-sabotage pattern for leaders: having an 'empty cup,' and being depleted of energy. Many leaders operate in survival mode without realizing it, manifesting through signs like excessive fatigue, skipping breaks, poor sleep quality, and using free time for rest only, due to exhaustion. And then repeat the cycle. Burnout is around the corner…The role of a leader's energy is critical in the overall performance of their team and business. Sophie shares her personal experience of reprioritizing all daily tasks to focus on high-impact activities only and introduces an 'energy audit' coaching exercise to help leaders identify what drains and replenishes their energy, and rearrange their habits to optimize for energy, rather than time.Additional resources:* Energy in, Energy out Self-assessment: Download Here* Atomic Habits (by James Clear)Enjoy this Self-Awareness practice 👁️Thanks for tuning in to a Spark of Awareness. Subscribe for free to receive your weekly dose of consciousness. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com

In this weekly reflection of ‘A Spark of Awareness,’ Sophie Vo presents the third self-sabotage pattern in leadership: fear-based decision-making. Drawing from her own experience and the hundreds of founders she has worked with, Sophie outlines how fear influences leaders’ decisions, leading to detrimental outcomes for teams and organizations, and eventually business growth.You will get actionable insights on recognizing fear-driven behaviors, differentiating rational and irrational fears, and how to bring them to light so they have less power over you.This reflection is a reminder of the importance of making decisions from a place of integrity rather than fear, advocating for conscious leadership. Listeners are encouraged to slow down, connect with their bodies, and reflect on their fears to lead more effectively.Reflection points:* Recognizing Fear in Decision Making* Evolutionary Perspective on Fear And Why Most Of Our Fears Are Not Real* Good vs. Bad Fears* Managing Fear: Techniques and Coaching Exercises* Transgenerational Fears and Their Origins* Closing Meditation and Reflection Extra resources recommended:* Fear Settings Journaling (by Tim Ferriss): * It Didn’t Start With You (by Marc Wollyn)Enjoy this Self-Awareness practice 👁️Thanks for tuning in to a Spark of Awareness. Subscribe for free to receive your weekly dose of consciousness.. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com