Curious conversation: Creative Soul Sophie Wolf

Few people have the courage to forge their own path in life. Sophie is one of them. We met years ago, when her protean platform, The Place, was still in its infancy. "When I started The Place, it was a platform where I promoted existing workshops and events. The goal was to connect people to moments of reflection and, through those moments, offer them a little insight and wisdom”, she explains. The Place has evolved and grown ever since, just like Sophie herself. “Along the way, I found the courage to start offering my own events, such as soul readings and retreats. But at first, I was very much hiding behind other people’s talents."

Nowadays, she sees herself as a conductor. "Sometimes I let the violins or trumpets play on their own, but I always try to make sure that everything flows smoothly together. The Place is constantly evolving, and I always follow one rule: to do what makes me feel alive. I look for where I find my own aliveness and that of the business”, Sophie recounts. That can change depending on the moment. "Some seasons, I only plan events and don’t offer readings. Other seasons are for creation, or for investigation. Maybe tomorrow, The Place will become something else. We’ll see. We’ll see where the music takes us."

Adaptability

This fluidity weaves through her entire life. From childhood, Sophie learned the importance of adaptability as the daughter of expat parents. During her youth, she lived in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic. After a few years in her home country of France, she moved to Los Angeles, drawn by the allure of the American Dream. "I quickly discovered that it wasn’t such a dream for me after all," she recalls. She got a job that sent her to Hong Kong and the Philippines before she eventually settled down in Belgium.

Her unique life path taught Sophie many things. "I learned to let go of trying to prove myself. You are who you are. At the same time, I also learned how to adapt to different social environments. You don’t completely shape-shift, but you do adapt. It’s not always easy to do that without losing yourself. Now that I’m in my mid-thirties, I’m better at it, but when you’re younger, you obviously fail at that mission sometimes," she smiles. "I read recently that the most well-adjusted people are those who adjust constantly. I truly believe that the most aligned way to live your life is to always keep aligning and realigning."

"Wonder is not something you stumble upon.

It is something you choose."

Independence

Sophie was also taught self-reliance from a young age. "I left home when I was seventeen to study. It was the first time I arrived in France. My mother shared a piece of advice that became ingrained in me: ‘Remember, Sophie, if you want something in life, you are the only one who can give it to yourself. Never wait for someone else to give it to you.’ It reminds me of the saying, ‘Don’t wait for someone to give you a seat at the table, build your own table.’ This advice pushed me to do everything I wanted to do, without waiting for someone else’s permission or the ‘right’ timing.” It’s a rule of thumb that applies to big decisions but also to daily life. An quotidian example: "I don’t understand why people wait for their partner to buy them flowers. I’ve always bought myself flowers, and I love doing it. It’s a way to celebrate and honour myself."

Wonder

While her parents taught her independence, her son teaches Sophie the magic of childlike wonder. "His belief in the imaginary and awe for little things inspires me. When he sees a ladybug flying away and creates stories about the little creature in his head, I never want to tell him that what he’s dreaming up is false." It’s one of the things she loves about having a child. "They have these little fantasies, and when you participate, you bring them to life. You create a castle, you become a pirate. Then there’s a treasure to fetch, so you work late into the evening to dig one in your garden, making sure he can find it in the morning. That’s what I love the most about being his mother. He reminds me that wonder is not something you stumble upon. It's something you choose."