We recently connected with Sophia Jackson and have shared our conversation below.

Sophia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I believe this doesn’t get spoken about enough, especially by artists and entrepreneurs who are forging their own paths. But the truth is, I think about having a “regular job” almost every other day. As a creative, an artist, and an entrepreneur, I don’t think you can help but think about it. It’s part of the journey. The challenges of carving out your own lane are real, and they often bring up questions about stability, predictability, and whether it would just be easier to follow what the majority are doing.
I don’t even like using the word “easier,” because none of it is really easy. There’s a different kind of challenge in waking up every day and showing up at a ‘9 to 5’. That routine can feel more predictable, especially when it comes to that steady paycheque…until it’s not. But that’s a story for another day. The predictability can be mind-numbing. You’re on autopilot, and I know that is not the way I want to live. For some, predictability brings peace, but for me, it did not. As I continued to create, something shifted. When you understand that you can be let go from a “9 to 5” at anytime for whatever reason it’s not so cushy anymore.
What I’ve come to realize is that we’re often programmed to follow that traditional route. So stepping outside of it, especially as someone who’s building something from scratch. It can feel like you’re going against the grain. Actually, you are going against the grain, against what most people might understand or even support.
I’ve worked the so-called “regular jobs.” I’ve done shifts at Tim Hortons. I’ve worked in call centres. But the one job that truly aligned with my spirit was when I worked as a Child and Youth Care Practitioner. I supported young people and adults in schools, group homes, private institutions for youth on the autism spectrum, and even those in custody or treatment facilities. That role allowed me to bring my full self, my singing, songwriting, acting, dancing, and even stage performance, into the work. I used arts and crafts and creative expression to connect with young people. And connection, as I always say, is everything. You can’t correct until you connect.
That role was the closest thing to “it” for me. It allowed me to show up as my full self and support others in deeply meaningful ways. But after the pandemic, like so many people, something shifted in me. Light bulbs and alarms started going off in my head. I needed more autonomy over my time and more alignment with my purpose. I realized that in some of the spaces I was working in, I was starting to feel complicit in systems I didn’t fully agree with. And I didn’t want to just be a part of the system anymore. I wanted to transform it, to be part of the solution. I wanted to build something that would outlive me. Something that could be my gift to humanity.
That’s when I leaned all the way in and decided to put my full energy behind Soulful Colour, the brand, the affirmation colouring books, and the workshops I now deliver in schools, corporate spaces, and community organizations. Every skill I’ve ever gained, whether from calming a young person in crisis, serving customers, or standing on stage singing my heart out – now fuels the work I do as an author, speaker, facilitator, wellness advocate and consultant.
I always say: pick your hard. A 9 to 5 comes with challenges. So does entrepreneurship. I chose the one I believe will create more impact, encourage people to tap into their inner child, and remind them to prioritize self-care and wellness. I chose the hard that allows me to put my stamp on the world. “I was here” – through creativity, healing, and mental wellness. I chose the hard that does not cap earning potential. I had to add in the financial peace cause that is important too. If you are not able to survive financially that you don’t have a company you have a hobby.
So if you’re someone who’s wrestling with that same question, wondering whether to stay on the traditional path or take the road less travelled, I want to say this: the fact that you’re even considering it is proof enough that it’s possible. There are enough people doing things the traditional way. We need more trailblazers. More people brave enough to build something new. That’s how the world changes, one bold step at a time.
I hope that resonates with you. And I hope you know that no matter which path you take, both come with their own challenges and rewards. But only one of them is uniquely yours to walk.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

For anyone who may not have read about me before, I’m Sophia Jackson, also known as SoJay or SoJaySoul in the music world (album ‘It’s Time We Officially Meet’ on all streaming platforms). I’m a singer-songwriter, speaker, facilitator, educator, consultant and the founder and Chief Creative Officer of Soulful Colour Corp., a wellness-focused brand where creativity meets impact. Everything I create is rooted in purpose – whether that’s through art, song, storytelling, or affirmations. I’m proud to say that I wear many hats, but at the core of it all is a commitment to helping others feel seen, valued, and empowered.
Soulful Colour was born from lived experience, creative grit, and the deep desire to fill a gap in the wellness space. After years of working in social services and education, including roles supporting young people in schools, group homes, custody facilities, and private institutions. I saw firsthand how overlooked mental wellness resources were, especially for Black communities and other equity-deserving groups. I also saw how effective creativity could be in breaking through resistance, calming the nervous system, and creating connection.
I’ve always brought my full self to the spaces I enter, whether that meant singing with students, facilitating drama circles, or using storytelling and the affirmation colouring books as healing tools. After the pandemic, something shifted in me. I realized I couldn’t keep showing up in systems that didn’t reflect the values I stood for. I needed to create something that would not only outlive me, but that would serve as a legacy and gift to humanity. That’s when Soulful Colour went from idea to movement.
At Soulful Colour, we create vibrant affirmation colouring books and creative wellness resources that uplift, educate, and encourage mindfulness, self-reflection, confidence, and growth. The books are filled with original illustrations and empowering affirmations designed to benefit everyone, with a special focus on Black women and youth. Our products are not only visually impactful, they shift energy. The moment someone picks up the book, flips through the pages, or engages with it in a workshop, something clicks. I’ve heard it described as “therapeutic,” “soothing,” and “exactly what I didn’t know I needed.”
We also provide curated wellness workshops, school assemblies, corporate creative sessions, professional development and community-based guided colouring events where people come together to reflect, decompress, and reconnect with their inner child, through affirmations, storytelling, and song. These aren’t just art activities, they’re carefully designed experiences that support emotional regulation, promote cultural pride and awareness, and prioritize belonging and representation.
What sets us apart? Soulful Colour is rooted in lived experience. I’m not creating from the outside looking in. I am in community. I know what it’s like to work on the frontlines and feel depleted. I know what it means to be underpaid and undervalued despite bringing excellence to every room. I also know the power of creativity to transform pain into purpose. Our work is informed by “Nothing for Us Without Us” and “FEBU, For Everyone By Us.” That means as a black creator what I create is anyone. Every line drawn, every affirmation written, carries intention and therefore anyone can connect with the content.
I’m most proud of the way Soulful Colour has filled a real and urgent gap in wellness resources. There are so few tools that reflect our image and our voice. The fact that young people walk into a room, see our books, and light up because they see themselves in the illustrations, that matters. The fact that adults of ALL backgrounds flip through the pages and find a moment of peace, or feel seen for the first time in a long time. That is the impact we were created for.
We’ve had the honour of working with incredible partners like Peel Children’s Aid Society, Peel Regional Police, Daniels Corporation, Brampton Library, Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board, Jean Augustine Centre, Queen’s University, and more. I’ve spoken and facilitated sessions for educators, equity groups, and wellness collectives across the province, always bringing my full self, including the original ‘Create’ song that sets the tone in many of our sessions.
So what do I want people to know about me and Soulful Colour? We are on a mission to make people’s lives better. We’re not just a brand, we’re a movement. A movement that centres mental wellness, representation, creativity, community and holding onto or awakening the inner child that we all have. I believe everyone deserves access to tools that help them thrive — not just survive and we have created and will continue to create those tools and experiences.
If you’re someone who values wellness, creativity, inclusion, and personal growth, if you’ve ever felt unseen in the wellness space or if you simply want something unique as gift or to colour — then Soulful Colour was made with you in mind. LOL I guess that covers about everyone!

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I’ve gone the organic route all the way. Maybe it’s because I’m a bit old school, or maybe it’s because I have a hard time trusting the idea of paying algorithms to do their thing. Social media is basically marketing, and let’s be honest, marketing can be a black hole. There are no guarantees you’ll make money. Just a lot of dancing around the thing we all know needs to happen in order to make an impact and be sustainable: make money.
So yes, I’ve had my issues with pulling the trigger on paid social media marketing. I haven’t done it — yet. I know I probably will have to eventually. But for now, I’ve focused on building my audience in a way that feels genuine, using what I already have: my voice, my story, my art, and real connections with real people.
That brings me to my biggest piece of advice: exhaust all your non-paid options first. Show up consistently. Share your journey. Build trust with your audience by being who you are. And when you do get to the point where you’re ready to invest in paid marketing or hire someone, vet them thoroughly.
Don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions. Ask for samples of their work. Ask for real testimonials from people they’ve actually helped. Have them clearly document what the deliverables will be and in what time frame. Use AI to help too. Social media is full of people offering services because they took a course or earned a certificate, and listen — that’s fine. They’re doing what we’re all doing: trying to build something and be entrepreneurs. But not at my or your ‘expense’ when they have not quite gotten a grasp of it.
If you’re truly good at what you do, I have no problem paying your rate. It’s an investment for me. But I need to know that you can actually do the thing you say you can do — and do it well. That’s why I tell people to manage their own social media first. Get to know the process. Understand the platforms. Because when you’ve been in it yourself, you’ll be able to tell if someone is overselling and underdelivering.
That full-circle knowledge gives you power. And in this space, that kind of discernment matters. It protects your time, your budget, and your brand.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative is having the ability to stay in a positive mindset or at the very least, having the resilience and tools to recognize when I’m spiraling down the rabbit hole. The ability to notice it quickly and shift gears so I don’t stay in a slump for long is everything. That’s why tapping into your creative self is so valuable and important. Whatever that outlet is for you can be the very thing that helps you reset and realign when life feels heavy. And let’s be real, sometimes you just want to sit in the funk. That’s human. It’s okay to be there for a short time, but not for too long. What matters is knowing what you need to do to make that shift and then actually doing it. That’s the key.
For me, that shift can look like singing, writing a new song, colouring in one of my own affirmation colouring books, journaling what I’m grateful for, stepping outside for a walk, or connecting with a friend over a good meal or a cold-pressed juice blend. (I don’t drink coffee.) As you can see, I’ve got a few tools in my “shift-my-mood” arsenal.
So I’ll turn it to you. What are the creative things that light you up? What brings you joy, peace, or energy when you’re not feeling your best? Those are your tools. Those are the things that will be valuable to you. That’s what makes being a creative so rewarding. I am never truly stuck. I always have a way back to my positive productive self.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://soulfulcolour.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulfullysophiajackson/ | https://www.instagram.com/soulfulcolour/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulfulcolourbooks/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiajacksonsojay/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/soulful_colour
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@soulfulcolourcolouringbooks |
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/sojaysoul
• Other: My Album ‘It’s TIme We Officially Meet’:
  

  LinkTree
  https://linktr.ee/sophiajackson

  TikTok – Soulful Colour

  @soulfulcolour

  Alumna Sophia Jackson shines as a performer, speaker, author and more
  

Image Credits

And Action! Media | https://www.instagram.com/andactionmedia/ | Jeannine Charles – SoJay-03418

JL Creative Agency | Jackie Li – Soulful Colour – June 17th, 2025 (39)