Think Like an Awakened African Woman: Resilience. Faith. Self-Awareness (Part two)

Part two

Early Lessons and Identity

I grew up being told a woman’s role is to be masked, obedient, and manipulative to secure a place in family, society, and humanity. Early on, I understood relationships fall into phases of reason, season, or lifetime. Solitude and self-sufficiency became my superpower, only surrendering to Gods will, as a spiritual being.

Shaped by my genetics, caregivers and the impact of a world in chaos, I learned the complexities of Gods universe. I thrived in the community but chose to live comfortably with or without family or friends. My partnerships in intimate relationships reflected my deepest need to grow & heal, to do better when I know better.

Education and Independence

At my MBA graduation from Seattle University, I celebrated with family and community. My father’s speech highlighted my resilience: “This child demanded to be born, raised herself, and fought for her right to exist.”

As a spiritually awakened woman in my 30s, I paused the traditional path of marriage, children and repeating what I was raised to believe, as I found out relationships are much more complex. Through prayer and meditation, I chose to create *Deldeyoch*, an agile company focused on impactful, inclusive, innovative, sustainable, conscious, healing and shifting advisory work, and lifestyle creation, evolving my being, seeking to be part of the movement to transition Ethiopia and Africa from aid to trade, as well as moving towards a more sustainable lifestyle. I wanted to live as a digital nomad, work hard, be part of an inclusive support system, play hard traveling solo to test my being,  and reading lots of books as well as finding coaches at each stage in my life, to be my authentic self in service to Gods universe. 

Furthermore be able to create all those things I loved in the PNW that enriched being, i.e. camping, brunching, reading club, volunteering as board, solo travel, walking in parks, cooking class, arts & culture sharing, spiritual activities, vegetarian groups, going to street festivals to support mom & pop local communities, as well as supporting Afrobohemian artistic community.   

Awakening and challenges

Transitioning to entrepreneurship took five years of research, traveling solo in Africa, mindset shift, venture investment on myself, grieving a past identity, & a shift in consciousness. I sought to serve in my capacity, seek, research on how things work in Africa, learn lessons, challenge false narratives, share awareness, coach executives, keep my nomadic spirit, live a sustainable lifestyle. I felt compelled to be interconnect, enhance capacity, face challenges to bring change, & upgrade myself by testing my theories of what it means to live a spiritual human, and be part of healing & growing my being, my family, community and society.

I faced constant criticism within & outside, for being “too empowered,” “too authentic,” "too natural", and “too radical.” as a woman that had a guerilla style of doing business and agility in grass-root methods, as well as how I approached my life. Forgoing offices with high administrative costs,  finding challenging projects to undertake, being in solitude, focusing on hands on approach to my advising business doing impact driven projects, traveling solo globally, collaborating with freelancers, living with my widowed mother, not compromising my integrity, as well as creating a large communal living space for 10 households, & live a solitude life triggered, provoked, evoked, inspired and at times made people uncomfortable.

I embraced my genetic heritage, my diverse experience & background, my American sense of agility, nomadic spirit, sharpness, & refusing to conform to societal expectations to change. I had paid my dues working hard, focused & disciplined to climb up the social, work & academic ladder, and in my success have said thank you to all those that had supported me. I now wanted freedom to live life balanced, conscious, impactful, sustainable, aligned, lean, & lead by spiritual calling, I ventured on a pioneering path to serve. Embracing as failure, as a sign for redirection and patience with my shadow, not to give up.

Ancestral Legacy and Purpose

My ancestors were queens, warriors, traders, and builders. Their legacy lives in me—a woman unafraid to claim her space in the 21st century. I felt the idea of an incubated family based on force was not for everyone, choosing instead to serve God’s universe with grace & acceptance. I wanted to hold space & make room for the diverse approach to life. It was the time of the feminine divinity, and I wanted to be part of creating a New earth, that was healing, making most people uncomfortable & inspiring a few. An artist can not tell you her art, until she can show you, as you have an open canvas in life, you are the co-creator & captain of your ship, make it count.

Humanity’s egoic state has stripped integrity and separated us from our true selves. Civil wars, mental colonization of outdated institutions, perpetuating cycles of trauma, radicalism, & the collective egoic-minded false state had created chaos, depleting  mother nature. I seeked my space, spreading awareness that being human in spirit is a gift, and that facing our fears allows us to unchain, unlock and unbecome, interconnected. I value the unconditional love within that my spirit has ignited, leading my mind & body.

Reflections on Humanity 

Ethiopia’s history of civil wars reflects a cycle of trauma we must break. Our parents, family, societal institutions and humanities systems are supposed to heal, grow and support you to be your authentic self, not dim your light, limit your capacity, force their power, & block your opportunities, for control & codependency. Outdated institutions, fear, lies, emotional vultures, energy vampires, armouring your heart, being in survival, rage, feeling separated, guilt, shame, doubt, and being manipulated by those that want to hinder your progress are all red flags. Other peoples toxicity, violence and hate crime is not personal, move on, forgive yourself, take time to grieve and heal, sharp, alert & with love.

I am fortunate to have succeeded in 20 projects under deldeyoch,  traveling solo over 30 countries, half of my travels being in Africa. Working, serving & socializing with  fellow Africans, specially in regional parts of Ethiopia with a diverse global & local institutions, has enriched & tested my vision of bridging the gap to move Africa from AidtoTrade. We at deldeyoch are grateful to have been in service for fifteen years in 2025.

I learned that many human beings we wear masks. Whether in survival, trapped in cycles of trauma, lashing out in fear and desperation, vengeful, attached, & perpetuating a cycle of pain, feeling unseen. Replaying their childhood trauma in the office politics, boardrooms, friendships, global international policy tables, corporate meetings, social gathers, family dinner tables, job interviews, and in relationships. We are unconscious, tolerance & limited to eachothers pain & suffering, not able to sit through the emotion to look for solutions, but choose being victims & wanting to be heroes in vengeance. 

My job as a strategic advisor, specializing in structuring policy & streamlining operations is to find technical solutions, coach executives to guide them through their challenging mindset to make imperative decisions, as well as build systems at startup, when entering a new market, scaling up, or have exit strategies in markets, program, projects or startups, as well as relationships that are not working. My clients success, observing as my consistent passion, force at times, & coaching as well as hands on approach, changes peoples lives as individuals & institution.

My friends, family & partners always ask me why I choose to serve in emerging markets, desperate situations, & an environment that gives me less than what I deserve. I wish I knew why, I was chosen and I am passionate about my cause, vision, purpose and fate. I felt fearless, a protector, guide, safe, nurturer & empowered despite so many changes I faced by 35yrs young. Life teaches you that whoever and wherever I choose to work & socialize, what most humans want is to be seen, valued, acknowledged, & heard. My vision to be wealthy, serve God, and live a spiritual purpose driven life, meant not just doing impactful work, but also live a healthy & sustainable lifestyle,  to foster my success. I found out Ethiopia & the whole of Africa was an enigma, as what we are taught, told & threatened to divide & create fear between eachother in the past, is not what I felt we could become if we could build the infrastructure to foster a better future with innovation, capacity, technology, and access to capital. So where better to be part of policy change, spiritually awaken &  creating a New Earth than my home, country and mama Africa. 

I learnt the tools, skills, & healing of ancient religions of the world, especially diving into the mysticism of the Orthodox Christianity rituals, culture & practices. I found the topography, natural beauty, rich in minerals and wild life, as well as aliveness of the continent I call mama Africa to heal my soul. While lent, meditation, prayer, stillness, intermittent fasting, privacy, love, being sharp, early morning holy water, & solitude being the most effective daily ritual to cleanse in my walk to integrity.

Global Service and Healing

Balancing masculine and feminine energies, I thrived in blending ancient wisdom with modern society. Traveling to over 30 countries and completing 20+ projects, I exchanged awareness, knowledge, & embraced my humanity in private.

As a habesha woman succeeding globally, I faced colorism, sexism, social bullying, was ostracized for being my own woman, and inspired many who prefer to not rock the boat as conformists but were my champions in closed doors. By forgiving myself and others, I found balance, love, and peace, allowing people around me to exercise their rights. I remained committed to my service, aligning my spiritual purpose and standing firm against fear and manipulation, choosing solitude & stillness as well as tapping into the knower within me to heal. Letting go of things, people and life situations that did not serve me in forgiveness, gratitude, and compassion of my interconnectedness to God universe. 

Life is not a popularity contest, nor is it about fame & glory, its a personal spiritual path to heal, grow & serve at whatever purpose you are chosen, to live in passion as the knower. Noone should have access to your inner beings thoughts, choices, & power, to belong, attached or hijacked by takers, to steal your worth, value, being enough, self love, & your authentic self. Toxic & power hungry parents, families, partners,  community, society & humanity have developed controling mind games, manipulations tacts, force, violence, false narrative, bullying, lies, hijacking emotions, attack your authenticity, and depleting the souls, to destruct humanity from knowing how powerful you are just being human. 

Vision for a New Earth

Change, healing, & growth starts with awareness, self-love, and facing our shadows, and going on a path that is most uncomfortable. Success & luxury in the 21st century is living at peace, in joy, fulfilling one’s calling, having time to yourself, being connected in high vibe love, in gratitude to simple things, & serving in passion, to have time to eat healthy, have a few supportive friends, & rest. 

Humanity is evolving, shedding egos, embracing our highest potential, with so much destructions, we are all work in progress. Know everyone will gradually hurt you and you will hurt others, learn the lessons faster, have no expectations, strong boundaries, be sharp as a serpent, ground in God, forgive yourself, be patient, & kind as a dove. The world & others are moving at their pace, breath, get grounded, and find your own path, shut down your electronic gadgets, and look to nature.

As awakened African women, we heal & transform, taking our place as healers on Earth. Not in self-destruction, but in truth, integrity, and love. We rebirth and evolve, creating a New Earth, as we move into integrity, with strong boundaries. You were born alone from dust, & you will die alone to dust, choose love with patience & strategy.

I strive to create an egalitarian way of life, honoring the legacy of those who came before me, being grounded in the present, and conscious of what it takes to build a resilient & agile future doing impact-driven work, & living a sustainable lifestyle. We are not independent as the west wants us to believe, but interdependent beings wanting to be valued, seen, accepted and heard.

You are more powerful than you think! You are worthy and enough just by being born human. Embrace your power, worth, and authenticity.  

Who will you become when faced with your shadow, ego, and challenges? 

By Dutchess@Deldeyoch