Soul's Wisdom

Ethiopia’s fledgling democracy stumbled before it could take root. This failure is not Ethiopia’s alone; it echoes across much of Africa, where nations that once embraced self-determination now teeter toward discord. Our youth—those who should be the torchbearers of democratic ideals—have become captives to a politicized identity crisis. In today’s discourse, especially on social media, political opinions are interrogated not for substance but for the speaker’s ethnicity, region, religion or identities. Ideas have been subordinated to who we are: this or other ethnic group. We’ve ceased to be citizens first; we are now tribal emissaries, relics of a corrupted liberation struggle. This crisis was not born of chaos but of calculation. For over thirty years, higher education was turned into a tool for social engineering. Universities no longer nurtured critical thought; they manufactured ethnically charged elites. Curricula were hollowed out and replaced with dogma approved by those in ...

While reading Jimmy L.Lyson’s poem "Left Out in the Cold," I was deeply moved by his palpable anxiety and felt compelled to sympathize with his sense of mental incarceration—which I did. His portrayal of being unable to act or speak freely, despite his technical "freedom," evokes a universal empathy. He admits to wanting to "remove the sting," which I interpreted as a stain from the past, yet finds himself perpetually "left out in the cold"—a fate that feels tragically plausible. But as I immersed myself in his thoughts, the line  "wanting to claim some of God’s power and glory"  struck me abruptly. My sympathy curdled into anger; the words seemed delusional. If he truly believed in God’s power and glory, why couldn’t he be "brave and bold" enough to "sing" as he claimed he desired? Mystified, I reread the poem, probing beneath its surface. Only then did I grasp Jimmy’s deeper intent: his repeated lament —"he ha...

Today’s public discourse—both in mainstream and social media—reveals a consistent, radical shift in societal values. Perspectives on tradition, education, and life itself have transformed dramatically. Why? Time  has  changed: democracy champions unprecedented freedoms—gender identities, careers, lifestyles—with few restraints. Living standards have surged, extending lifespans. Youth form families earlier, fueling a global population boom. Education is democratized; degrees and titles flow freely (if not always meaningfully) from institutions. Technology shrank the world, and nanomedicine promises miracles. Even religious institutions now prioritize "well-being" over scripture, granting followers near-total autonomy. Yet, amid this wealth, luxury, progress, and optimism, heinous crimes multiply. New diseases emerge. Unemployment and poverty persist. Deaths toll hourly. What explains this paradox? What defines today’s "refined" human? Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s dia...

There are many quirks in local media that I can usually tolerate, but one recurring practice makes me uneasy: the excessive and often unnecessary use of personal or professional titles in news reports. Take, for example, Mr. Bekele. He may be a civil engineer by training but currently serves as a CEO of a company. Yet, the media repeatedly refers to him as Engineer Bekele —"Engineer Bekele said this and that..." This is superfluous. What matters to most readers is that he is the CEO, an authoritative figure in the context of the report. His educational background, unless directly relevant, is secondary at best. Firstly, his current role as CEO is far more pertinent to the issue being discussed than his academic or professional training. Secondly, "Engineer" is not a formal title like Dr., Prof., Mr., or Rev. (A discussion I’ll save for another piece.) If the aim of the news is to convey what the company thinks or what its leader has said, why distract us with i...

Have you lately found yourself bewildered—like me—by people you thought you knew, only to realize you never really did? Or caught in a situation you assumed you could handle, only to discover you’re utterly unprepared? It’s unsettling. Life has a way of pulling the rug out from under us just when we feel most grounded. What do you do when you're caught between deep fear and fragile hope, unsure of which one to trust as you look toward the near future? When the road ahead seems foggy, and your inner compass begins to spin? Let me take it a little deeper: What happens when you feel enveloped by darkness—but somewhere, distant yet visible, a faint light glimmers at the end of the tunnel? When the world around you becomes dissonant—some voices singing songs of war, others insisting all are normal, as if nothing has shifted? And in the middle of it all, you stand—sometimes firm, sometimes swayed—often alone and sometimes pulled unwillingly by forces larger than you. I don’t know ...

Life offers us an endless array of choices. Isn’t that remarkable? Some are simple and straightforward, allowing us to make quick, confident decisions. But others—more complex and weighty—require time, discernment, and often a painful trade-off. From choosing toys as children to selecting a life partner, a career path, or whether to settle in a foreign country as adults, the need to decide is constant. In today’s information-rich world, however, making decisions feels harder than ever . We are surrounded—both physically and virtually—by a surplus of options. What once might have taken us a minute to choose now demands days, even weeks. Even the simplest of decisions can feel like a burden. Have we become more cautious? More risk-averse? Or, perhaps, just more overwhelmed? When I was a child, like many others of my generation, I was often asked by family or friends to choose between one toy or another— “You can only pick one,” they would say. And I did. Quickly. I might have had ...

The renowned British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who served his nation most critically during wartime, once remarked, “In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.” Disinformation, then, was considered not just a tactic but a necessity. But I believe Churchill’s observation extends far beyond the battlefield—it feels just as true today, in our everyday lives. Truth, once revered, now appears to be in exile. Those we once considered reliable—news outlets, corporations, public figures—seem to treat lying as business as usual. Service providers often promise far more than they can deliver; products rarely match their grand cover stories. In many cases, the experience they offer is not just disappointing—it is shockingly the opposite of what is advertised. We’ve long accepted that advertising involves exaggeration. But what we see now goes far beyond harmless hype. Businesspeople, driven by greed, are faking original products using ...

The Ethiopian political landscape has undergone a tremendous transformation—one that, by all indications and by God’s grace, points toward lasting progress. We sincerely hope never to return to the painful years behind us. But while change sounds inspiring, it is rarely as effortless as we wish. Too often, we assume that positive change will simply unfold on its own—that progress is something others will deliver while we watch from the sidelines. This mindset is not only mistaken; it is dangerous . As former U.S. President Bill Clinton observed, “The price of doing the same old thing is far higher than the price of change.” For years, Ethiopians had little room to participate willingly or meaningfully in shaping the nation’s future. Today, however, we stand in a new era—one that seems to call on every citizen, including you and me, to take responsibility for the country’s transformation. This is a moment of shared duty. To experience the full promise of this new beginning, we must a...

The past weeks and months have marked a genuinely unique chapter in Ethiopian politics—unless one insists on viewing everything through the fog of deep pessimism. From my perspective, remarkable shifts have taken place—some of them quite dramatic—as the country steps into a new era of leadership. Beyond the public relations efforts, which I believe have played a meaningful role in shaping public confidence, I’ve felt something deeper awakening in me. For the first time in many years, I can say I’m optimistic of our Prime Minister’s speeches, many of which are marked by clarity, substance, and moments of genuine wisdom. As George Orwell once noted, “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” In many ways, the tone and honesty in these speeches feel like a long-needed reset. His words have stirred something that had grown quiet in me: a renewed sense of Ethiopian pride. After years marked by silence, disillusionment, and even shame, I once again feel gra...

Hair is more than just a physical feature—it is a living expression of culture, identity, and heritage . In Ethiopia, many contemporary hairstyles are deeply rooted in history and tradition, transcending mere fashion statements. These styles serve as testimonies of who we are and where we come from. A short one or  two-hour or so journey in any direction across Ethiopia—north, south, east, or west—reveals the rich diversity and cultural depth of Ethiopian hairstyles. From highland villages to bustling urban centers, intricate braiding patterns tell stories passed down through generations. One traditional hairstyle that has endured with grace and pride is shuruba. Originating in northern Ethiopia, shuruba consists of tightly braided plaits running along the scalp, often extending freely over the shoulders. Though historically worn by both men and women, shuruba has transcended geographic boundaries and remains a beloved style nationwide. Today, it is sometimes enhanced with ...

 Forgiveness, Reconciliation, and the Legacy    This piece was originally written shortly after the passing of one of the world’s most iconic and revered leaders—Nelson Mandela. Like many around the globe who paid tribute to this remarkable figure, mine was a very modest gesture of admiration for a man whose legacy continues to shape the meaning of true leadership. Yet as time passes, the lesson Mandela left us remains not only timeless, but strikingly timely—especially in light of Ethiopia’s current political landscape. Nelson Mandela showed us, with grace and conviction, that forgiveness and reconciliation are not signs of weakness but marks of extraordinary strength. He was a man who endured decades of persecution, wrongful imprisonment, and personal suffering. Still, upon gaining power, he chose not revenge, but reconciliation. He reached out to his former oppressors, building bridges instead of walls.   Let’s pause here: how many of us, as everyday profe...

A recent roundtable with line managers and the CEO of a prominent company inspired this reflection. After one manager's straightforward report, the CEO interjected: “I know you’ve tried your best, but your best didn’t yield any fruit.” The pointed phrasing and animated delivery suggested derision, implying not just poor results but a lack of results at any ethical cost.​ Leaders navigate highs and lows, yet we often judge them solely by achievements. The true test lies in handling failure with integrity, especially when moral principles like honesty and honor feel outdated amid profit-driven pressures. Ethical leadership demands expanding "value" beyond finances to include virtues like humility and dignity, even when success falters.​ The following are historical examples of failing with honor: Socrates (469–399 BCE): Accused of corrupting youth and impiety, he chose hemlock over fleeing, upholding reason and virtue—immortalizing his commitment to truth.​ Dag Hammarskjöl...

Making meaningful changes in our lives—whether in our personal routines, social groups, or professional settings is rarely easy. Even when we hold a position of influence, adjusting long-standing habits or persuading others to embrace new directions often meets resistance. Still, change is essential as we move forward. This isn’t to say our previous approaches were inherently flawed or dismal. Rather, it's a recognition that no system or routine is ever truly perfect—and there's always room for growth. The impulse to improve is not a condemnation of the past but a necessary commitment to the future. Of course, change comes with its own unpredictability. Sometimes, despite our best efforts and good intentions, new strategies don’t yield the anticipated results. In fact, they can occasionally backfire, slowing our momentum or diverting us temporarily off course. But setbacks shouldn’t shake our resolve or distract us from our broader purpose. With clear intent, humility,...

Why Most Resolutions Fail—And How to Keep Becoming Better Anyway The dawn of a new year always brings with it a quiet (and sometimes not-so-quiet) optimism. across the globe, people vow to start fresh, ditch bad habits, adopt new mindsets, and finally become the version of themselves they’ve been envisioning for years. Some (myself  included) declare it's time to drop a few pounds. Others commit to learning a new skill, picking up a long-lost hobby, or emulating the qualities of a role model they’ve long admired . There’s something universal in that hope. But also, something all too common in what comes next. Fast forward 12 months, and for many, that bright beginning ends in quiet regret. The goals were grand, the motivation was real… but life got in the way. We look back and ask: Where did my resolve go? What happened to that energy I had back in January  (or September for us, Ethiopians). If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. And you’re not a failure. Personal developm...

Truth in Exile: The Courage to Name Our Reality As we advance through the 21st century, I observe a troubling inversion of virtue:  calling a spade a spade —once a mark of integrity—is now mocked as obsolete. Society increasingly rewards silence over honesty, conformity over conviction. When confronting uncomfortable truths—especially those implicating powerful figures in government, religious institutions, or corporations—the "wise" opt for willful blindness or complicit alignment with a  false status quo . Do  you know what chills me most? Those who  do  speak truth boldly face not just dismissal, but ridicule. Yet beneath the glitter of technology and innovation,  human nature remains unchanged . We still crave timeless virtues: courage to name reality, loyalty to truth. George Orwell’s warning echoes with prophetic clarity: “The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those that speak it.” This is no abstraction. When we nor...