Be Your Own Santa

I was 7 years old when on the Christmas Eve in the middle of the night my eyes briefly opened to see my mother keeping a present under my pillow. The secret was revealed. Oh my God, I was heart broken.  I had secretly wished for so much more to my dear Santa. I wasn’t going to get it, I knew. A sad, weepy child slept knowing there isn’t any Santa anymore.

The next morning at the Christmas party I tried explaining to all my friends that there isn’t any Santa. I was proud to be making the discovery for them. They didn’t believe me. Not one of them. They had their reasons. I heard statements like…

“I asked for a bicycle, I got it.”

“I asked for a cricket bat, I got it.”

“I asked for chocolates, I got it.”

I was all confused. What do I believe in? Is there a Santa or not? Did I really see my mother at night? Or was I dreaming? Is my mother Santa?

Troubled as I was with all these questions and absolutely determined to solve the mystery, I approached my Grand Father and told him all that had happened.

I was even more flustered when I didn’t get a clear answer. It must have showed on a child’s face. Then he spoke. He said, ”Santa exists, always will but he exists in you. You have to be your own Santa.”

A seven year old never understood that statement but as I was asked to do, I wrote it in a book – Be your own Santa.

From that day on, every Christmas these words would instantly prop up in my head. Be your own Santa. I would never understand what it means or how you do it. Every year on the 25^th December I will however recite these words.

Twenty years from then on I was in a toy store buying a Christmas gift for three-year-old niece. Suddenly I heard in my mind the words – Be your own Santa. After getting out of the store for the first time I bought myself a Christmas present. I bought myself a gift. Something nice and expensive because I deserved it.

“I am my own Santa.” From that day I have understood the meaning of these words and continued to be my Santa. Some wonderful things have happened since:

Christmas is not on December 25^th. It’s on any day I choose

I celebrate when I want to for any reason I want to.

Being Santa means I can change my mood anytime by gifting myself whatever.

It sounds a bit selfish I know, but there is a deeper truth to it. Unless you can be a Santa to yourself, you truly can’t be to others. I am very sure that the real Santa Claus (I have never met him) surrounds himself with a whole lot of happiness, love and laughter before he gives it away to the wonderful, little children.

In the spirit of Christmas this season, while you spread joy and happiness for others by wishing them, writing cards, forwarding mails and buying presents, I would love for you to also discover being your own Santa.  For some of us who are parents this isn’t difficult at all because for your children you already are the Santa. The time has come to be your own as well. Give it a try.

Let me help you make the shift. Here are some gifts as Santa you can give to yourself. Some are absolutely free.

-       Give yourself the gift of writing down your goals. Hey Santa, do read it out to you every single day. You will truly be surprised before next Christmas. That’s a promise.

-       Give your self the gift of learning. Gift yourself twelve books for the year and resolve to read, study and practice one every month.

-       Give yourself the gift of giving. Just unconditionally give gifts to those you love. Throw your reasons and conditions out (examples of conditions: I’ll do it when, I will do it if he or she does, so on and so on). Even if there is an extra stretch on you because of this – DO IT. There is magic in unconditionally giving. It comes back to you many folds super quick.

-       Give yourself the gift of something that will make you feel good, something nice, something that you have been wanting but not buying for you. Something fun. Whatever would make you smile. I like to gift myself something that looks good, feels good -  a piece of art, a nice wonderful desk, a new camera, a holiday for no reason, a nice watch. Anything that makes you smile, others will smile when they see you. That’s the spirit of Christmas that Santa likes to create! Doesn’t he?

-       Be thankful. Everyone must be thankful for something in life. Yes, we all have problems and probably count them every day, at home and at work. Count the things you are thankful for in life. Be your Santa and be thankful. You will soon realize the energy that thankfulness creates is a great key to personal success.

Okay Santa the challenge is yours. Now put on the suit and live it up because now is the best time and you deserve it.

Here is my favorite part – You will develop the passion and energy and discover your Santa any day you want to…….

It’s not just fun, it’s the biggest BELIEF BUILDING tool you will ever find..

Go Do It.

yours

Chetan Walia