As we approach Christmas, what better then to discuss around what it takes to be a Santa in the real essence of it on the Eve of Christmas! Join me here as we explore the space around this and understand why perhaps living the Santa Claus way is the only way to regain and restore sanity in the crazy world around us!

Santa Claus has captured the imagination of every child around the world like nothing else ever has and perhaps it is the first real unifier moment for kids all over the world irrespective of what their belief systems or ways of faith are! As kids, all of us knew very well the promise that Santa brought along and what every kid was required to do for being able to qualify to receive the gifts from Santa! We begin our journey from this lens and try to make sense of what it is firstly to receive what Santa offers and then we move on to understand what it takes to become a Santa! So here we go!

The promise of Santa, tells us something far deeper and valuable about who we are as humans! Even as kids, we learnt early the values of being able to share and care and no matter what faith your follow or not, these values are perhaps the most fundamental values to each one of us and for kids- the Santa coming to town and pushing the gifts down through the chimneys, as a reward for good behaviour and being who one is meant to be, has been perhaps the most iconic and visible communication pieces that connects with kids the world over! The simple act of being good and kind can be rewarded and that being instilled within young kids is what keeps hope alive for humanity as a whole!

As we grow up, somewhere as we begin to figure out the rational space around Santa and the gifts that Santa provided, we end up not only disregarding Santa, but (unfortunately) even the very essence and the soul of what Santa represents! This is where societal divergence begins and this is why grown ups in offices need a complete leadership training around building empathy- simply because they lost that bit as they lost faith about Santa being real! This goes on to get replicated with many other facets and value systems as well and that is how even as each one of us grow with and through the values enshrined by Santa, sooner or later, they get ripped away one by one slowly but surely!

As we grow up, given the societal contexts that we operate within, we begin to embrace and practice all that takes us away to the diametrical side of what Santa stands for. Sounds too philosophical, well yes, it is and sure enough nothing to blame anyone or suggest what is right or wrong- the simple fact remains that as humanity begins to slip away form the core values of sharing and caring for one other and disregard humanity as one big family, not only do we end up loosing the values that Santa instilled in us, but we also end up the part of Santa that actually resides within each one of us!

It may sound that I am trying to oversimplify the challenges and the problems that we as grown ups face day in and day out, but if you take a pause and listen to your heart and see within you will know instantly that the root for many a problems resides in the very basic and fundamental space of disregarding core values which define what humanity ought to be! Whether it is about the communication break downs among colleagues, friends, families or whether it is the challenge or begin able to collaborate and work together in a work area or within the society- aspects like these and many more simply signify the fact that as we tend to move away from our core values and belief systems and to put it more aptly the wisdom of Santa, we just set up ourselves as failures in the world that we roam around in! So what is that we can do to get Santa back again and guide us along the path ahead?

To get Santa back into our lives, the best and the most simplest approaches would be to get that kid back! Sounds funny, well think about it! Once you get the humility, you had as a kid and the zing of curiosity along, soon enough you will end up surprising yourself on how differently and how refreshingly you are able to see the same problems that dodge you day in and day out and how this shifting mindset – rather holding the mindset of a Santa helps you to sieve through apparent blockages and empowers you to see pathways and solutions where you saw none! No way am I suggesting you to be casual or adopt a hippie like care free approach to life- rather on the contrary it is about approaching life with due respect but empowered by the curiosity and humility that the kid in you can provide you with for it is within this space that you will feel responsible, light and driven at the same time and more importantly be aligned to values and teachings of Santa and this will go on to provide you an opportunity to live your life the Santa way!

Living life, the Santa way, is not only about sharing and spreading the goodness of life and rewarding humanity where it is due, it is also importantly about being forgiving and forgetful of what one must be and how one can be! The Santa way of living is all about seeking and touching empowerment from the pivot of your own soul and harnessing all the goodness that resides within and ensuring your keep enriching it all the way through your journey and share that aspect with people around as you continue your pursuits of life! Sure enough, there will be setbacks there will be problems and there will be days and times when you will have to retreat and takes a few steps back, but what matters is that as long as you build your foundational values on and around the Santa learnings, you will be able to bounce back and surge ahead- how fast you can do that and how often you will be able to do that- is a factor of how well you are able to imbibe the spirit of Santa within you and how well you are able to share and spread the Santa within you, around you!

I leave you with these thoughts, on a Christmas Eve, urging you to connect with Santa, get rewarded for the goodness that you have been able to hold onto and this Christmas, make that effort to be a Santa for someone else ad share what you can and care as you can- this is the only way that you can embrace the Santa way of living and make the world a shade better than what it seems to be!

Ciao for now, Here’s wishing everyone A Merry Christmas! ; And yes, humanity needs Santa and each and every one of us has Santa tucked away within us- Perhaps it’s time that we let the Santa within us, out to make the difference that we aspire for as Individuals and collectively as humanity!