Dear Santa,

It's been years since I sent you a letter at Christmas. Years ago, I was disillusioned when someone told me that you are not real. Fortunately, the other day I found out this is not true at all, as a mater of fact; you are more real to me than you've ever been.

I discovered this truth as I was out getting gifts for my loved ones, I took a moment and I looked around at the faces of the people around me, and in that same moment I caught the glance of a young couple. They turned and looked at each other and when their eyes met I felt something, and this feeling is something that since that moment I see and feel in everyone around me.

This feeling is the warmth, caring and love that we all feel when we look for it and although this feeling is always there, I particularly notice it around Christmas time. This feeling is you Santa, living inside them, the spirit of love, passion, indomitable spirit.

Santa I want to write to you to first thank you, for making this spirit of giving, love, companionship and family live strong in all of us. Secondly, this is a letter of what I want for Christmas and I will start by quoting you from a great speech that is dear to my heart. This speech was given by Nelson Mandela and was written by Marianne Williamson:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Santa, this speech reflects the sentiment that I have found most people feel. I've discovered this in my coaching, consulting and the trainings I do. It's amazing to me how many people have such great gifts to bring, such amazing talents to show and yet they keep it locked up inside their hearts and minds causing them to think small and play small. It takes a lot of strength and energy for people to keep this locked away and it causes them to emotionally self-destruct.

Santa what I'd like for Christmas is for you to help me have the strength, courage and ability to lift people up mentally, spiritually, and emotionally so they do begin to let their light shine.
Please give me the wisdom and the passion that I need to help people realize their true self, their true potential and help them shine the light that is deep within them to experience their life in the way they are supposed to, without mental and emotional pain and suffering.

Help me help others understand that the world they are living in is one of majestic beauty, love, strength, passion, power and opportunity and the only thing that is standing in their way is the fear that comes up when they want to make their light shine!

I know this is going to be a challenge, battling this fear that comes up inside them. Please give me the strength that I need to confront this with them, so that together we can dissolve the power it has over them. So that when they are ready, they can let their light be a beacon of strength, prosperity, growth and contribution. That they may begin to use this light as the driving force that shapes their lives and the lives of people around them.

Santa, please give me the skills, abilities and recourses I need to make 2007 the year of engagement. The year where everyone begins to engage within him or herself the power that has been lying dormant. The year to help everyone become stronger and brighter than they've ever been in their life... Let them realize the power they have inside them, and never be afraid of it and channel it, to make their lives and the lives of other's around them more successful, profitable and fulfilling.

Help me help them understand that people by the thousands are waiting to experience their unique way of looking at things, their unique talents their unique message and when they finally share these gifts their life will become more bright, more amazing, more fulfilling than they ever imagined.

Santa, I know this is a tall order, but your spirit is alive and well, and I know, just as it was true when I was a little boy, that if I believe in you enough, and if I put this intention out there to you with all my heart, that you will grant me everything that I want and ten times more than this...

love Stephan

Now.. who is Stephan talking to?
Is it Santa, is it God, the universe... or is YOU?
You decide...

What's your light that needs to shine in 2007?

Merry Christmas everyone!