He was born in a one-room shack, lived in a brothel when 4 years old, was kicked out of school for “insufficient clothing,” and spent time in prison.

James Brown led a poor and troubled early life.

But the world famous entertainer was determined to be a somebody. He would do it with soul. The Godfather of Soul now reveals his secrets so that we too may benefit from soul power.

“The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing.”

Take time to dance today. Don’t be embarrassed. It’s your right to feel good. Brown loved to dance, believing it was the cure to all of his problems – if only for a brief time. No reason to dance? There is at least one very big reason – you are alive.

“Sometimes you struggle so hard to feed your family one way, you forget to feed them the other way, with spiritual nourishment. Everybody needs that.”

In our hectic lives, these words from James Brown are worth heeding. For years, I traveled on business, away from family, believing I was doing the right thing – to bring in a paycheck. But those close to us would rather get by with less, if they could spend more of something else – time with us. Family is about being there for our loved ones, in body, mind and spirit.

“I want to say to you, help yourself, so you can help someone else.”

Friends tell me that I spend all my time thinking about my business, giving too little attention to my own health. Many of us do the same, worrying about money and job security. But as we neglect ourselves, we become less helpful to others. If you won’t focus on your health and well-being for yourself – do it for your daughter. Your son. Your spouse. They deserve nothing less.

James Brown had limitless energy.

He would perform six nights a week. In his spare time, he learned all of the latest dance crazes. But Brown would often leave center stage so one of his dancers or instrumentalists could have the limelight.

Brown also fought for social causes and preached non-violence. The day after Martin Luther King was shot, Brown hastily organized a concert so that rioters would stay at home and watch him on TV.

That was the kind of soul James Brown was.

Live with soul. Good God.

Now it’s time to turn up the volume and dance. The audience of this 1970s James Brown performance was in awe of Brown’s flashy exuberance, stuck in their seats. But you can “Get up offa that thing!”

Sadly, in his later years, James Brown became addicted to drugs and was depressed. Twice, he was arrested after waving around a gun in public. But Brown kept on performing up to a year before he died in 2006 at age 73.

© 2016 Cory Robert Galbraith, All Rights Reserved.