Ditch the commandments. Join the party

“Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and dance.” ― Oprah Winfrey

According to Beto Perez, the creator of Zumba, more than 15 million people in more than 180 countries Zumba every week.

Why?

Because it’s easy (“I wanted it to be something my mother could do,” Beto says) and it’s fun (Fun equals lasting behavioral change, he also says).

In fact, the ultimate goal of any Zumba class is to feel the FEJ.

It stands for freeing, electrifying joy. And that’s what happens when you dance uninhibited to hip-hop, samba, salsa, merengue and mambo.

You may be wondering what Zumba has to do with ACIM Lesson 35: My mind is part of God’s. I am very holy.

Zumba went from obscure dance class in Cali, Colombia to worldwide phenomena for one simple reason. A marketing genius transformed it from have-to (I’ve got to go exercise) into I-cannot-WAIT-to.

Unlike Zumba, God and being holy has a major PR problem. It’s the last place most people would turn to find freeing and electrifying joy. Church, crucifixes, penance. I mean, who needs it?

Even worse, as someone once said, “I have nothing against God. It’s his fan club to which I take exception.”

So I propose a new way of looking at God. Not only have I changed the name (The Dude. The Field of Infinite Potentiality. The Divine Buzz are just a few I’ve been known to use), but I tell anybody who will listen that the real God (not the God invented by man, fabricated for the sake of control) is the coolest, the most fun, the most direct path to FEJ I’ve ever found.

Or as Beto Perez says,

“Magic happens when your inhibitions (or old school beliefs ) go out the window.”

“If you happen to get lost, just shake your booty.”

Pam Grout is the author of 19 books including E-Squared, E-Cubed, Thank & Grow Rich and her new book, Art & Soul,Reloaded: A Year-Long Apprenticeship to Summon the Muses and Ignite Your Daring, Audacious, Creative Side.