In his book Soul Shaping, Jeff Brown uses the term “enrealment” to describe how divine and fully human we all are. Practicing enrealment means being real, being genuine, and being authentic to the best of our ability, no matter what we may be doing. Enrealment is being aware of our humanness and embracing it. Enrealment is truly a spiritual, moment-to-moment practice.
Embracing our humanness means that we nourish ourselves on every level: mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. This is all too easy to forget when we’re distracted by the demands and stresses of our daily lives. But when we don’t pay attention to our human needs, we get out of touch with our authentic selves. And then we feel miserable (not to mention resentful, angry, and unappreciated).
Nourishing yourself requires listening to your own truth. The exact same actions that feed one person may deplete another. It also requires letting go of the “should be’s” or “should dos” and instead, responding to what you are. Nourishing yourself means doing things that make your heart sing.
Nourishment also requires us to be open to receiving. Enrealment reminds us how vitally important it is to give to yourself. This spiritual process brings you back into alignment with your authentic self. Now we’re talking true inner peace and contentment.
Does all this enrealment sound a little too selfish for how you choose to live your life?
Many people have stories that claim receiving is selfish and that giving is nobler. The question these stories never seem to address is, “How can I possibly help other people if I don’t take care of myself first?” When I give, give, give until it hurts, I’m not doing anyone any favors — especially myself. And then my world becomes a dreadful, disconnected and ugly place.
Perhaps you have experienced how receiving can make you feel vulnerable, since you have no control over what another may give you. Giving can feel much safer (even superior) since you get to control what you are giving. But giving without receiving causes an imbalance. This is because giving and receiving are part of the same cycle. When the cycle is in balance you experience much more love and gratitude than when the cycle is out of balance. Balance feels better too. Are you open to the practice of getting real?
