February 1st - 28th, 2024
What is the Challenge?
The Real Happiness Challenge is a 28-day exploration of meditation led by expert teacher Sharon Salzberg. Whether you're new to meditation or looking to refresh your practice, don't miss the opportunity to study with one of the world's leading meditation educators. Based on Sharon's New York Times bestselling book, Real Happiness, this month-long program covers a full spectrum of meditation techniques to empower you with a robust tool kit for a happier life. Now in its fourteenth year, the Challenge has fostered an incredible community of practitioners over the past decade–many of whom participate in this offering every year.
Flexible 28-Day Program
This month-long program consists of 28 lessons, organized into 4 week-long themes: Concentration, Mindfulness of the Body, Mindfulness of Thoughts & Emotions, and Lovingkindness. Each lesson includes the following components:
• Teaching of the day (text)
• Guided meditation (pre-recorded audio)
• Meditation tip of the day (text)
• Inspirational artwork (image)
• FAQ of the day (text)
• Transcript of meditation (text)
The lessons range from 7 - 10 minutes in duration, and you are welcome to practice longer if you wish. Lessons are unlocked for you daily and sent via email at 3am (local time) to complete at your convenience each day. You will continue to have full access to the lessons until May 31, 2024
Week One
Concentration Practice
Learn essential concentration techniques by working with the breath and mental noting. Sharon’s masterful approach to engaged awareness includes the art of beginning again.
Week Two
Mindfulness of the Body
Learn the foundations of mindfulness by exploring body-based meditation techniques like walking meditation, body scan meditations, and practices that incorporate daily activities and household tasks.
Week Three
Mindfulness of Emotions
Deepen your mindfulness practice with the rich terrain of emotions and thoughts. Learn practices for working with difficult emotions and building positive emotions for greater resilience.
Week Four
Lovingkindness Practice
Learn core loving-kindness practices that explore how we pay attention and who we pay attention to. Cultivate genuine self-compassion and how to balance that with compassion for others and the larger world.
Sliding Scale Pricing
The Challenge is offered on a sliding scale basis, with a $10 suggested contribution, to keep this offering as accessible as possible. Full scholarships are available for those who cannot contribute financially, and we gratefully accept larger contributions for anyone with the means to support the Challenge in a bigger way. All funds received go directly towards the Challenge operations and support staff.
The Challenge runs from February 1-28, 2024. Registration is now closed.
Meet Your Teacher
Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, New York Times bestselling author of thirteen books and co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts. She is among the first to bring meditation to mainstream American culture nearly 50 years ago, inspiring generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers.