Real Life

The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom

By: Sharon Salzberg

Narrated by: Sharon Salzberg

This program is read by the author.

Merging the insights of inspiring voices with her own understanding of mindfulness, New York Times bestselling author Sharon Salzberg shows us how we can recover from the emotional effects of crisis.

When confronted with pain and obstacles, we often shrink back and contract out of fear and disappointment. That can become a way of life.

In Real Life, Sharon Salzberg lets us know it doesn’t have to be that way.

When we feel alone, cut off, or trapped, we can let those difficulties steer us onto a path toward an authentic, flourishing life—living in a way that allows us to find the wholeness that lies within. Even when we’re alone, a sense of community can accompany us through the stormy times. Our words, hearts, and actions can line up with a larger vision, rather than the smaller views our anxious, fearful thoughts arouse in us.

To live in a less constricted way—with a more spacious, open sense of possibility, creativity, connection, and joy—Salzberg says we need to get real about what’s most important, to ask ourselves, “What do I most deeply yearn for?” “What would I benefit from letting go of?” “What do I believe is possible for me?”

We accomplish the journey to expansive freedom (Real Life) through developing tools like mindful awareness, friendship, and a greater sense of purpose/aspiration. We learn to:
• take some risks with what we dare to imagine
• take an interest in internal states we might normally try to avoid
• take an interest in people we might normally try to avoid

Real Life is about the journey we make when we decide to live the life that speaks to our innermost longing to live free.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

Sharon is hugely educated on Budisim and love :) great work

Moves fast at times though some big ideas a second listening is in order for me,then a few more spin off books of teachers she refers to.

Sharon’s clarity of intention with this book

The purpose and meaning and thoughtful construction of her words and thoughts is magnificent. I can not wait to listen again. It is a life companion like she is to so so many of us.

understanding loving happiness and compassion and giving to myself

I would have liked to have more space between the meditation so I can actually do each meditation in the appendix. otherwise they're really enjoyed the entire book looking forward to reading others from the author

Heartfelt book with practical applications

I read Real Life soon after finishing her earlier book, Faith, which I also found excellent.
Sharon Salzberg has a knack for distilling big concepts into their salient components while preserving the true essence of the ideas she presents. To do this she uses metaphors and analogies which are often humorous and poignant. I am not a follower of any particular religion or faith practice, I found her appendix in meditation very helpful (especially in the audiobook- she guides you.) This book supports the reader in “coming as they are” and just being curious about what it means to live as a wholehearted human.

Grounding

In a world where wisdom seems scarce, this book is chock full of it. So many good quotes, humor, and radical acceptance of what is, rather than what I wish it was. Listening to it read by the author is priceless. Thank you -