My guess is you have never heard of hygge before. You have experienced it though. And you likely want more of it in your life.
Hygge is a Danish word that is admittedly hard to define.
Wikipedia describes it as "...a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and contentment."
Dictionary.com suggests it is "the feeling of coziness and contentment evoked by simple comforts, as being wrapped in a blanket, having conversations with friends or family, enjoying food, etc."
I recently read The Little Book of Hygge - The Danish way to Live Well by Meik Wiking. The book explains that, in Denmark, hygge does not happen occasionally nor by accident, it is a priority for people to make this part of their lives and to do so very intentionally. It should not surprise you to hear that Denmark is almost always ranked as the happiest country in the world.
In fact, Meik Wiking is also the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen. He is one of the leading experts in global happiness. He has made it his life ambition to understand what makes people happy and to share that in the pursuit of a happier world.
Little things like ensuring there are candles in your home as well as comfortable throw blankets may seem trivial to someone in Canada or the US but it is a vital component to the happy household in Denmark. Nooks in your home where you can go to enjoy a good book with a cup of your favourite tea are also important. The nook is likely to have a unobstructed view to outside and near a fire. All of which adds to the feeling of hygge.
I feel we occasionally experience hygge here in Canada. Perhaps when we are on vacation, when we have intentionally unplugged from our work or home stress. Maybe when we go for a massage or attend a yoga class. I do not feel hygge is something we try to create with intent nor do we seek it out as part of our normal lives. I feel we should.
Too often our time at work or our time at home is taken up by things that are not well thought out. They do not add to our joy or our contentment. We have not thought about our time and the valuable commodity it is. And, if we do take the time to recognize that this time is not furthering our life in a meaningful way, we feel powerless to change it.
However, if not you then who. And if not now then when. For starters, I suggest reading the book. It is an easy read and will get you int he mood to seek out more hygge. There are a series of very small things you can do that can start having an appreciable impact in your life. Maybe devote one half hour a day to your hygge spot in your home. For me, as I have shared in the past, I add the tool of mindful meditation to the mix. Also, it is very hygge to share this journey toward a more hygge life with others. For my family and friends we are often playing board games.
I am trying to integrate hygge into a new stream of my business. I will share my progress with you along the way. Please do share yours. I am looking to more actively pursue a relationship with those who visit the website. In fact I hope it is what separates me from other similar consulting companies out there. I genuinely want to have a lasting relationship with you and see you succeed.
On that note - do sign up to receive the blogs. I love writing them but love even more when I know folks are reading them and maybe getting some value from them.
Namaste my friends. Enjoy learning more about hygge.
Kelly