Every year, Nordic countries top the list ofthe countries with the world’s happiest people. Apparently, neither the harsh climate conditions nor rare sunny days can bring Scandinavians down. There’s been arecent global trend ofthe Norwegian concept ofhygge, which means living asimple and cozy life surrounded byyour loved ones. But each Nordic nation has its own recipe ofwellness and happiness and they’re worth implementing into our own lives.
WeatBright Side have collected acouple ofcool Scandi words and expressions that define asimple and happy life and wecan’t wait toshare them with our readers!
Sisu: Finnish for inner peace and strength
In2017, The Times put the Finnish concept ofSisu onthe list ofkey trends that come from Scandinavia. This word cannot beaccurately translated into English, but itroughly means the following: “Ifsomething needs tobedone, itwill bedone.” Atany cost. Sisu stands for resilience and courage. Itteaches you how togive upunnecessary words and excessive emotions.
It’s nogood tohurry except when killing fleas.The voiceless isthe wisest ofthe fools.
Toembrace the spirit ofSisu, The Times suggests you say certain words without making any facial expressions. However, the point isnot how exactly totalk, but totalk only about the case. Sisu means nomore meaningless chatter, complaints, and showing off. It’s the philosophy ofSisu that makes the Finns appreciate social equality and it’s exactly why they are socalm, persistent, and self-sufficient.
Lagom: exactly how much aSwedish person needs
Lagom isaspecial skill necessary tolive abalanced life. Literally, this concept can betranslated as“just enough, not too much ortoo little.” Lagom iseverywhere inthe Swedish society, including economics and business management. The real lagom begins when aperson has put everything inorder intheir own life— they keep everything under control and they’re surrounded byfellow citizens who stand bythe same principles. Undoubtedly, this issomething that isvery hard toachieve. But ifyou like the concept oflagom, the best thing istostart with yourself because practical rationality has never hurt anybody.
Lagom-parableOne day, anold cat met akitten who was chasing his own tail and running and jumping around incircles. Heasked the little one what hewas doing.The kitten replied, “Iwas told that mytail ismyhappiness. So, I’m just trying tocatch myhappiness.”The old cat smiled and said, “You know, whenI was young, Iwas told that mytail was myhappiness too. Somany daysI was trying tocatchit... Iwas exhausted, Iwas indespair, soI decided toquit and just move onwith mylife. And suddenlyI noticed something.”“What did you notice?” asked the kitten impatiently.“Idiscovered that mytail was there all along, followingme.”
Tobecome lagom-happy, Toru Ville recommends keeping your income and spending inbalance, tocut down onyour energy and water consumption, toreduce the amount ofgarbage, and toreuse old things instead ofbuying new ones.
Arbejdsglæde: the Danish way tolove your job
The ability toenjoy what you dofor aliving, Arbejdsglæde, isanother concept ofhappiness for the Danes, who have earlier introduced the concept ofhygge tothe world. Every year, market intelligence and employer branding company Universum Global publishes the results ofastudy that measures employees’ satisfaction with their work indifferent countries around the world. Asexpected, Nordic countries always top the list.
“Local municipalities can fund absences ofuptoayear before suggesting reduced working hours and offering job counselling for Danes diagnosed with stress.”
Toget the concept ofarbejdsglæde, you should provide anhonest answer tothe following question— why are you working where you currently are? Find benefits inyour work, try toget along with your colleagues and supervisors, perform your duties asthey’re expected tobedone, and keep working onimproving your skills. Ifall ofthis seems impossible toyou, then it’s time for you tothink about changing your job. After all, according tothe Danes, aperson istruly happy when they are happy togotowork and feel the same about going home inthe evening.
Friluftsliv: loving mother nature the Norwegian way
The philosophy offriluftsliv isall about spending time alone with nature inorder toreturn toone’s true self. And it’s not only about hiking, but the main idea istoset yourself free from the general rush and routine. There isonly you, abackpack behind your shoulders, and mother nature. Work that involves physical activity inthe open air also fits into the friluftsliv concept. Wood chopping, for example. Lars Mitting, the author ofthe Norwegian Wood: Chopping, Stacking and Drying Wood the Scandinavian Way considers wood chopping tobesomething ofaspiritual practice.
“Inthe lonely mountain farm,Myabundant catch Itake.There isahearth, and table,And friluftsliv for mythoughts.”
Here are some pieces ofadvice from native Norwegians: “Don’t take acamera, and don’t post about itonFacebook— just climb ahill ortake awalk and keep the experience for yourself.” “Burn yourTV, fill your pockets with chocolate and ham, and gofor along walk.”
Gezelligheid: enjoying closeness the Dutch way
Although the Netherlands isnot part ofScandinavia, they also have avery nice concept ofhappiness. The Dutch believe that happiness isbasically synonymous with unity with their loved ones. Time spent inthe warm company ofpeople who get you and support you nomatter what iscalled Gezelligheid.
Walking with afriend inthe dark isbetter than walking alone inthe light.Don’t walk behindme; Imay not lead. Don’t walk infront ofme; Imay not follow. Just walk beside meand bemyfriend.
The word Gezel means companion, anold friend. The Dutch also often use the word gezellig which means cozy, pleasant, and friendly. Precious places and things that bring back vivid memories are gesellig too. Memorable long-awaited meetings with friends you have not seen for along time are also gesellig. Bythe way, inNorway, they also have asimilar concept, Koselig, which means apleasant candlelit dinner inthe company ofgood friends.
Kalsarikänni: anew way ofrelaxation from the Finns
Kalsarikännit (orsimply pantsdrunk) isthe Finnish way tospend time athome alone inyour underwear having drinks. Kalsarit isatype ofunderwear, Kännit means drunk. The term has become popular thanks toFinland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs that came upwith the whole country-themed Emoji list. So, the next time you’re invited toanevent you don’t want toattend, just gowith the Finnish way ofrelaxation and say that you’re going toKalsarikännit tonight.
“Inthe Nordic palette ofsurvival strategies, the Finn relies not onlagom, orhygge but onkalsarikänni: the primeval yet surprisingly cosmopolitan concept of‘pantsdrunk.’ Itcan beadapted toevery corner ofthe world, regardless ofcirc*mstance, milieu, ormood.Pantsdrunk doesn’t demand over-the-top arrangements. Affordability and democracy are its hallmarks.Pantsdrunk isthe antithesis ofposing, performing, orpretense: one does not post atmospheric images onInstagram while pantsdrunk.Pantsdrunk isreal.”
The Finns are not alone with their Kalsarikännit— the Dutch also have aterm for this. Niksen isthe ability torelax and donothing without feeling guilty aboutit. Niksen can become areal lifesaver for many who struggle with their multiple tasks atwork and suffer from inevitable stress.
Gluggaveður: Icelandic optimism
Gluggaveður isthe Islandic term todefine that amazing feeling when you sit bythe window with ahot cup ofcoffee ortea and enjoy the weather from indoors but don’t want togooutside toappreciateit. It’s very typical for these Nordic countries because sometimes, people like towear something snuggly and Gluggaveður (orwindow-weather) for awhile.
Ifyou don’t like the weather, just wait 5minutes.Never praise aford till you get over.Tend the oak ifyou want tolive underit.
All you need for Gluggaveður isyour cozy sweater and sweatpants, acup ofyour hot beverage, awindow, and the mood. They say that Gluggaveður can help your mind generate the most brilliant thoughts and ideas. Sowhy not tryit?
Which Nordic concept ofhappiness did you like the best? Would you try introducing any ofthem into your life?
Иллюстратор Natalia Tylosova
for
Bright Side
