Hygge

So What Is Hygge?

On the surface hygge is a confusing Danish word that does not sound the way it looks. To be honest my first encounter with the word was in written form and I pronounced it  ‘Hig-gee’ I am so grateful that I never once said the word out loud to anyone who knew better, because it would have certainly made for a not so very hygge experience. As versed as I may now be in the practice, I still find that I am tentative whenever I have to voice the word. I am never quite sure that I am pronouncing it correctly. It is pronounced ‘hoo-gah’ no not ‘hig-gee’ and not ‘high-gee’. Unfortunately I tried both. Those were not classy moments, I will tell you that much! This is where one would insert that hand on face emoji. Hygge is one of those words that can be used as a noun, adjective or verb. An evening with friends could be hygge. You can make your home hyggelig and you can have a onesie that is hyggesokker. Hygge is happiness wrapped up in comfort.

There is no one word in the English language that describes hygge. But the words ‘well being’ and coziness are used a lot when it comes to describing the concept of hygge in English. Imagine a cold autumn/winter night, you are dressed in your favorite onesie and wrapped snugly in a blanket as you sit on the most comfortable sofa next to a fireplace. You are surrounded by candles flickering. The low lights of the fireplace and the candles cast shadows on the wall and colors the room with those reddish, yellow-orange tones of the golden hour just before sunset. You are having the most delicious slice of cake and a hot drink in an extra large mug rest neatly in your hands, touching every surface area of your palms. The heat from the cup is perfect -just the right amount of heat.  The warmth from the cup makes its way through to your entire body. When you place your feet on the floor that fluffy deep rug, the one that snuggles your toes, is right there to greet your feet. You are sitting with your most favorite people and one of them is snuggled right next to you on the large sofa feet up tucked tightly under the blanket. All worries, stresses and any manner of negativity have been left at the door. You’ve already watched The Songs of Music and now you are reminiscing about fun times. Laughter punctuates each sentence. There are hushed comfortable silences where no one feels the need to fill the air with sound. You can hear the crackling of the fire and smell the burning wood. This is your tribe and this is where your heart belongs. You could stay here forever.

This is the essence of Hygge. I think of it as the state of being contained by all things good. Of being wrapped in the warmth of love, peace, contentment, and gratitude. It encompasses the quest for abundance in simplicity. Hygge is like your favorite warm drink on a cold winter’s night. It is the practice of hospitality, the embracing of meaningful conversation and comfortable silence. It is about being together with your tribe. It is about choosing to be alone to enjoy the presence of ones self. Hygge is about ridding your mind and physical presence of all things negative and filling that space with things that gently soothe and nurture the soul. Hygge in many ways is an escape from the relentlessly overwhelming and stressful nature of modern life.

Hygge is sincere, it is not a construct. It cannot be forced, but it can certainly be assisted. Much like a rose bud cannot be forced open but can be watered to assist the process of blossoming. One must choose hygge by encouraging an atmosphere where it can grow.  Hygge happens in a place of trust. To find hygge you must let go and let it in. A ridged sense of mistrust will not lead you to hygge. You must relax into it.  Hygge is containing and secure. It sparks joy in those who find it and like most meaningful experiences; its benefits will last far beyond its moment.

Although it is claimed as the antidote for a bleak autumn and winter season, hygge can be experienced at any time of year and in any climate. Remember that Hygge is about ridding your mind and physical presence of all things negative and filling that space with things that gently soothe and nurture the soul. Sitting peacefully on a quiet beach as the sun kisses your skin is hygge, hanging in a hammock under the cool shade of a tree reading your favorite book or just being, a picnic in the park with loved ones, a quiet walk at the golden hour of the day just as the sky is turning orange. All of these are hygge.

Why Hygge?

Meik Wiking from the Happiness Institute, based in Denmark, believes that the people of Denmark are the happiest in the world because of the practice of hygge. Hygge is pretty much a Danish cultural norm. But why? Why does hygge make the Danes so happy? Why does it make anyone happy for that matter?

I think it’s fair to say, most of us would agree that our modern society has become so fast paced and relentless, that we sometimes barely notice that we are living.  It seems that sadly, our lives are often merely an existence.   If I asked you what last month was like, would you be able to tell me? How many pleasant memorable moments would you recall?  It’s easy to be so consumed with life that you miss out on chunks of it and your memory of certain periods just end up being a blur. Hygge slows us down and helps us smell the proverbial roses.  Giving us an opportunity to truly notice the beauty that surrounds us.

The benefits of hygge are numerous but for the purpose of this blog post we will touch on only a few.

• Hygge promotes exercise. As cozy and comfy as hygge sounds it isn’t just about lounging on your sofa with some cake and a cup of hot cocoa. Hygge encourages being active. It encourages exercise as a way to rid your mind and physical presence of anything negative and fill it with things that gently soothe and nurture the soul. Which you will see later when we touch on forest bathing – a practice which nurtures in a holistic way.
• Escapism Hygge serves as a form of escapism as it encourages you to put aside your stressful circumstances for a moment. It is not however avoidance, as there is no true hygge if you won’t actively aim to attend to life’s difficulties.
• Hygge reduces stress – Activities which are hygge help eliminate stress and also help encourage the physical and mental constitution to handle stress in a more positive way.
• It helps you put things into perspective – The principles which support hygge help us understand the necessity of a good work life balance. Having hygge as a core part of your value system will mean that you understand the value of hard work but also set boundaries that will allow you to know when it’s time to stop and prioritize quality time with loved ones and yourself. The Danes have a shorter working week than all of Europe. Yet they are one of the most thriving European countries. Hygge also encourages intuition and being assertive.

Excerpts from the book THE ULTIMATE 66 DAY CHALLENGE Finding Hygge The Danish Way to Happiness  By River Marley