Olivia Telford - Hygge: Discovering The Danish Art Of Happiness – How To Live Cozily And Enjoy Life’s Simple Pleasures

Hygge (pronounced HOO-ga) is a Danish and Scandinavian concept that describes a feeling rather than a concept. The boiled-down meaning is coziness, but the broader meaning is actually an approach to living. Hygge embraces the idea of positivity and enjoyment that comes from everyday experiences. It is this ideal that permeates the core concepts and overall attitudes in regards to life and how it is lived within the Nordic region.

Hygge is not simply a noun, but it is also a verb and an adjective. It is a diversified term used to describe a scenario, emotion, and way of life that centers itself on the idea of being cozy. While it is a pretty broad definition, it comes with the ability to tailor the concept to the person implementing it, which is very cozy in and of itself, when you think about it.

Taking it at face value, anything the person determines as cozy and comfortable could be considered hygge. Whether that is soft lighting, a roaring fire, walking around naked in your home, cuddling, or even the repetitive movements of shaving If it is comfortable, it can be defined as hygge.

But, that is simply an adjective, right? Something that is described as comfortable is simply that. The word hygge is also a noun, and it is derivative of the metaphorical interpretation placed on an inanimate object or living person. For instance, if someone walks into an antique shop and finds themselves settling into a calm atmosphere where they feel joyful and at peace, that antique shop is hygge for them. That shop is a physical manifestation of an inner feeling they obtain when stepping through its doors. In that way, hygge is a noun.

But, as stated above, it is also a verb. In the Danish lifestyle, hygge is a way of life. It is what they actively strive for every day in their culture. Just as most Americans strive to pile in all they can before they close their eyes, the Danes strive to make hygge, or comfort, their lifestyle. Whatever that means to them and however that is interpreted internally for them differs from person to person, and it is not only strived for, but it is praised.

Sounds like a dream, doesnt it?

Hygge means different things to different people. Helen Russell, an author and active member within her Denmark community, defines hygge as a total absence or lack of things that might annoy you or cause you to become emotionally overwhelmed. Not only that, but she points out that hygge comes with an incredible and intense focus on prioritizing people in your life whom you love and feel at ease around.

In other words, surrounding yourself with things and people that whisk away your stress and make you feel comfortable.

The reason so many Americans have trouble defining the word hygge is because there is no English equivalent. There is no word other than cozy to denote the feeling, though many people from Denmark and its culture will be quick to tell you that the word severely lacks the essence of living hygge. Their best description of it, with English words, is the enraptured enjoyment of the simple things in life. Remember those commercials where the family was gathered together in front of a fire, sitting around a dinner table packed with their favorite foods, or gathered on the couch enjoying their favorite movie, and the words Enjoy the finer things in life would scroll across the screen?

That is a good foundation to build on when being introduced to the hygge lifestyle.

I know, it is frustrating to define, but some of the best things this world has to offer, lack definition. But, what hygge lacks in verbal definition, it makes up for in physical and emotional experiences that have positive reactions on the body.

Hygge is such an important part of the Danish culture that they have found a way to acclimate it into their lifestyle without even trying. Those 15-minute hot cocoa sessions we give ourselves to wind down our day are a defining feature in their way of life within their culture. The relaxation and stress-free environment it provides is something common for them, like a quick cup of coffee in a leaking Styrofoam cup is common for Americans.

The truth of the matter is that Denmark is consistently topping the Forbes chart for The Worlds 10 Happiest Countries. Year after year they remain steadily within the top three, and many of those years they see the #1 spot. There has to be a reason behind it, and many Danes proclaim it is the way of the hygge lifestyle that permeates all cultures and classes of income, from the poorest to the richest.

The beautiful part of living a hygge lifestyle is the fact that there is no price point necessary to live it. This lifestyle lives within the confines of what an individual sees as satisfying, stress relieving, and happiness inducing. For some, a special scent wafting from the soft lighting of a candle is enough to release the required serotonin to induce what we, as humans, define happiness and relaxation. And, lets face it, many people in this world could use a little more happiness in their lives.

The principle behind the philosophy stems from the idea of doing too much. Simply put, happiness and stress-relieving environments only exist within the small confines of our existence because we are trying to do too much in our days. So, because the issue is self-induced, the cure is also self-induced.

Within the lifestyle of hygge, there are moments that are hyggelig. This simply means that a moment is full of hygge, or calm, emotionally-stable and relaxing moments. For many Danes, asking them to define hygge is like asking an American to define dramatic. The idea and concept is so ingrained in the American culture that it permeates our television shows and even our own lives. If someone asked an American to define dramatic, they would probably furrow their brow, ask why, and then proceed to give some sort of half-answer, such as, Wellits when, you know things are just sort of all over all the time.