Swedish philosophy of lagom: being happy is easy

Is it possible to maintain balance in all areas of life? How realistic is it to live in stability and at the same time not yield to others in terms of living standards? This secret is known to one of the happiest countries in the world - Sweden. And it is hidden in a special Swedish principle of life called lagom.

“Lagom” is translated from Swedish as “in moderation”, “enough”, “optimally”, or “not too little, but not too much”. This approach to life is deeply rooted in the Scandinavians. Therefore, using their example, you can see how reasonableness and moderation help to be truly happy. It turns out that it is simple. Henry David Thoreau, an American writer and philosopher, emphasizes that “the richest man is the one whose pleasures are the cheapest.”

Management theorist Peter Drucker once noted: "You can't manage what you can't measure, but you can achieve what you can measure." This also applies to such an abstract area of our lives - human happiness.

In psychology, the results of the depression and happiness scale are an important topic. The level of these indicators is closely related to each other. An example of this is study, which was conducted over 15 years. It studied the relationship between life satisfaction and depressive symptoms.

It was noted that if a person is not completely satisfied with life for several years, then in the future he is more likely to develop depressive symptoms. And if for several years he had high life satisfaction, then the likelihood of depression in the future was significantly reduced. Yes, if we are unhappy and dissatisfied for several years, then this has a negative effect on the chances of future well-being. And vice versa - the sooner you improve your life satisfaction, the greater the chances of being happy in the future. This is why it is so important to learn to be content with little and spend your whole life in the race for ephemeral happiness.

To determine how satisfied you are with your life, we recommend taking the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire. Then take the Beck's Depression Inventory, which will help to determine the presence of symptoms of depression quite accurately.

Our feelings and thoughts are interconnected with our body. In this study scientists confirmed that it is possible to determine the level of happiness using biomarkers. For example, a correlation was found between blood pressure and happiness. In happy countries, such as Sweden or Denmark, hypertension is much less common.

Also, a number of studies show that if the neurotransmitter serotonin is at a low level, this leads to depression and can even increase suicidal intentions. This is confirmed by John Mann's research. In the course of his work, brain samples of people who committed suicide were analyzed. It was noticed that their brains had much fewer serotonergic receptors compared to the average person.

Lagom refers to the Swedish concept of life. It reflects the desire for moderation. Personal effectiveness and harmony in every area of life are also important. In other words, it is the principle of balance or a reasonable approach. The philosophy does not limit a person's desires and needs, but helps to change them so that little becomes enough. Many associate lagom with the concept of mindfulness, when a person develops the ability listen to yourself and abstract yourself from the information noise.

Here you can take a free mindfulness test.

Do you need to deny yourself everything, following the lagom philosophy? Not at all. After all, the Swedes themselves enjoy drinking delicious coffee with sweets. The only question is how much and what you need for enjoyment.

Swedish lagom is a search for the golden mean. Here are the key values of this philosophy:

• minimalism and simplicity - the ability to make simple decisions that do not complicate life. The simpler, the better;
• harmony - maintaining balance in everything;
• honesty - according to the principle “better a bitter truth than a sweet lie”;
• practicality - giving up everything unnecessary;
• usefulness - giving up harmful products and harmful actions;
• environmental responsibility - caring for nature;
• social responsibility - the desire to make the lives of others better, caring for the people around you.

Such principles are the basis of life for many Swedes. They apply them in work, leisure, sports, relationships and in many other areas of life.

Harmony with your inner self

Prudence, honesty and reasonableness are the principles underlying the philosophy of lagom. This approach allows you to hear your inner voice and be in harmony with it. Internal dialogue helps maintain mental health and interest in life.

The mental aspect involves conscious distribution of energy and time. This allows you to avoid emotional burnout. Regular rest, time to recuperate and, most importantly, self-acceptance. This is a guarantee of sustainable internal comfort. Do not rush, but enjoy the moment, get pleasure from what you have done. There are many distractions in our lives. But their number can be minimized and stop at “here and now”. This is the only way to feel calm, satisfied and happy. Awareness of your own true needs and focus on worthwhile things is the path to success.

Honesty with yourself and others is important in lagom. That is why Swedish culture is famous for its openness and sincerity. It is impossible to be truly happy by deceiving, intriguing and stepping on others in a thirst for profit. At the same time, the Swedes know how to say no. The philosophy of lagom teaches you to understand your own boundaries and not allow others to bring discomfort into your life.

Reasonableness is another aspect of the philosophy of lagom. Balanced decisions that do not harm either yourself or others. This is an awareness of the amount of truly necessary resources: food, rest or physical activity. And if you avoid excesses, this will contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

As for physical health, physical activity should be moderate - it strengthens, but does not exhaust the body. Often we strive for unattainable standards and do not appreciate those activities that really bring pleasure. The philosophy of lagom is not about workout at the edge of possibilities, but about measured hiking.

Attitude to material things

In lagom, high-quality, useful and practical things are valued. Therefore, the Swedes are interested in furniture made of natural materials, clothes made of natural fabrics, natural cosmetics. Their things last a long time. It is not important for them to chase fashion.

The philosophy of lagom is not compatible with luxury. It is not customary to demonstrate material or social status with expensive cars, clothes or jewelry. In Sweden, you can meet a modestly dressed millionaire using public transport. In lagom, actions and relationships are important. This is how the true value of a person is demonstrated.

Harmony with nature

In lagom, environmental responsibility is an integral principle. Every person is obliged to take care of the environment.

For example, the Swedes carefully dispose of waste, sort garbage, recycle paper, etc. They minimize the consumption of water resources and energy. The Swedes are constantly trying to give things a “second chance”. They recycle and reuse them.

For example, the Swedish company H&M, which sells clothes, accepts old things in stores to reuse them in production.

Harmony in relationships with other people

Here are the principles of harmony in relationships:

• Communication style - you don’t need to speak too loudly, you need to pause, don’t interrupt the interlocutor. The personal opinion of the other person is really important. You shouldn’t judge others, you need to give them the opportunity to speak out and, if possible, help.
• Honesty - in accordance with the lag, it is important to always tell the truth. But at the same time, they may simply not say anything negative to you.
• Punctuality - Swedes are not late, considering being late a personal insult.
• Restrained behavior in public places. Swedes are not used to talking to strangers on the street. At the same time, they are open to those they have known for a long time.
• Good deeds - caring for the sick, helping neighbors, volunteering, etc.

Balance between work and life

According to the principles of lagom, there should be clear boundaries between personal life and work. Work stays at work.

How familiar we are with the following situation. The working day is over. But work is not at all. Our phone is ringing off the hook with calls with “important information”, the work chat is boiling. Colleagues need help. If the problem is not solved, then it is not far to dismissal.

For those who live by the philosophy of lagom, everything happens differently. After a working day, a person has the right to have a good rest. Neither the management nor the colleagues have the right to interfere with him in this.

Swedish Anarchism and the Lagom Philosophy

The philosophy of Lagom is closely intertwined with Swedish anarchism. The fact is that historically individualism has played a large role in Sweden, so local government still prevails over the decisions of the central government. The Swedes are used to making decisions with the help of collective self-government and delegating them “upwards”. Conventionally speaking, a representative of the house self-government simply voices the decision of the residents in the district council. We are used to the fact that representatives (deputies) make decisions themselves, and everyone else must implement them. This important difference in the social structure allows each person in Sweden to feel responsible for their vote and really have an influence on the use of resources.

Since many Swedes profess a philosophy of a moderate lifestyle, this is reflected in their decisions on socially important issues. Thus, individual philosophy is reflected in the policy of the entire country.

Design, minimalism and lagom

The lagom philosophy brought convenience, practicality and minimalism to Swedish design. This is evident in the use of simple shapes, clean lines and a restrained palette. Swedes choose furniture and decor that are most functional, without unnecessary details. The main thing is that the item serves a purpose and is comfortable.

According to lagom, you need to use environmentally friendly and durable materials. Such as linen, wood, wool, cotton. This creates a feeling of coziness and warmth in the house.

In Scandinavian design, you can see that as few things as possible are used in the house. This means that there will be no clutter, and you will be able to focus on important thoughts.

Interestingly, the lagom philosophy has become popular in the world design culture. More and more often, you can see light rooms with a minimum of things and decor in interiors. Scandinavian minimalism has become synonymous with good taste. And the use of environmentally friendly things has become especially popular among nature lovers.

People all over the world are inspired by the lagom philosophy and change their designs in accordance with it. This brings harmony and comfort to their lives.

As Leonardo da Vinci said: "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication".

The desire to have as much as possible has become the cornerstone of the "Western" way of life. The "successful success" of the son of my mother's friend has penetrated our lives so much that we build our entire existence around achieving material goals. And, often, this has nothing to do with your real needs. Many people think that expensive things will bring them satisfaction in life. But in fact, this approach only hinders happiness. Only by understanding your needs and learning to be content with little can you become truly happy.

To let lagom into your life, it is important to get rid of the unnecessary. From what prevents us from being free. This includes information noise and imposed consumerism. Learn to live within your means, because fewer loans and debts mean more freedom and less stress. Allow yourself to relax and spend more time in nature.

You don’t need to feel guilty of other people’s actions. In communication, it’s worth learning the “art of restrained frankness.” Talk less about your successes and don’t lay “all the cards” of your achievements on the table. It’s important to learn to listen more and talk less.

“He who is content is rich,” said Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher and writer. And the philosophy of lagom helps you be content.

If you are interested in the philosophy of lagom and want to learn more about it, then we recommend Niki Brantmark’s amazing book "Lagom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living"