How much hygge are you feeling in your life right now? Hygge is a Danish concept that captures the internal experience of contentment or well-being. Often, it’s used in tandem with warm images of glowing candles, chunky knit blankets, soft wool socks, and other conventional ideas of coziness and warmth. While it’s a trendy word that’s being used to market a whole slew of products, the truth is that we can all experience hygge at any moment. I will venture to say that when you pause and go deep into your own experience, into the reality of what you're feeling right now, you'll feel better. There's a contentment and a natural well-being that occurs when we stop denying our internal reality. If we can stay with our internal core experience, our anxiety and shame will predictably and dramatically drop. We will feel calmer, more connected and clearer. This is what so much of mindfulness and meditation is about.
All of that being said, sometimes it feels way too overwhelming to be with what we’re feeling in the present moment, which is why it’s so important to undo the aspect of aloneness in that experience — feelings are much more tolerable when we can sit with them in the presence of a trusted other, whether that person is a close friend, family member or trained therapist. Someone who is capable of remaining calm, compassionate, connected and wise may be able to help you experience more hygge in your life. Hygge is accessible right within you, and, if lighting candles, curling up under chunky knit blankets and drinking hot tea brings you big comfort, then I wholeheartedly encourage you to care for yourself in those ways.
