Here’s a thoughtful word to help us increase happiness and reduce stress with balanced living.
Lagom, pronounced ‘lah-gom,’ is a unique Swedish term that roughly translates to “just the right amount” or “not too much, not too little.”
It’s the art of finding a perfect balance in all aspects of life – work, study, socializing, and even relaxation. In tennis, it’d be the sweet spot. It’s similar to hygge, but different.
To my child-like self, it reminds me of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, as she searched for just the RIGHT bowl of oatmeal, chair, bed…
The concept of lagom can be found all around us and can coexist with another theory called the Goldilocks Principle or the Goldilocks Zone. Our planet earth is said to be in the Goldilocks zone, neither too far nor too close to the sun, in a “just right” place that is perfect to support life. A Goldilocks economy is when there’s enough growth to sustain the economy but not too much growth that causes high inflation. In politics there’s the well-known extremes of the left and right and the (all too quiet) center. The Goldliocks principle can be found everywhere. Maimonides speaks of the Goldilocks principle when he advocates for the middle road in most areas of life, a sustainable and healthy balance that doesn’t go too far to either extreme. shabboshouse.org
How do you embrace the principles of lagom?
Featured photo curated from Pinterest.
