Lagom

By Peter Sorengër

Much is heard about the happiness of the Scandinavian peoples, and recently the term "LAGOM", which means "balance between the scarce and the abundant", has become popular.

Well, these Nordic societies have found the magic recipe for harmony, progress, and well-being, both individually and collectively, applying it to every order of their lives; so it is not surprising that they always appear at the top of the happiest countries.

And although they have practiced this philosophy for hundreds of years, it is possible to adopt some of its principles from a distance to achieve that emotional and social balance. Could it be that LAGON is the way we must follow to overcome the energy crisis, the destruction of the environment, and emerge unscathed from today's fierce world?

This book talks about the Danish style of "hygge" and its contributions, and compares it with the Swedish "LAGOM", to unravel the mystery of happiness, the culture of serenity and procrastination, teaching how to meet emotional needs and practices with intelligence, without excesses, with everything in its proper measure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ediciones Afrodita
• Release date: Apr 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215992418

Book preview

LAGOM

The Scandinavian secret

to find balance in life

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Peter Sorengër

Ediciones Afrodita

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Temary:

Introduction

Chap. 1 The paradigm shift, from HYGGE to LAGOM

Chap. 2 LAGOM in the centennial era

Chap. 3 Individual and collective development

Chap.4 The concept of happiness LAGOM

Chap. 5 Combating stress through the LAGOM philosophy

Introduction

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If you travel to Sweden, you will have an extraordinary experience. You will not only find history and landscapes, worthy of a fantastic vacation, but you will also discover its inhabitants, who are marking a lifestyle that advances through the world like wildfire.

Swedes are relaxed people, they move slowly and they look happy; as if they were in full control of time. This state of plenitude is manifested in all spheres of the life of this nation, determined to carry it out, from its daily activities to the way of governing, through fashion, food, and health. Literally, everything is steeped in the LAGOM principle not much, not little, just enough. Things like exercise, nutrition, mental and physical health, and a generally healthy lifestyle are recommended not only in moderation but also in their ideal amounts. Swedes have always adhered to this idea, seeing it as the closest path to a stable, healthy, happy, and balanced life in the long term. While LAGOM is a purely Swedish philosophy that should not be confused and compared to a passing trend or phase, many of its ideas can be applied to everything, regardless of country of residence.

Initially, the LAG was a purely Scandinavian concept, but recently this philosophy has spread outside of Sweden and has become fashionable. LAGOM's new international concept is a scheme that cuts through every corner of a person's life and has nothing to do with savings and limitations.

There is no literal translation for the word LAGOM. Most likely it is: exactly correct. The term LAGOM is said to have been coined by the Vikings, robust men from northern Europe who used to sit around a campfire in good company (in a circle - in Swedish laget om) and let a horn sound and then use it to drink. Each Viking in the group took a sip, not too much, not too little, but enough for everyone. The idea of the Scandinavian lifestyle LAGOM was born.

To pronounce this word you have to know something of the Swedish language. In Swedish, there is a sound that is between the a and the o: it is he who is emphasized in the word lág. It is a long sound (la-a-ogom), where the a sounds like an o.

LAGOM is not just a useful word in your language; This concept largely explains the behavior of Swedes. LAGOM can be applied to anything: ice cream servings or the size of the house, the sharpness of the sauce, and many more. At the same time, LAGOM means not only quantity but also quality. All you need is a philosophy of moderation based on a sense of balance and concern for others. LAGOM stands for as much as necessary, an imprecise but appropriate amount. For example, at the table, they ask: how much sauce do you need? And you say, Mehhh, LAGOM tack. And they give you everything you need. Swedes know what happiness is, largely because of the ability to strike a balance between too little and too much.

Balance is essential in the lives of these people, and in Sweden, everything is based on LAGOM principles. Children absorb this philosophy early on, which creates a feeling of wealth. Everything is enough for you, and you don't feel lacking in anything.

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Changes and criticism

For Swedes who were born after the Swedish group Ace of Base became popular, that is, after 1992, the concept of LAGOM has a completely different meaning than the previous generation; And all this is due to the fact that societies change, and that the biggest break occurred in the computer age, where young people no longer need their parents so much to inform themselves, the computer came to replace them.

Critics of LAGOM often say that this word means leveling, but not excellence, since it gets down the throat of anyone who wants to take a step to the left or right, to be different, to perform those crazy feats That makes life become different and that societies do not stagnate and advance.

Many really feel the pressure of equalization in all spheres of life. Does this mean that the LAGOM is outdated and its place in another era and in another Sweden, where the population was more homogeneous and the people more closed? Maybe. But in the age of globalization, human behavior is also changing; and if there is no healthy guide to lead it, the future becomes imprecise. LAGOM is an old concept, but not a dogma, so it can mutate and adapt, and in fact, it is doing it with great success in other countries, where it finds people dissatisfied with its reality; and