In this weeks episode, we will explore three very cool concepts from different parts of the world. The ideas of Hygge, Lagom and Ubuntu will be explored and discussed so that you can learn about these terrific ideas and how to apply them to your life.
HYGGE:
Pronunciation: “hoo-gah” is a general sense of well-being and calm, coziness and warmth.
Hygge philosophy is all about savoring cozy moments and drawing pleasure from the simple things in life. Denmark is one of the top countries for happiness.
Hygge is “a form of everyday togetherness”, “a pleasant and highly valued everyday experience of safety, equality, personal wholeness and a spontaneous social flow”.
LAGOM is a Swedish word meaning “just the right amount”. Pronunciation: “law-gom” is all about letting go of a self-indulgent, consumerist lifestyle and finding balance.
Lagom carries the connotation of appropriateness, although not necessarily perfection. In a single word, lagom is said to describe the basis of the Swedish national psyche, one of consensus and equality. Sweden, also one of the happiest nations in the world, is known for having high standards of living.
In the workplace, lagom is a way of making “optimal” decisions when faced with a new challenge or task. It’s all about reaching that happy medium.
UBUNTU
Pronunciation: “oo-boon-too” meaning “humanity.” It is often translated as “I am because we are,” or “humanity towards others.
Ubuntu is the “belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity”. The concept has its roots in humanist African philosophy.
President Nelson Mandela summed it up well;
Ubuntu does not mean that people should not enrich themselves. The question therefore is: Are you going to do so in order to enable the community around you to be able to improve?” Mandela said.
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