Niksen, Ikigai and Hygge – no, these aren’t the names of the three tiny bones making up the inner ear, and no, they aren’t the names of three fire-breathing dragons in Lord of the Rings.
They are touted as three of the most “captivating” ideas and trends in human well-being these days. I had personally bumped into the concept of “ikigai” (pronounced ‘eeckie guy’) a while back, but it was yesterday that I was hanging around in the library (it’s okay, I was actually looking for books) and noticed a title on display: “Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing” which of course interested me greatly because I really like doing nothing, especially when I’m supposed to be doing something else I don’t want to do.
So I did some delving into “niksen” (pronounced ‘Nixon’, but not the Richard one) when I got home and that deeper delve led me to “hygge” (pronounced ‘hoo-ga’) which is not Dutch like niksen and not Japanese like ikigai, but Danish like the pastry.
If you’re now confused as I usually am, maybe I should try to explain.
Firstly, “ikigai”. The best way to explain the concept of ikigai is that it’s “what gets you up in the morning” (and I don’t mean because you have to pee). It’s like the French idea of “raison d’etre” (just in case three different languages so far aren’t enough). It could be your awesome work, your terrific family, a wonderful hobby – your "life’s purpose".
It’s what you really want to do, and what you are good at. A friend from back in the band days, Tim Tamashiro, a Red Deer College music grad, Calgary big band singer and former radio host, now does TED talks on ikigai and he says the world would be a better place and a happier place if we all found our ikigai in life and shared it with others.
Secondly, “niksen”. The new book I stumbled on (and then picked up, haha) at the library is by Olga Mecking and it’s reviewed as “the Dutch solution to busyness that captivated the world”!
I’m not sure what world it has ‘captivated’ but the goal is to take more time “doing nothing”. Not merely sitting and staring at the wall apparently, but, for example, going for a walk in nature and just “letting your mind wander”. She says it’s not that oh-so-trendy concept of “mindfulness” that you hear about every time you turn around, it’s more just enjoying your own company without trying to achieve anything. (Personally, I’ve often said I’d enjoy my own company a lot more if I was someone else.)
Thirdly, “hygge”. The English-from-Danish translation is “cosiness”, but aficionados say hygge is more of a total attitude toward life. And the Danes say it helps make Denmark one of the “world’s happiest countries” (also it helps that Denmark doesn’t have a whack job petulant narcissist “leader” next door.) A good example of hygge? “Sitting by a fire on a cold night wearing a thick soft sweater while drinking mulled wine and stroking a dog and surrounded by candles.” Having a nice meal with family and friends, reading a good book, a bubble bath – I mean, what’s not to like? But again, it’s not just a casual “let’s have a mug of hot chocolate get all hygge” kind of thing, it’s actually part of Danish culture. They even have a Hygge Program in their jails!
So if you can find a purpose in life, enjoy your own company, and take time to embrace the quiet, simple moments you just may have achieved ikigainiksenhygge! I like to call it “being Canadian”.
Harley Hay is a Red Deer author and filmmaker. Reach out to Harley with any thoughts or ideas at harleyhay99@gmail.com.
