The Hyggelig Journey

Hygge is a Danish concept that describes the feeling of comfort, cosiness, and well-being found in simple, pleasurable moments. In Brazil, it can be felt in the gentle sway of a hammock on a veranda, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, the warm breeze flowing through an open window, or the lush greenery of tropical plants. More than just a lifestyle, hygge is a state of mind that fosters relaxation and emotional balance. I first encountered hygge twenty years ago when one of my best friends, Kasper Nymand , introduced me to the concept. Since then, I have understood how deeply it aligns with the principles of Chinese Medicine, particularly in relation to the balance of Shen (mind), the most subtle manifestation of Qi (vital energy). When Qi becomes scattered or stagnant due to stress, symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, and mental fatigue emerge. Creating a welcoming environment and embracing moments of pleasure and rest are essential to restoring this balance and st...

There are certain afflictions in the human spirit that creep in like damp seeping into the walls of an old house, slowly eroding its structure until, one day, it collapses without warning upon its own foundations. Resentment is one such affliction. It feeds on bitterness, thrives in the shadows of unease, and burrows so deeply into the soul that no doctor or apothecary can prescribe an effective remedy. Science, ever diligent in its quest to unravel the body's mysteries, has already shown that rancour is no harmless thing. It seeps into the blood, quickens the pulse, devours sleep, and weighs upon the chest like lead concealed in a traveller’s pocket. Forgiveness, on the other hand, dissolves that burden, soothes the restless tides within, and restores to the face the serenity long lost. But let it be said plainly: to forgive is no careless gesture, nor a favour bestowed upon the offender. To forgive is to unshackle oneself, to sever the chains that bind us to a past ...

In the dim light of the clinic, there is a moment when silence weighs like an ancient secret. The needle touches the skin, and the body responds before the mind can catch up — knowing, somehow, what thought has yet to grasp. Pain, anguish, insomnia — the invisible knots of existence — woven not only into the meridians but also into words left unsaid. And then, a conversation begins. Not the kind that drifts between habit and haste, lost in the noise of routine. But a finer listening, a thread of thought unspooling precisely where the body seeks relief. Acupuncture opens doors the mind has closed without noticing. Therapy steps in quietly, tidying the chaos, like sweeping dry leaves without a sound. Because touching the body is not enough if the mind remains trapped in the dim corridors of fear. Pain is not only what happens to us, but what we do with what happens to us. Thoughts stitch themselves into feeling, tightening the knot in the chest, keeping pain captive. And h...

Change stretches us, tugs at the edges of who we are, unsettling the comfort of the known. It urges us to step beyond the familiar and into the uncertain — a quiet disturbance, a necessary tremor. When you long for change, a touch of order makes all the difference. Begin with clarity: what is it you truly seek? And why? The reasons must be sharp, like light slicing through mist. Then, define your place within it. What lies within your reach, and what does not? There is wisdom in recognising the limits of control — expectations lose their weight when set upon unsteady ground. And finally, ask yourself: for whom do you wish to change? Some move to escape inertia, others to embrace something newly found. But no one transforms without cause, drifting without direction. Sometimes, the presence of others steadies us, their quiet support a force in itself. And when that happens, change — however daunting — ceases to be a rupture. Instead, it becomes an unfolding.

It is a waste of time and energy to be bitter about what you did or failed to do. A hallmark of expanding consciousness is recognising that the way you used to act was not healthy and that today you would not behave in the same way. The result of this realisation can never be a feeling of guilt. No one can be punished for a lack of knowledge. When you do not understand, you do not know what you are doing.

Shadows serve only to highlight the light. Fearful, fearless — just a matter of choice. A step to the left, another to the right. When fear does not sit at your table, you think light, think blue sky, think laughter in the afternoon. When it does, you think storm, hollow streets, the echo of something missing. But why feed what depletes you? Why give breath to the shadow, why make a home for the cold? Do not lean on what could go wrong. Do not cradle the weight of fear like an old companion. It does not guide you, does not serve you. It only keeps you awake at night, whispering doubts in the dark. Better to weave the day with lighter threads — expectation of good, certainty of warmth. Let thoughts be gentle, let them land soft, like leaves on a river. Repeat. Again. Again. Until thought becomes stone, root, truth. Until the mind believes and fear forgets your name. And when the shadows press close, when they whisper at your door — smile. Say nothing. Only think light,...

The difference between today and tomorrow is not as grand as you’d like to believe. Today, you wrestle with obstacles; tomorrow, you expand horizons. But expansion is not a miracle, nor an act of willpower alone. It is an arrangement of details, of decisions, of knowing what to leave behind and what to hold tight. Dreaming is fine, even necessary. But without priorities, dreams dissolve like mist in the morning. Everything is about focus. And focus, they say, makes all the difference. So you insist, persevere, draw up plans, measure steps with precision. That’s good. But remember to be kind to yourself, because life is not a task list. Make space for silence, for a pet stretching lazily in the sun, for a friend’s unexpected message, for family stories that go nowhere but are still worth listening to. Take care of your garden — even if it’s just a stubborn little snake plant in a chipped pot. Of course, indulgence will tempt you. It always does. The weary self whispers: You deserve this...

( Image by  Dimitris Vetsikas  from  Pixabay ) I have recently moved my blog to a new domain. I realised I should move it to a proper .page, something not so strange anyway considering I always wanted to create “en.hyggelig.page”, which is roughly translated from Danish as "a pleasant page".  Hyggelig means a lot more than just pleasant, though. It is expressed to share a feeling of security, comfort, and familiarity. It is also an expression of appreciation for anything that brings people closer, gathered in a familiar environment, where intimacy is an embraced key value. If you can imagine yourself feeling cosy, alongside familiar people in a comfortable room, then you are close to grasp the concept. There is also a deep sense, an almost impossible truth to pass unnoticed, a sense of gratitude and grace towards enjoying life's little pleasures, with kindness and simplicity.  Which brings me back to this small “en hyggelig page”, a plac...

I do not get lachrymose so often. Med school taught me to be as gentle as possible, whilst cold enough to not fall apart when someone dies. Still, what people see is not what happens inside my mind. I fight the good fight, the one against bad habits and instincts. Sometimes, I fail miserably. Sometimes, I win myself for another day. Recently I started to improve my acupuncturist skills at a fast pace, learning new methods once I thought nontangible; trying is part of the good fight that keeps me onward. I even bought a book in Italian that, like a collegian often does, I need to read with the aid of a dictionary. It is hard, it is challenging, but it is uplifting. That is how I cope with my own insanity. I study, I pray, I cry… but nobody else will notice, not because I am shy, which I am, but because I’ve been learning to cry from the inside. I am not a sad person. I am not exactly happy either. I am a student; that is how I see my journey on this planet. I do hate when I cannot help ...