The Hyggelig Journey

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,...

Comorbidity refers to the simultaneous presence of two or more diseases or medical conditions in a patient. Common comorbidities include diabetes, obesity, heart disease, hypertension, dementia, and cancer. These are often described as pre-existing clinical conditions that require extra caution when assessing a patient’s health trajectory. Reframing aligns with the concept of cognitive restructuring. It is a psychological technique that involves identifying and then changing the way situations, experiences, events, ideas, and emotions are perceived. However, caution is necessary here — without proper professional guidance, one may enter the realm of reality distortion. An unhealthy example of reframing is excessive mentalisation. Many people engage in this because they believe that fixating on the details of a particular issue — such as a deadline — makes them more productive, when in reality, they are avoiding their emotions. A more humorous example is reminiscent of old C...

Curiosity naturally leads to renewal. Each new discovery refreshes our thinking, reshaping our understanding of the world. Since much of life is spent relearning how to live after each challenge, there is little room for stagnation. Growth is not a choice but a necessity — an ongoing process that thrives on curiosity and adaptation. Yet, when it comes to breaking ingrained behaviours, the truth can be surprising. I have come to realise that fighting bad habits is often a losing battle — an exhausting cycle that drains both time and energy. One could spend a lifetime trying to eliminate undesirable patterns, only to see them resurface in different forms. Instead, I have learnt — along with many others who share this insight — that replacing bad habits with good ones is far more effective. Shifting focus from resistance to redirection transforms the process into one of effortless transition. Rather than struggling against what no longer serves us, we cultivate habits that nat...

The antidote to anxiety is action. When faced with uncertainty, the mind tends to spiral, analysing every possible outcome, yet struggling to commit to a decision. This constant back-and-forth is not just mentally exhausting — it is paralysing. Indecision keeps you rooted in place, amplifying doubts and feeding a growing sense of unease. Anxiety often arises not from the decisions themselves, but from the fear of making the wrong choice. The longer you hesitate, the more overwhelming the situation feels. Over time, this hesitation solidifies into avoidance, reinforcing the belief that uncertainty is something to be feared. It is easy to convince yourself that the choice in front of you is so critical that everything else must be put on hold. You tell yourself that if you analyse it just a little longer, clarity will come. But clarity rarely appears in stillness. More often than not, movement — any movement — is what breaks the cycle of overthinking. Taking even the smalle...

We often make statements about ourselves that seem harmless but, in reality, reinforce self-imposed limitations. Phrases like "I’ve never been good with numbers", "I have no coordination for dancing", or "I could never speak in front of an audience" might feel like simple truths, but when repeated, they shape an identity that may not reflect our real potential. These beliefs act as filters, shaping how we see ourselves, interpret experiences, and interact with the world. Many originate from external influences — comments from family, teachers, or peers — while others stem from our own fears and past experiences. The problem is that when we accept them without question, they begin to dictate our choices, limiting our ability to learn new skills, make confident decisions, and embrace opportunities that could lead to growth. The impact of these beliefs extends far beyond avoiding challenges. They create a sense of stagnation, reinforcing the idea ...

All too often, we encounter situations that provoke fear or disgust, and instead of responding with thoughtfulness, we instinctively swing to the opposite extreme. Rather than pausing to understand the underlying issues or approaching them with balance, we react impulsively, believing that distancing ourselves as much as possible is the safest course of action. Ironically, this approach often leads us straight into the very situation we were trying to avoid — only in a slightly altered form. In our attempt to escape one perceived danger, we blindly run into another, failing to realise that both are merely different sides of the same coin. Take, for example, the way people react to financial hardship. Many witness others struggling under the weight of debt, losing their assets, or even facing bankruptcy. The sight of such instability fuels their determination to avoid the same fate, leading them to adopt an extreme approach to financial security. They dedicate themselves obs...

It is exhilarating to witness the sparkle in the eyes of university applicants as they declare, without hesitation, the career path they intend to pursue. It is a calling — both innocent and profound — but, of course, it does not emerge without the weight of socio-economic pressure, personal and familial expectations, immense stress, and long hours of anxiety. Yet, the road ahead is long, and many rush through this stage, only to find themselves soon facing academic pressure, financial demands, and, inevitably, the stark reality of the job market. Learning to live with uncertainty is one of adulthood’s greatest challenges, as that initial gleam in the eyes gradually gives way to a furrowed brow. Through steady strides and inevitable stumbles, a person grows, steps into the world, and builds a family. They begin to share both dreams and debts — but also achievements and passions. They may take up regular exercise — if instilled with the habit early on. Meditation — if pers...

Positive thinking begins in an ordinary way: an internal conversation. Something simple. Almost a murmur in your head, blending into the noise of buses, bills, the day's endless demands. And this stream — relentless, unforgiving — shapes the way you see life. If the thoughts that visit you are mostly negative, your view of the world tilts towards grey. Suddenly, everything is a bigger problem than it should be. You focus on what went wrong and dismiss what went right. The blame, of course, is always yours. You start anticipating the worst because a minor inconvenience in the morning surely means disaster for the rest of the day. And so, the day drags on, heavy — because, without realising it, you decided it would. On the other hand, there are those who think positively. Not because they ignore problems, but because they have trained themselves to see other possibilities. This shift is possible, but it requires recognising where pessimism has settled — in work? In routine? In relati...