The Hyggelig Journey

I looked at the other and saw an abyss. But then, I looked again. There was something there that called to me, something that belonged to me without my knowing. What was it? Alterity. That strange word that, in the end, only means: you are not alone. The other has always been here. At the street corner, in the reflection of a window, in the glance that meets yours for a fleeting moment before vanishing. The other is the unknown that unsettles you, but also the child within you that once needed comfort. You think you are you because you feel your skin, but what if your self is far greater than you imagine? Because, you see, without the other, you do not exist. Your voice is only heard because someone listens. Your gestures have meaning only because they are seen. Your story matters because it can be told — and every story needs someone to hear it. Alterity is not just about respecting the other; it is about realising that they shape you. The trouble is, we think of ourselves...

Throughout this month, I have seen many patients struggling with deep emotional instability. Given the circumstances, this is more than expected. However, I find this an opportune moment to reintroduce a model of emotional sustainability that can serve as a guide in times of adversity while you work towards a more pleasant, fulfilling, and meaningful life.   You are already familiar with the foundations of this guide, as I have outlined its core concepts in my last five articles. They are:   C  –  Connection : Building and maintaining supportive relationships with family, friends, and the community. H – Hope and Optimism about the Future : Believing in the possibility of a better future and working towards positive change. I – Identity : Developing or rediscovering a sense of self that is positive and resilient. M – Meaning in Life : Finding purpose through personal values, spirituality, work, or community engagement. E – Empowerment : Gaining confidenc...

  Setbacks — whether in the form of psychiatric relapse, bereavement, trauma, or sudden shock — can shake, or even unravel, a person’s sense of identity. In the aftermath, reclaiming a coherent and meaningful sense of self becomes a vital part of recovery. Identity is not fixed; it evolves in response to what we endure and how we grow. A key aspect of healing lies in recognising this change and embracing who you are now, rather than wrestling to return to who you once were — or to become someone else entirely. Individual therapy can provide valuable space to explore and reconfigure your sense of self. Creative practices such as writing, art, or storytelling can also support this process, helping you reconnect with your voice and shape a renewed narrative of identity.

( 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...

Not so long ago, a close mate of mine, Kasper Nymand , started his career with enthusiasm and carism. Knowing him since forever, I was at the same time happy for his focus onto a brilliant start and worried for noticing he was distancing himself from everyone. It's emblematic when you see yourself in others, especially when you too have struggled to find an equilibrium between work and family. So there was I, following his start and wondering to myself, should I warn him on measuring his enthusiasm? Is that even something someone wants to hear? Should I let him learn his compass alone? Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong about enjoying your work and feeling pushed towards doing a good job. My concern was, essentially, on the wide range of intensity I was noticing. He was all in, although everything seemed perfect. I waited for a chance to approach him, without questioning too directly his otherwise unbreakable determination. Few months later, on his 20th birth...