The word "lagom," which roughly translates to the most appropriate level or amount of something, was recently named the best word in the Swedish language. 🌟 It is also very much in line with Ayurveda. According to legend, the term originated with the Vikings, who would drink mead 🍯 from a communal horn they passed around (lag om = around the group), taking just lagom to ensure there was lagom for everyone. The Swedish Academy suggests that this legend is inaccurate; it argues that the word was originally written as "laghum" and relates to "lag" (law), which originally did not have a legal connotation but simply meant that something was right.
Regardless of its origins, lagom aligns closely with Ayurvedic principles. 🧘♂️ It emphasises moderation, which is essential for our well-being. We should aim to eat the right amount 🍽️, exercise at the right intensity 🏃♀️, and get adequate sleep 🛌. So, what is the right amount? It’s often better to rely on our feelings rather than over-intellectualise or try to calculate the perfect amount objectively.
We should eat until we feel moderately full—neither overstuffed nor hungry. 😌 We should exercise to the point of feeling invigorated and fresh—neither exhausted nor lethargic. 💪 Our sleep should leave us feeling alert and refreshed. 🌅 Trust your instincts and live a wonderful, Swedish, healthy, lagom
life. 🍃
