A powerful feeling has stuck with me from the past year traveling. It was the single-most pervasive feeling during my month in the Netherlands. The Dutch call it “gezellig” (pronounced heh-sell-ick) and it’s at the heart of their culture. There is no English equivalent, but definitions include: anything that’s quaint cozy friendly and homey, a warm atmosphere enjoying the simple things in life, and my personal favorite, “the essence that lights up our soul”. Yes. THAT feeling.
That feeling is addictive. I’ve spent an overwhelming majority of the past month attempting to infuse the “gezellig” energy factor in my new space. And wow, what a total game changer! The space injects so much warmth in my own life that helps me inject more warmth and love into the lives of others. It circulates an energy that is simultaneously grounding, relaxing, and inspiring. It helps me feel my best. It helps bring out my best. Just walking around my apartment gives me boosts of joy over the little things. Creating this happy home has proven to truly be the gift that keeps on giving.
So here are 7 ways that have significantly contributed in creating a soul-nourishing space:
- Candles. The instant gezellig space transformer. I love the warm, cozy ambience from the soft illumination of candle light. I love their calming, relaxation-inducing, meditative qualities. But what I love the most is the ability of the mesmerizing candle flame to put me back in touch with the flame in my heart and soul. There’s something about lighting a space the way humanity did so a million years ago before electricity that feels timeless, grounding, and sacred. Top non-scented candle pick: Trader Joe’s 6” Pillar Candles. Dripless (!). Smokeless. 80-hour burn time. $3.99. Score.
- Light Bulbs. Another way to instantly dial up a spaces’ gezellig factor is switching out those lamp light bulbs for something softer and warmer. Ditch the 120W bulbs and try a soft 25W or 40W bulb. It’s been studied that increasing the intensity of light can trigger our hot emotional system. So you may even feel a reduction of emotionality in your everyday decisions.
- Trees, Plants, and Flowers. I’ve never owned more than a gifted succulent/flower bouquet in any of my living spaces. But wow has it made such a difference amping up my greenery game. If I could bring an entire forest into my living space, I would. The benefits of being surrounded by nature indoors are endless — relaxation, stress relief, purifying and humidifying the air, adding oxygen, etc. But what reigns supreme is how it makes me feel more alive and connected to all that is living. A reminder of the beauty of the simple and natural things in our environment and the abundance of gifts Mother Nature provides. I’ve also noticed that adding fresh flowers and witnessing the changing nature of them week after week is also a powerful reminder of impermanence — the transitory and changing nature of all things.
- Deep Cleaning. I spent a good chunk of time over the holidays on hands and knees hand-scrubbing the various surfaces around the apartment. Sure, there are the obvious benefits of cleaning. But there was something else. Cleaning every inch, corner, crack and crevice, you get to intimately know the ins and outs of a space. And in a similar spirit where learning all the little things about your significant other can often lead to a deeper love, I felt the love and appreciation deepen immensely for my apartment space seeing and feeling its multi-dimensions. Bonus tip: Cleaning with a partner/friend, turning on your favorite dance music, and embodying a whimsical, positive spirit makes the process 100x more fun.
- Palo Santo. Directly translates to “holy wood” in Spanish. I love burning this wood first thing in the morning before meditation and every evening after sunset. It gives me a sensory experience of a grounding reset with its energetically cleansing properties to purify and remove negative energy from a space. It also smells amazing (with notes of pine, mint, and lemon). Close second place incense: Nag Champa.
- White on White on White. I’m a huge believer that the design of your outer world can psychologically impact your subconscious and inner world. Seeing white gives me the feeling of cleanliness, clarity, freshness, purity, simplicity, and spaciousness. Peace on the outside. Peace on the inside. In this new space, I’ve opted for all-white bedding, all-white curtains, all-white shower curtain, and all-white dinnerware. I still feel a sense of giddiness crawling into my white cloud of a bed every night.
- Timeless Music. There’s certain music that can melt away the complexities of the day and refocus my energy on the simple joy-filled activities in life: cooking dinner, reading a book, cupping a warm glass of tea. Music that gives me the old-fashioned peaceful and happy fireplace feels. Most recently, I’ve been binging on Frank Sinatra, Amy Winehouse, Ella Fitzgerald, and other jazz. This music has very little “special effects” that can make certain modern day hits feel artificial. Instead, these tunes are pure, simple, and timeless. Evoking the realness in me. Evoking the realness in the company of others.
But don’t take my word for it. I’d encourage you to try a few on. Perhaps even create your own unique gezellig touches. And notice what happens to how you feel.
So much of this list is about going back to the basics. Happiness really is in the little pleasures in life. And sprinkling in some gezellig magic can radiate beyond your immediate inhabited space. It can seep into your everyday way of being. Ultimately, it can be a way of life.