April 6, 2025 • 14 mins
Original Air Date: April 6, 2025
Every year, Sweden and other Nordic countries are listed as the happiest on earth. Why? They practice lagom. Kortney Yasenka is the author of the book “Swedish Lagom: Finding Joy In Just Enough”.
Every year, Sweden and other Nordic countries are listed as the happiest on earth. Why? They practice lagom. Kortney Yasenka is the author of the book “Swedish Lagom: Finding Joy In Just Enough”.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Sunstein Sessions on iHeartRadio, conversations about issues that matter.
Here's your host, three time Grasie Award winner, Shelley Sunstein.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Who doesn't want to find joy in their lives. I
was turned on to a new book. You can read
it in one session. It's very very quick read. It's
called Swedish Legome Finding Joy in Just Enough and with
(00:31):
Me is one of the authors. There are two authors,
Courtney Yasenka and Karen Johnson Yasenka and Courtney is joining
me this morning. So good morning, Courtney.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Good morning, Thank you for having me. You're welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
So let's just sum up first of all, why are
we finding enough joy just enough? You know, most people
say they're looking for happiness. There's a difference in joy
and happiness, right, correct.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
So I think when people think of Swedish people and
the Swedish lifestyle, you know, being happy doesn't necessarily first
come to mind. It's not that laughing all the time
or being boisterous. But the happiness really comes from finding
your joy and that means your purpose in life to
live intentionally, to live simply and.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Having a meaningful life.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
And what Lagone talks about is finding joy in just enough,
so it doesn't have to be extravagant things it can
be and everybody's just enough can be different. But it's
creating those joyful moments every day to create that life
that you want. And there are simple things you can
do to have a big impact on a better overall,
(01:50):
you know, being for you and your family.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
And one of the first things is something that I
do even earlier than what you talk about in the book,
which is getting up early, getting up early to greet
the day, to greet the daybreak explain right.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
So one of the kind of what I say healthy
habits of the Lagome lifestyle is to rise and shine
and get up early and start your day with purpose,
with intention, and it gives you that mindset that will
help you have more balance throughout the day. So a
lot of my clients will come to me and say,
you know, I don't have time to get up earlier.
(02:28):
I'm so rushed in the morning. I want to sleep more.
But if you prioritize those things that are going to
help you find balance, like getting up even five to
ten minutes early, set the day with a positive attitude,
it's going to make a big impact. With everything else
you do, and it'll be easier to find that balance
with work, with relationships, with family, with yourself. And it's
(02:51):
creating those healthy habits that are going to help you
live that lagome life.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
And what else would be included in living that lagome life?
I mean one of the things you mentioned was being outdoors,
no matter the weather, being with nature.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
Correct, So embracing nature and all that nature has to offer.
And there's a Swedish proverb that says there's no such
thing as bad weather. And I think if you have
that mindset again, it's creating those joyful moments. It's not
that you are necessarily happy with everything, it's you make
the most of it. And so other lifestyle choices are
getting up early. Embracing nature that helps us reconnect, It
(03:31):
helps us find balance, giving back to your community, creating
traditions for your family, and a sense of bonding and belonging,
and all of those things help you find that inner
peace and enjoying the little things in life.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Survey after survey, they come out with the survey every
year of the happiest countries in the world. The United
States continues to fall. I think we fell to twenty six,
but Sweden is way up there. So actually the Nordic
countries are our way up there in everyday life, how
(04:12):
is I mean, we mentioned things that the people do,
but we're still not one of the happiest countries.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
So what makes Sweden different?
Speaker 4 (04:25):
I think it's a mindset and a philosophy in a
way of life that's been instilled in them, you know,
for years and ever since people are little. And the
important thing about lago and living is you don't have
to be in Sweden or in Nordic country to do it.
You don't have to be Swedish to embrace this mindset.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
But it's knowing.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
That you know, when you feel like you have a
purpose in life, a meaningful life, and you are enjoying
everything that you're doing, you don't always feel like you
have to reach for the next best thing. And we
realize that certain material items may cause happiness for a while,
but it doesn't really increase your overall all happiness level.
And I think that's because we see happiness as you know,
(05:06):
like a state of being or that laughing like I
talked about before, where really I think we need to
change our view on it. It's a contentment it's that purpose,
it's that meaning, and it's being happy and and joyful
in those small moments every day.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
I'm speaking with Courtney Ysenka. She along with Karen Johnson.
Yasenka wrote the book a very quick read. You can
read it in one setting. It's called Swedish Lagome Finding
Joy in just Enough. Family was really way up there,
I think, and at the center of this whole book.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Is the divorce rate very low in Sweden. Well Sweden
has and I mentioned this in the book. There's different.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
You know, the family dynamic can be different for everybody,
and a lot of times Swedish people won't get married
even until they have kids, so everyone's family looks a
little different. But the part of the Swedish living in
the Lagome living is, you know, even if it's your
immediate family, friends, loved ones, you know, the family you choose,
(06:15):
it's creating those moments, those traditions, those customs that really help,
you know. I call it togetherness. Time help you bond
and connect and create those secure attachments with the people
around you. And when we do that too, you know,
it helps in times of stress and challenges in life.
When you have that connection with each other. It makes
everything you know easier as you go through different phases
(06:38):
of your life, and it helps you find that balance
when you have that good support system.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
This this concentrating on family. I'm not going to mention names,
but someone close to me read that part of the book.
It's really the beginning of the book and couldn't go
on because this person had a divorce and could no
longer enjoy all of these traditions once shared with a
(07:10):
very big family because this person was shut out of
that family after the divorce and spending time with friends
and friends may have their own traditions, it just didn't
It just didn't resonate that you could replace that.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
What would you say to that person?
Speaker 2 (07:30):
I mean it's easy to say, well, create new traditions
with your friends. Well, when you're talking about, for example,
holiday traditions or even a Friday night tradition or this
is your Sunday tradition, you can't necessarily duplicate that with
a friend who has their own traditions with their own family.
(07:53):
It just there was a disconnect there. So I hope
you can illuminate you know what to do in that
type of situation, because I think that's true of a
lot of people in the United States. I mean, when
you know, divorce can be absolutely shattering, even years later,
when it comes to those things that you loved about
(08:16):
a family life, whether you were happy in the marriage
or not right.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
And of course divorce and any kind of change within
that family unit can be very difficult, and it's hard
to create those new traditions and that new life that
sometimes you didn't choose right and you didn't have control over.
So I think the focus is and the game living
can also be done solo, and it's finding, like I said,
that inner piece in you. But when we're talking about
(08:41):
connections and family, it's also changed in that mindset. Okay,
this is the new normal for me, you know, and
how will I make the best of it? And how
will I find joy in this new situation? And of
course it's it's difficult. I have a lot of clients
that go through divorce and the families change, and it
is a very hard new normal to live and it
(09:02):
doesn't always happen overnight. And I think it's also those
social connections too, and being connected to the greater community
and finding the things that bring you peace and joy,
whether that's volunteering or going for a.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Solo law or starting a new hobby.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
And like I said, it doesn't mean everything is happy,
you know, all the time. It's just knowing what the
situation is and how we best, you know, react and
respond to it and make the most of it.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
You're you're a therapist, right, Yes, that's your job.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
So tell me how Swedish legome has changed some of
your clients' lives because you're you're actually practicing this with
your career, with your job in very specific situations.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Yes, And I think I use the hoping strategies and
the way of living with my clients even before you know,
I mentioned in it being the Swedish way or lago
and I've had clients come up to me recently saying,
you know, we added you know, logome talks a lot
about a cozy atmosphere and creating a decluttered space, and
they said, you know, we added plants to the house
(10:16):
and it just made it feel so much better, you know,
little things like that together in this time with families,
finding the balance within you know, your work life balance,
taking time. Swedish people have this thing called fiica and
it's a coffee break, but it's really more than a
coffee break. It's a time to reset connect with people.
So we've incorporated FIKA into their daily you know, schedule,
(10:38):
and even if their company is not doing it, you know,
they do it themselves just to have that reset.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
So it's very logo.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
Lifestyle is simple, actionable behaviors that anybody can do and
it's going to make a huge impact. And it really
starts with those little things that we find joy and
that kind of give us that purpose and that meaning.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Some more examples of little changes people can make in
their lives to find that joy and just enough.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
I think it's your overall mindset and the way we
talk to ourselves. So we talk a lot about you know,
positive self talk. So even if you're not a morning person.
In the morning, instead of your automatic you know, first
thought being oh I have to get up or oh
it's too early, you know, oh I have to go
for a run. If we change that into thinking I
am able to get up, I'm able to go for
a run, you know, this is going to be you know,
(11:31):
a great day. If we change how we view situations,
it's going to change how we feel about that. And
that's you know the basis of you know, cognitive behavioral
therapy too, and how Swedish lego kind of goes hand
in hand with that positive mindset and really only focusing
on the things that we can control and letting go
of what you know is not within our control.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
It's interesting you say that because it was several years
ago that I heard it. Instead of saying I have
to go to work or I have to go shopping,
I get to go to work, I get to go shopping.
Just that little turn of a phrase, that little turn
of the way you view the situation can make a
(12:16):
big difference, exactly.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
And I think having that concept of the just enough
and the lagome is that you don't have to take
on everything. Similarly, you don't have to relax for twenty
four hours in the day. It's finding that balance of
I get to do this, I get to do that,
and finding the joy and even a simple cup of
coffee or the weather or talking to a friend, and
(12:40):
really creating the life that you want and focusing on
the parts that do bring you joy.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
We only have about a minute and a half left.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
What have we not talked about, Courtney Yusenka that you
would like to impart to our audience about Swedish Lagome
Finding Joy and Just Enough book.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
I think it can be applied to most aspects of life. So,
like I said before, relationships, work, life, balance, parenting, healthy habits, retirement,
physical activity, eating everything, you can have a mindset of
lego and I think if we keep that in the forefront,
it's going to help us be more mindful. It's going
(13:22):
to help us focus on the present moment, and it's
going to help us realize that we're creating the life
that we want, and we're choosing what to focus on
and choosing to feel that joy every day, even in
the little simple thing. So it's really living intentionally.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
And I think anyone who reads Swedish Lago I'm Finding
Joy and Just Enough will find even just a few
things that you can do to make changes in your life.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
That really could make a difference.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
I always say, you know, when something bad happens early
in the day. I used to say when I was
much younger, oh, it's a bad day, and then.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
I switched it.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I mean I suddenly realized, no, it was just a
bad moment. It was just a bad moment. It does
not mean the whole day is ruined, but anyway, thank
you so much, and I wish you continued success and
most importantly, continued joy.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
You've been listening to Sunstein Sessions on iHeartRadio, a production
of New York's classic rock Q one O four point
three
Welcome to Sunstein Sessions on iHeartRadio, conversations about issues that matter.
Here's your host, three time Grasie Award winner, Shelley Sunstein.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Who doesn't want to find joy in their lives. I
was turned on to a new book. You can read
it in one session. It's very very quick read. It's
called Swedish Legome Finding Joy in Just Enough and with
(00:31):
Me is one of the authors. There are two authors,
Courtney Yasenka and Karen Johnson Yasenka and Courtney is joining
me this morning. So good morning, Courtney.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Good morning, Thank you for having me. You're welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
So let's just sum up first of all, why are
we finding enough joy just enough? You know, most people
say they're looking for happiness. There's a difference in joy
and happiness, right, correct.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
So I think when people think of Swedish people and
the Swedish lifestyle, you know, being happy doesn't necessarily first
come to mind. It's not that laughing all the time
or being boisterous. But the happiness really comes from finding
your joy and that means your purpose in life to
live intentionally, to live simply and.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Having a meaningful life.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
And what Lagone talks about is finding joy in just enough,
so it doesn't have to be extravagant things it can
be and everybody's just enough can be different. But it's
creating those joyful moments every day to create that life
that you want. And there are simple things you can
do to have a big impact on a better overall,
(01:50):
you know, being for you and your family.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
And one of the first things is something that I
do even earlier than what you talk about in the book,
which is getting up early, getting up early to greet
the day, to greet the daybreak explain right.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
So one of the kind of what I say healthy
habits of the Lagome lifestyle is to rise and shine
and get up early and start your day with purpose,
with intention, and it gives you that mindset that will
help you have more balance throughout the day. So a
lot of my clients will come to me and say,
you know, I don't have time to get up earlier.
(02:28):
I'm so rushed in the morning. I want to sleep more.
But if you prioritize those things that are going to
help you find balance, like getting up even five to
ten minutes early, set the day with a positive attitude,
it's going to make a big impact. With everything else
you do, and it'll be easier to find that balance
with work, with relationships, with family, with yourself. And it's
(02:51):
creating those healthy habits that are going to help you
live that lagome life.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
And what else would be included in living that lagome life?
I mean one of the things you mentioned was being outdoors,
no matter the weather, being with nature.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
Correct, So embracing nature and all that nature has to offer.
And there's a Swedish proverb that says there's no such
thing as bad weather. And I think if you have
that mindset again, it's creating those joyful moments. It's not
that you are necessarily happy with everything, it's you make
the most of it. And so other lifestyle choices are
getting up early. Embracing nature that helps us reconnect, It
(03:31):
helps us find balance, giving back to your community, creating
traditions for your family, and a sense of bonding and belonging,
and all of those things help you find that inner
peace and enjoying the little things in life.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Survey after survey, they come out with the survey every
year of the happiest countries in the world. The United
States continues to fall. I think we fell to twenty six,
but Sweden is way up there. So actually the Nordic
countries are our way up there in everyday life, how
(04:12):
is I mean, we mentioned things that the people do,
but we're still not one of the happiest countries.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
So what makes Sweden different?
Speaker 4 (04:25):
I think it's a mindset and a philosophy in a
way of life that's been instilled in them, you know,
for years and ever since people are little. And the
important thing about lago and living is you don't have
to be in Sweden or in Nordic country to do it.
You don't have to be Swedish to embrace this mindset.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
But it's knowing.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
That you know, when you feel like you have a
purpose in life, a meaningful life, and you are enjoying
everything that you're doing, you don't always feel like you
have to reach for the next best thing. And we
realize that certain material items may cause happiness for a while,
but it doesn't really increase your overall all happiness level.
And I think that's because we see happiness as you know,
(05:06):
like a state of being or that laughing like I
talked about before, where really I think we need to
change our view on it. It's a contentment it's that purpose,
it's that meaning, and it's being happy and and joyful
in those small moments every day.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
I'm speaking with Courtney Ysenka. She along with Karen Johnson.
Yasenka wrote the book a very quick read. You can
read it in one setting. It's called Swedish Lagome Finding
Joy in just Enough. Family was really way up there,
I think, and at the center of this whole book.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Is the divorce rate very low in Sweden. Well Sweden
has and I mentioned this in the book. There's different.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
You know, the family dynamic can be different for everybody,
and a lot of times Swedish people won't get married
even until they have kids, so everyone's family looks a
little different. But the part of the Swedish living in
the Lagome living is, you know, even if it's your
immediate family, friends, loved ones, you know, the family you choose,
(06:15):
it's creating those moments, those traditions, those customs that really help,
you know. I call it togetherness. Time help you bond
and connect and create those secure attachments with the people
around you. And when we do that too, you know,
it helps in times of stress and challenges in life.
When you have that connection with each other. It makes
everything you know easier as you go through different phases
(06:38):
of your life, and it helps you find that balance
when you have that good support system.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
This this concentrating on family. I'm not going to mention names,
but someone close to me read that part of the book.
It's really the beginning of the book and couldn't go
on because this person had a divorce and could no
longer enjoy all of these traditions once shared with a
(07:10):
very big family because this person was shut out of
that family after the divorce and spending time with friends
and friends may have their own traditions, it just didn't
It just didn't resonate that you could replace that.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
What would you say to that person?
Speaker 2 (07:30):
I mean it's easy to say, well, create new traditions
with your friends. Well, when you're talking about, for example,
holiday traditions or even a Friday night tradition or this
is your Sunday tradition, you can't necessarily duplicate that with
a friend who has their own traditions with their own family.
(07:53):
It just there was a disconnect there. So I hope
you can illuminate you know what to do in that
type of situation, because I think that's true of a
lot of people in the United States. I mean, when
you know, divorce can be absolutely shattering, even years later,
when it comes to those things that you loved about
(08:16):
a family life, whether you were happy in the marriage
or not right.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
And of course divorce and any kind of change within
that family unit can be very difficult, and it's hard
to create those new traditions and that new life that
sometimes you didn't choose right and you didn't have control over.
So I think the focus is and the game living
can also be done solo, and it's finding, like I said,
that inner piece in you. But when we're talking about
(08:41):
connections and family, it's also changed in that mindset. Okay,
this is the new normal for me, you know, and
how will I make the best of it? And how
will I find joy in this new situation? And of
course it's it's difficult. I have a lot of clients
that go through divorce and the families change, and it
is a very hard new normal to live and it
(09:02):
doesn't always happen overnight. And I think it's also those
social connections too, and being connected to the greater community
and finding the things that bring you peace and joy,
whether that's volunteering or going for a.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Solo law or starting a new hobby.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
And like I said, it doesn't mean everything is happy,
you know, all the time. It's just knowing what the
situation is and how we best, you know, react and
respond to it and make the most of it.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
You're you're a therapist, right, Yes, that's your job.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
So tell me how Swedish legome has changed some of
your clients' lives because you're you're actually practicing this with
your career, with your job in very specific situations.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Yes, And I think I use the hoping strategies and
the way of living with my clients even before you know,
I mentioned in it being the Swedish way or lago
and I've had clients come up to me recently saying,
you know, we added you know, logome talks a lot
about a cozy atmosphere and creating a decluttered space, and
they said, you know, we added plants to the house
(10:16):
and it just made it feel so much better, you know,
little things like that together in this time with families,
finding the balance within you know, your work life balance,
taking time. Swedish people have this thing called fiica and
it's a coffee break, but it's really more than a
coffee break. It's a time to reset connect with people.
So we've incorporated FIKA into their daily you know, schedule,
(10:38):
and even if their company is not doing it, you know,
they do it themselves just to have that reset.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
So it's very logo.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
Lifestyle is simple, actionable behaviors that anybody can do and
it's going to make a huge impact. And it really
starts with those little things that we find joy and
that kind of give us that purpose and that meaning.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Some more examples of little changes people can make in
their lives to find that joy and just enough.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
I think it's your overall mindset and the way we
talk to ourselves. So we talk a lot about you know,
positive self talk. So even if you're not a morning person.
In the morning, instead of your automatic you know, first
thought being oh I have to get up or oh
it's too early, you know, oh I have to go
for a run. If we change that into thinking I
am able to get up, I'm able to go for
a run, you know, this is going to be you know,
(11:31):
a great day. If we change how we view situations,
it's going to change how we feel about that. And
that's you know the basis of you know, cognitive behavioral
therapy too, and how Swedish lego kind of goes hand
in hand with that positive mindset and really only focusing
on the things that we can control and letting go
of what you know is not within our control.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
It's interesting you say that because it was several years
ago that I heard it. Instead of saying I have
to go to work or I have to go shopping,
I get to go to work, I get to go shopping.
Just that little turn of a phrase, that little turn
of the way you view the situation can make a
(12:16):
big difference, exactly.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
And I think having that concept of the just enough
and the lagome is that you don't have to take
on everything. Similarly, you don't have to relax for twenty
four hours in the day. It's finding that balance of
I get to do this, I get to do that,
and finding the joy and even a simple cup of
coffee or the weather or talking to a friend, and
(12:40):
really creating the life that you want and focusing on
the parts that do bring you joy.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
We only have about a minute and a half left.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
What have we not talked about, Courtney Yusenka that you
would like to impart to our audience about Swedish Lagome
Finding Joy and Just Enough book.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
I think it can be applied to most aspects of life. So,
like I said before, relationships, work, life, balance, parenting, healthy habits, retirement,
physical activity, eating everything, you can have a mindset of
lego and I think if we keep that in the forefront,
it's going to help us be more mindful. It's going
(13:22):
to help us focus on the present moment, and it's
going to help us realize that we're creating the life
that we want, and we're choosing what to focus on
and choosing to feel that joy every day, even in
the little simple thing. So it's really living intentionally.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
And I think anyone who reads Swedish Lago I'm Finding
Joy and Just Enough will find even just a few
things that you can do to make changes in your life.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
That really could make a difference.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
I always say, you know, when something bad happens early
in the day. I used to say when I was
much younger, oh, it's a bad day, and then.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
I switched it.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I mean I suddenly realized, no, it was just a
bad moment. It was just a bad moment. It does
not mean the whole day is ruined, but anyway, thank
you so much, and I wish you continued success and
most importantly, continued joy.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
You've been listening to Sunstein Sessions on iHeartRadio, a production
of New York's classic rock Q one O four point
three
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Decisions, Decisions
Welcome to "Decisions, Decisions," the podcast where boundaries are pushed, and conversations get candid! Join your favorite hosts, Mandii B and WeezyWTF, as they dive deep into the world of non-traditional relationships and explore the often-taboo topics surrounding dating, sex, and love. Every Monday, Mandii and Weezy invite you to unlearn the outdated narratives dictated by traditional patriarchal norms. With a blend of humor, vulnerability, and authenticity, they share their personal journeys navigating their 30s, tackling the complexities of modern relationships, and engaging in thought-provoking discussions that challenge societal expectations. From groundbreaking interviews with diverse guests to relatable stories that resonate with your experiences, "Decisions, Decisions" is your go-to source for open dialogue about what it truly means to love and connect in today's world. Get ready to reshape your understanding of relationships and embrace the freedom of authentic connections—tune in and join the conversation!