Lagom and Chisoku Anbun

Deep satisfaction in enoughness

The Swedish word lagom translates as ‘enough’ but in a deeply gratifying way. A Swedish Goldilocks might have said it upon tasting porridge the third bowl of porridge: Ummm, just right. Lagom is the perfect amount of anything—food, space, work, play, joy, sadness, etc.—and that having just enough is ultimately much more rewarding than either too little or too much.

We talk about lagom in FF1 and a fair number of people say it is the lesson they remember most. I recently came across a similar Japanese word, chisoku anbun. I’ll quote my source in full:

Appreciating when one has enough (知足; chisoku) and being satisfied with one’s circumstances (安分; anbun) come together in the phrase 知足安分 (chisoku anbun). The idea is that accepting one’s current situation is the path to everyday peace.

There is no end to desire, whether for food, material goods, fame, or sexual fulfillment. When we begin to want something, we lose all sense of control. Satisfy one desire and a new longing is born. It is not uncommon for people to be unable to find contentment and tormented by a constant sense of unease, no matter what riches they accumulate.

Trees are healthier and more graceful when expertly trimmed than when they are left to grow wild. It is the same with human desire. By controlling our wants, we can live more tranquil, contented lives.

Also:

Be Satisfied in Japanese is 知足 which is read chisoku

The Zen word chisoku is composed of the kanji 知 (read chi) meaning “know, wisdom” and 足 (read soku) meaning “sufficiency”.

It made me think about when we build our ideal post-FIRE lives in FF1 using Wheel of Life. It’s easy to fantasize a maximalist version of the wheel, where everything is a 10. But what if an ideal post-FIRE life is where everything is a 7? Not too much and not to little?

Of course, the next move is to see that lagom or chisoku anbun exist in the here and now, not just post-FIRE. We can feel a sense of ease, flow, and "just right” by finding balance between these areas right now. Consider these areas in your life today. Where do you have too much, you’re trying too hard to maximize everything¹? Where in your life do you have too little? You may find that shifting your energy from maximizing one place and giving it somewhere else will give more satisfaction in both. As the Taoists say, living in balance and harmony is better than always standing on your toes.

Easiest way to make everything a 7? Final stop in the world wisdom tour, the Talmud:

Student: Eizehoo ashir? – Who is wealthy? 

Rabbi: Ha sameach b’chelko – One who rejoices in his portion.²

Rejoice! Rejoice in your sufficiency.³ So much better than constantly reaching for more. No one can take that away from you. Except yourself.

Notes:

1. Next FF1 cohort runs May 1-June 30. Hit reply if you have any questions about the course.

2. I’m starting to pile up a backlog of posts because I have more thoughts about money and meaning than I put out once a week. Do you want more of these emails, like twice a week? Or is weekly just right? In essence, hahaha, what is lagom for receiving my newsletters?⁴ Respond by email and let me know, I really want to know!

1. You really should watch Everything, Everywhere, all at Once. Read the comments section to get a sense of how good this movie is. It’s a masterpiece.

2. Which brings up my whole other thing, gratitude. Let me know if you’d be willing to pilot test and give feedback on my new Gratitude Dojo.

3. Intentional word choice of sufficiency instead of abundance. In America, the word abundance is an excuse for constantly wanting more, for not-enoughness. H/T my hero Lynne Twist for that. Rejoice in sufficiency, which is really another word for enough (lagom).

4. I also realize that writing twice a week is more work. Do I want more work, even if it’s enjoyable? And I don’t want to do it if it’s intrusive. I believe in Mailbox Zero.