Instead of finding happiness through big goals: succeeding in career, owning strong relationships, accumulating a lot of material wealth, young Koreans are looking for ways to feel happy with their lives. small things through the Sohwakhaeng lifestyle.

What is Sohwakhaeng?

Sohwakhaeng (소확행) stands for “소소하지만 확실한 행복” (small but sure happiness), aiming to find happiness in simple things by enjoying the present moment.

These simple experiences can be the first sip of coffee in the morning, a tight hug from a lover, a good movie before bedtime, or the fresh and clean air after the rain. All of which can make us feel happier than ever.

The Sohwakhaeng lifestyle is also considered a symbol of gratitude because it makes us appreciate the little things that are often taken for granted, the most trivial things.

Origin of Sohwakhaeng

Sohwakhaeng was first introduced in 1986 in the essay collection Afternoon on Langerhans by Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami. According to Murakami, happiness can be found anywhere as long as we know how to manage our emotions, expectations and need for happiness.

Some of the little things that can lead to happiness for him are:

• Buying new clothes;
• Eating freshly baked bread;
• Morning jogging;
• Reading a good book;
• Sleeping for an extra hour every Sunday morning;
• Taking a long relaxing warm bath;
• Playing with pets;
• Thinking about happy memories from the past.

These everyday experiences, although not very appealing and maybe somewhat trivial for most of us, but according to the Sohwakhaeng philosophy of life, it is the little things that help improve mood, build positive emotions. and make us feel much happier.

Sohwakhaeng: Korean’s secret to happiness

“The pursuit of happiness” is a basic human right and everyone has the right to seek happiness in their life. However, few people really understand the value of happiness and know how to maintain it for a long time throughout life.

We humans have long believed that busyness, hard work and constant work, even at the expense of personal life to achieve career success, will lead us to a happy life. But in reality, the so-called “happiness” we are thinking about will never come no matter how “successful” we become.

Because, if being rich, successful, married can make us happy, why do most people who are “successful” in this way feel stressed and depressed? Why do some married people get divorced? Why do some rich people say they’ve never been happy?

This doesn’t mean you have to give up striving. You still need to work hard, however, you need to clearly define what success and happiness mean to you. What is success for you? A day without stress, no worries, no arguing with anyone, no late overtime? So what about happiness? A peaceful, relaxing evening and falling asleep gently?

The Sohwakhaeng lifestyle allows you to take a break from your busy day and enjoy small bits of happiness. When feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and exhausted, experiencing a brief moment of happiness can completely change your thoughts, feelings, moods, and behaviors. These small moments are like a reward that adds value and meaning to your life.

Instead of waiting for great happiness, Sohwakhaeng inspires us to seek happiness in the simplest of moments. This is how Koreans find balance, contentment, and happiness in their tumultuous hurried lives.

How to find happiness with the Sohwakhaeng lifestyle?

You can only apply Sohwakhaeng effectively, when you feel satisfied with what you have, and are living in the present moment. Here are some ways to help you enjoy the “small but sure happiness” with the Sohwakhaeng lifestyle.

1. Slow down and put everything aside for now

Whether you are the type of person who is afraid of piled up work or afraid of facing chaos, you should still learn to pause and enjoy the experiences of the present instead of continuing to fight in a hurry with the flow of work. and life. Even if you are going through an unpleasant time, slow down and look for the glimmer of light that warms your soul.  When life is challenging, just ask ‘what can I learn from this experience?’

Busy and stressful can make you ignore everything. So, the only way to enjoy small bits of happiness is to slow down and put everything aside.

2. Mindfulness

Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment, being aware of where we are, what we’re doing, and what’s going on around us. Mindfulness allows you to clear your mind of past regrets and put aside any fears about the future.

Mindfulness can also help you develop positive emotions and better deal with negative emotions. Therefore, mindfulness plays an important role in inspiring us to enjoy the little things and practice Sohwakhaeng.

3. Practice Gratitude

Living a life with deep gratitude for even the smallest things is one of the basic steps of the Sohwakhaeng lifestyle. The bus shows up just in time, a stranger holds the door for you as you enter the restaurant, the sun shines through the window as you wake up, each of these little moments combined can create so much happiness. A special happiness that only you can feel.

The simplest way to practice gratitude is to write down three things that you feel grateful for during the day before going to bed. Instead of focusing on what you don’t have or who you don’t like, focus on the things that make your life better: the people you love, the goals you’ve accomplished…  I like to spend a little time in the late afternoon, just before the sun is setting, standing on my balcony, being grateful for so many special things in my life.  I can usually see a beautiful red and golden sky, with colored clouds floating by, there is so much to be grateful for.

4. Some other methods to help you apply Sohwakhaeng

• Get up 15 minutes earlier to spend a little extra time with yourself.
• Take a walk in nature and observe your surroundings: the sky, the breeze, the birds, the animals… let your intuition help you stay on track.
• Make up the little things that make you happy and cherish those moments: your favorite food, exercise, or having a lazy Sunday.
• Communicate and connect emotionally between you and the people you care about and trust, by speaking your mind and listening to what they have to say.
• Looking at the starry sky as this can help you realize how small we are in the vast universe. From there, we can feel less appreciative of the big things in life and focus more on enjoying the little moments.
• Limit your use of technology and social media as they can negatively impact your mental health. When you stop staring at your phone screen all the time, you can see all the beauty happening around you.

If you have enjoyed reading this article about Sohwakhaeng, which is the Korean way of having a simpler and happier way of living, you may like to read ‘6 Tips to Practice Slow Living Around the World’