“The best of affairs are those that are moderate.”
— Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
The Culture of “Just Right”
Twelve years working for a Swedish company.
Two years living in Sweden.
One lifelong journey trying to figure out what “enough” actually means.
It was during that chapter of my life that I was introduced to Lagom a deeply Swedish word that doesn’t translate easily into English. Logom is not about balance in the trendy wellness way. It’s about just right. Not too much and not too little. Logom is about finding the middle way.
And Lagom isn’t just a quirky cultural trait.
It’s a way of life.
I gained many memories and lessons moving to Sweden, but one of the earliest lessons I learned was about how the Swedes approach waste and excess.
I still remember needing a tutorial on how to take out the recycling.
In Sweden, every piece of trash had a proper home, and the level of sorting required in the recycling process felt like a college-level matrix of materials. It wasn’t just how the Swedes recycled, it was the compliance, the communal commitment and the level of cleanliness in the process.
The complex we lived in had a recycling hub, which, upon entering, was clean, well-organized, and communally maintained- no rubbish on the floor, everything in its proper place, sorted, organized, and cared for. I recall walking into it for the first time and being shocked; a similar setup in the US or Canada, if used at all, would likely not be as well-maintained or well-kept. I later came to realize that part of the reason it was possible to maintain such an elaborate system of sorting was not only the commitment to recycling, but also because there was less total consumption, thereby less waste.
You see, the recycling hub wasn’t just about being green—it was a reflection of something more profound. A culture where excess is avoided not just for the planet, but as a principle.
Nothing is wasted. Everything is intentional.
That same mindset showed up in the food.
I’ll never forget my first open-faced sandwich. I didn't only find myself asking, 'How do I eat this?' (with a fork or use my hands), but also, 'Where's the other slice of bread? ' In North America, sandwiches are about layers of stuff, double decker’s, double the meat, double the cheese. Pile it high, drench it in condiments. And add a third slice of bread if you're feeling bold.
But in Sweden, I was met with a simple question:
“Why do you need two slices of bread?”
One slice was enough. Actually, it was just enough. A piece of hearty rye bread, a slice of cheese, maybe some avocado or smoked salmon, a few crisp cucumbers and a sprinkle of dill and that was lunch.
Light by design.
The effort of cooking was reserved for dinner, when the family came together. It wasn’t just about food, it was a way of thinking. A meal that served its purpose without overreaching.
That tiny moment, a sandwich, held a quiet philosophy: enough is enough.
Lagom is evident in everyday life: from the clean, practical lines of IKEA furniture to the way people dress, the homes they inhabit, and the way they work. It’s about function over flash. Comfort without clutter. Presence without pressure.
And here’s the thing: Lagom isn’t about withholding joy, it’s about redefining where joy comes from.
The Swedes' philosophy of "just enough" is paired with a concept known as “mys," (mees) or coziness. Think candles, warm socks, fuzzy blankets, shared meals, and slow Friday evenings with people you love. They even have a term for it—fredagsmys—“cozy Friday.” It’s the feeling of being wrapped in sheep’s wool, emotionally and physically. And it turns out, when you stop chasing more, you have space for connection. You make room for comfort, community, and quiet.
The Islamic version of Logom: Wasatiyyah
As a Muslim, I found all of this profoundly familiar.
In Islam, there is a concept known as wasatiyyah, which refers to the middle path. Scholars describe the concept of wasatiyyah as the space between excessiveness and laxity, and it's a term often translated as “moderation”, or “middle way”. It's a concept central to Islamic teachings, but, in my opinion, extremely difficult to bring to life. I honestly hadn't seen it practiced on a large scale until I moved to Sweden.
Wasatiyyah is emphasized not because it’s easier, but because it’s wiser. Finding the middle way, the moderate way keeps you grounded. Think about walking on a balance beam - lean too far to one side or the other, and you will lose your balance, falling off the right path. When you lean too far into extremes, whether it’s ambition, consumption, or even pursuing what is good and beneficial, you risk losing your center.
The middle way is where sustainability lives.
It’s the place where we can give everyone and ourselves our due rights. It's where you can respect the needs of your family, your body, your mind, your spirit, and your community.
It’s where your relationships thrive.
It’s where you’re most human.
Modern success worships the “all in” mindset—go big, go fast, go hard. But what if the real wisdom lies in knowing when to not go all in? When to pull back. When to leave space. When to say, “This is enough.”
While living in Sweden, I could feel the Logom, the wasatiyyah. People were not running around feverishly competing, racing, over-consuming and over-producing. There was a subtle contentment with just enough, with the middle way, the moderate way, with giving everyone and everything its due right.
This translates into fewer pieces of clothing in the closet, smaller homes, modest and practical furnishings, respect for the environment, and it even manifests in conversation - Swedes don't engage in unnecessary idle conversation. You get on a bus in Malmo and it will be serenely quiet. Get on a bus in NYC or London and you can’t hear yourself think.
Lagom, like wasatiyyah, invites us to stop performing and start living. To stop filling our lives with more stuff and start filling them with more people. Less flash, more warmth. Less striving, more arriving. Less hustle, more genuine moments with the people you love.
If you’re interested in learning about the Swedish concept of Logom, here is a little book from my bookshelf that does a good job explaining it: Logom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living by Linnea Dunne.
And the next time you make a sandwich, ask yourself— do I really need two slices of bread?
Not just on your plate, but in your day, your schedule, your ambitions.
Where are you adding more by default, when one slice is right?
Lagom isn’t about living with less, it’s about living with what's just right and filling the space left with coziness and joy.
And maybe the middle way isn’t the compromise we tell ourselves it is.
Maybe it’s the clarity we’ve been craving.
Until next time. Take care of yourself and those around you.
In Partnership,
Nabeela
Like, Share & Comment!
If you found this post helpful and feel so inclined, please hit the ❤️ button at the top or bottom of this email to help others discover Re-Imagine Success.
And.. don’t be shy! Please let me know your thoughts by commenting.
Your support means a lot!
If you would like to learn more about the world's unhealthy relationship with work, success, and achievement and discover ways to escape the burnout loop, check out some of my other posts below:
Share this post