The Danish word the world needs to combat stress Pyt

The Danish word the world needs to combat stress PytThe Danish word the world needs to combat stress PytDanes are some of the happiest people in the world, and they also happen to have a lot of cool words for ways to be happy.You may have heard about hygge, which has been the subject of countless books, articles and commercials. Often mistranslated to mean cozy, it really describes the process of creating intimacy.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraBut another word pyt which sort of sounds like pid was recently voted the most popular word by Danes, beating out dvle (to linger) and krnkelsesparat (ready to take offense).Pyt doesnt have an exact English translation. Its more a cultural concept about cultivating healthy thoughts to deal with stress. As a native Dane and a psychologist, I think the concepts that underpin the word are applicable to people everywhere.A way to move onPy t is usually expressed as an interjection in reaction to a daily hassle, frustration or mistake. It most closely translates to the English sayings, Dont worry about it, stuff happens or oh, well.You might shatter a glass in the kitchen, shrug and say, pyt. You might see a parking ticket lodged under your windshield wiper and, just as you become hot with anger, shake your head and murmur, pyt.At its core, its about accepting and resetting. Its used as a reminder to step back and refocus rather than overreact. Instead of assigning blame, its a way to to let go and move on.You might say pyt in response to something you did pyt, that was a dumb thing to say or to support another person pyt with that, dont fret about your coworkers insensitivity.Pyt can reduce stress because it is a sincere attempt to encourage yourself and others to not get bogged down by minor daily frustrations. One Danish business leader has suggested that knowing when to say pyt at work can lead to more job satis faction.Overcoming the tendency to blameTheres a rich strain of psychological research devoted to understanding how we interpret and react to other peoples actions.Study after study show that we are happier and live longer when we have fewer daily hassles. And in some cases, what constitutes a hassle might be tied to how we interpret whats happening around us.Pyt can help people avoid the tendency to blame others. Say youre late to an appointment and theres a person in front of you whos driving slowly. It can feel irrationally personal.But research shows that we get angrier when we explain someones behavior by pointing to their incompetence, intentionality or poor character.By saying pyt, youre deciding that its not worth letting someone elses actions, which are out of your control, bother you its water off a ducks back. You can also use other strategies, such as thinking about situational constraints maybe the driver was ill or considering whether this will be an issue in two hou rs, two days or two weeks.Of course, you wouldnt say pyt in response to being seriously wronged. And the word shouldnt be used when you ought to take responsibility. Nor should it be used as an excuse for inaction.Danes who teach positive psychology have also written about how applying pyt to too many aspects of your life isnt healthy, especially if they concern your core needs or values.Hitting the pyt buttonLetting go can also be facilitated by doing things like walking in nature, doing yoga or mediation, exercising, keeping a journal or engaging in creative work.Or you can always get a pyt button. Danish teachers use pyt buttons to teach their students how to let go. Teachers find that it can help children cope with smaller frustrations I lost the game or I cant find my favorite pencil and it helps to teach them that everything cant be perfect.These are important skills to learn. Research shows that perfectionism is related to worry and depression. Meanwhile, self-compassion an d social support can help prevent perfectionism from leading to these negative outcomes.In recent years, the pyt button has become popular among Danish adults, who can either make one at home or buy one that, when pressed, says, pyt pyt pyt and breathe deeply, it will all be okay in Danish.And in this case, there might be an English equivalent the reset button.Marie Helweg-Larsen, Professor of Psychology, the Glenn E. Mary Line Todd Chair in the Social Sciences, Dickinson CollegeThis article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people