How did the Danes become so happy, and what is the secret behind the world's stable democracy? Imagi…

How did the Danes become so happy, and what is the secret behind the world's stable democracy?

Imagine you are riding a bicycle in the city, reaching a long red traffic light, and just as you are about to exert yourself to maintain your balance or put your foot down on the road, you discover a small railing, at just the right height, designed solely for you to rest your foot or lean on with your hand and take a moment to relax.

This railing is not just a safety feature meant to prevent disaster. It is a physical testament that someone wanted you to feel comfortable, predictable, and safe. This feeling is at the heart of what the Danes refer to as Tryghed.

In an article in [Alaxon](https://alaxon.co.il/article/%D7%93%D7%A0%D7%9E%D7%A8%D7%A7-%D7%9B%D7%9E%D7%A9%D7%9C/) psychologist Ruthie Aharoni Nielsen delves into the depths of this concept — its emotional and social significance.

Security vs. Safety

According to Aharoni, the most accurate translation of Tryghed is "safety" — as opposed to "security," which in our language immediately relates to the absence of military or physical threat.

So what exactly is "safety"?

Aharoni breaks down the feeling and explains: it is the deep sense that we are wanted, loved, and protected, much like a sleeping baby in its mother's arms. It is a state in which the body and mind are calm enough to engage in the things that truly matter in life: forming positive connections, learning, getting excited, and healing.

Where "Safety" Thrives

According to Aharoni, "safety" thrives in places where:

The rules of the game are known: A consistent environment where we know what to expect (and what will not happen).

Changes are gradual: There are no sudden shocks; everything unfolds at a pace that allows for adaptation.

There is someone to rely on: A human environment that treats us with respect, compassion, and consistency.

Shared Responsibility

Aharoni asserts that the Danes teach us that the responsibility for creating a space that evokes a sense of "safety" is a shared one. It exists because everyone present in the environment experiences it and is influenced by it. This responsibility rests on the shoulders of authorities and architects, but no less on each and every one of us, from adults to children.

Tryghed and "Fun": Two Compasses

It seems to me that Tryghed is present in Danish culture with the same intensity that the concept of "fun" is present in Israeli culture. Language is our sensory compass: through it, we define a particular experience, give it a name, and mark it as a goal to strive for or something to avoid.

In Denmark, "safety" directs life experiences toward what they perceive as "happiness"; in Israel, through "fun," social experiences sometimes serve the same function — meaning, measurement, and destination. Two nations, two words, the same kind of cultural compass.