Update, August 2026.  The book is now written and is planned for publication in Danish in November 2026, with an English edition to follow. My third book begins where Power of Smile ended. The scope has expanded from workplaces to modern life.

But one starting point remains the same:

Small things matter

• How you think.
• How you speak.
• How you act.
• How you meet other people in everyday life.

These things shape your day — and perhaps your tomorrow. And when the world feels noisy, rushed and unsettled, maybe one of the best things we can do is return to what we can actually influence in daily life.

Seven guidelines from Power of Smile

These seven guidelines come from Power of Smile. They are simple. Maybe almost too simple. But perhaps that is exactly why they matter — yesterday, today and tomorrow. Simple does not mean superficial. Behind them lies a solid professional foundation.

We talk – and talk, and talk – about well-being, stress and modern life. We sometimes seem to make things more complicated than they need to be. Maybe simplicity is the way forward.

1. You become what you speak

The words we use shape how we feel – and how we work together. When we mostly speak about problems, pressure, and what is wrong, it easily affects the atmosphere around us – and within ourselves. Speak with kindness, appreciation, and respect. Say thank you. Smile. Offer support when someone is having a difficult day.

2. Do not feed negative thoughts

Protect what you let into your mind. Negative thoughts come naturally. Our minds often remember criticism more easily than praise, and we are bombarded with information 24/7. In a working day filled with demands, pressure and constant input, it can be easy to focus only on problems and what is difficult. This is not about ignoring problems. It is about noticing what works, what helps, and what you can influence today.

3. Look people in the eye

Small everyday conversations matter more than we often realise. A short talk with a colleague can prevent misunderstandings and reduce tension. Many conflicts grow when we communicate only through messages or emails. Personal contact builds trust and strengthens teamwork. Notice how even a simple smile can change the atmosphere.

4. Pause for two minutes

Many people rush from task to task without real breaks. Even a short pause can help your mind reset and your body relax. Take two minutes to breathe, stretch, or simply look away from the screen. Small pauses during the day can change both focus and mood. You can always find two minutes. If nothing else, take a bathroom break.

5. Take care of your body and heart

Your well-being is not separate from your work. It is part of it. Notice when you are tired, stressed, or overwhelmed. Rest when possible, move your body, and breathe deeply. Hold a short meeting with yourself before the week begins. Make sure there is also room for what your heart truly cares about. You can always move an hour or three in your calendar. When you take care of yourself, you also take better care of others.

6. Be mindful with screens

Digital tools are useful, but they can also drain our attention and energy. Too many messages can create stress and confusion. When possible, talk instead of typing. Remember that behind every screen and system there are real people. When technology gets difficult, ask for help. Everyone struggles with it sometimes. And now and then, the system may not be as clever as it thinks.

7. Stop before you react

We often react automatically when we feel pressured or stressed. Learn to notice what triggers strong reactions in you. When things feel intense or rushed, slow down before responding. If you feel hit by criticism in an email, do not answer right away. Wait. Even a short pause can prevent conflict and create better understanding. Not every message deserves your first reaction.

After its publication in the autumn of 2024, Power of Smile was featured in several Danish media, including Jyllands-Posten, Lederweb and Point of View International.

• Discover Power of Smile
• Read: When simplicity works – for 110 workers at Danish care homes 

I like sitting with men around a square table, drinking beer and talking about football. And I also like sitting in circles with women on yoga mats, breathing deeply and talking about chakras. Anything wrong with that? Beyond the Noise – a search for modern happiness. Maybe the answer is somewhere on that bridge between worlds. Listen here or read below: 5 findings in 5 minutes after 5 conversations – and a U-turn. Photo: Illustrations of chakras and of tifo fra FC Copenhagens fan section.

I thought my project was about crossing a bridge. From my old life to a new one. From Western science to Eastern wisdom. Saying goodbye to a lot of things and welcoming a lot of new things.

But after five podcast conversations with medical doctors, psychotherapists, yoga teachers and business leaders, something became clear: Maybe I don’t want to cross any bridge.  Maybe I want to stay on that bridge. I no longer believe in leaving one island for another.

Here are my five findings — and the fifth one made me take a U-turn:

1. We live far too much in our heads. Modern life keeps us thinking, reacting, scrolling and producing. Many of us have lost contact with silence, presence and the body itself.
2. We treat mental health too late. We accept fitness, performance and ambition as normal. But practices connected to calmness, embodiment and emotional awareness are still often seen as “alternative.”
3. People are searching for more than success. Again and again, I hear people speak about something deeper: connection, meaning, calmness and community. Not about escaping from life — but about feeling more alive inside.
4. The body knows before the mind. Stress and imbalance are not only thoughts. The body reacts first. Maybe that is why yoga, breathwork and psychotherapy are becoming relevant to more and more people.
5. Maybe we need both worlds. We don’t need to reject science, reason or modern life. We can connect worlds. Science and wisdom. Performance and presence. Thinking and embodiment. And maybe the answer is right there. On that bridge.

On the personal level …

On one island, I do not want to sit in spiritual circles pretending I have “awakened” from my old life, that my past was so wrong and that modern society is entirely wrong. I was never asleep, and there are so many good things in our society.

Honestly, I like sitting with men around a square table, drinking beer and talking about football.

On the other island, I do not want to sit in modern environments mocking people who are searching for something deeper. I believe we have lost something along the way. Why not be open-minded? Modern life offers us so many ways to explore what actually works for us. 

And honestly? I also like sitting in a circle with women on yoga mats, doing breathing exercises and talking about chakras.

Maybe modern life has become too obsessed with choosing sides.

I believe in …

I honour my old life. All of it. I have already lived a beautiful life. I have been so lucky.

• I believe in East.
• I believe in West.
• I believe in science.
• I believe in wisdom.
• I believe in tomorrow.
• I even believe in mysteries.
• And – I do believe in yesterday.

 I have a dream …

There is so much we will never fully understand. Honestly — isn’t there?

So this is my U-turn. I need to take a break.

I really want to stay on that bridge. The view from here is so beautiful. Maybe there is an island hidden beneath the bridge itself. Maybe that is only a dream. But I like that dream.

When the time is right, I will return. I will continue my search. I will continue the podcast. And I will write my next book.

Quietly, against the pace of our time

If this resonates with you, let’s connect. I would love to connect with people trying to find new ways to navigate modern life.

Why has yoga still got a slightly mysterious image for many people? In this podcast, I talk with Nela Gorovic – medical doctor, yin yoga teacher, and psychotherapist. We also talk about why yoga and psychotherapy could help far more people – and why these practices should not be seen as something “female”, mysterious, alternative, or only for people in crisis. Our conversation ended up in two episodes: A doctors view and Men, where are you. 

In my search for modern happiness, I met Martin Seefeldt Borgen in his psychotherapy clinic in Copenhagen, where he now works with leaders. His story stayed with me. What actually happened? What is he doing today?

Why do we still tend to see methods that clearly work as “alternative”? And why aren’t they seen as more natural?

After our conversation, I couldn’t let it go. We all go through crises at some point. What if we saw them as signals – a moment to stop, reflect – and maybe look in a different direction than we normally do?

And actually — why wait for a crisis? Could we pause a bit earlier — and ask ourselves: How is my life, really? Should I continue as usual, or is it time to rethink?

🎧 Listen to our 20-minute conversation in my podcast: Beyond the Noise – a search for modern happiness
Also on Spotify.

Something doesn’t add up. We live better than ever – and still, many of us don’t feel truly happy. This podcast is a search for what we might have missed. Conversations with people who feel the same. Looking for new ways to find modern happiness, and how we might break the paradox.

The search begins at the Atlantic coast of Portugal. In the first two episodes I talk to yoga teacher Bianca and the two medical doctors Niki and Eva.