Stay Grounded in the Storm

January 28, 2026

Does it feel like the ground is constantly shifting beneath you? We live in an era of relentless noise. The stock market swings wildly, news headlines scream for our attention, and social media is a constant flood of conflicting opinions. It is exhausting. It is easy to feel reactive, anxious, and swept away by the chaos of the moment.

When the world feels like a swamp of uncertainty, it is difficult to find inner peace. But in Sweden, there is a practical, grounding philosophy that offers a way to stand firm, even when everything around you is shaking. They call it:

"Ha torrt på fötterna."

Translated into English, this simply means: "To have dry feet."

The Metaphor of the Swamp

To understand this saying, imagine you are walking through a marshy, unpredictable landscape. If you step blindly, rushing forward without looking, you will eventually step into a bog. Your feet will get wet, cold, and stuck. You lose your balance. You lose your comfort.

However, if you "have dry feet," it means you have chosen your path carefully. You are standing on a rock or a patch of solid earth. You are stable. You are prepared.

In a professional and personal context, this idiom means having your facts straight, doing your research, and being sure of your position.

Preparation is the Ultimate Anxiety Relief

Why is this phrase so powerful today? Because "having dry feet" is the antidote to panic.

When the market crashes, the person with "wet feet" panics because they invested based on a rumor or a gut feeling. They don't know why they own what they own, so they are terrified.

But the person with "dry feet" remains calm. They did their due diligence. They studied the numbers. They know exactly why they made their decision. The market might be crazy, but their position is solid.

This applies to relationships and conflicts, too. When someone tries to gaslight you or trigger an emotional reaction, it works only if you are unsure of yourself. If you have "dry feet"—if you know your truth, have your evidence, and understand your values—the external chaos cannot knock you over. You possess a quiet, unshakeable power.

How to Keep Your Feet Dry

Inner peacefulness isn't just a feeling; it is a result of the work you do beforehand. Here is how you can practice the art of Ha torrt på fötterna when life gets difficult:

1. Pause Before You Step The fastest way to get "wet feet" is to react immediately to a trigger. If you receive an angry email or see a scary news headline, stop. Don't move. Take a breath. Refuse to step into the mud of immediate reaction.

2. Do the Boring Work "Dry feet" are earned through research. If you are worried about a decision, gather the data. Read the contract. Check the source. It is much easier to sleep at night when you know you are right, rather than just hoping you are right. Certainty quiets the mind.

3. Define Your Solid Ground Sometimes, you can't control the facts, but you can control your values. If you are in a difficult ethical situation, ask yourself: "What do I stand for?" If you act according to your conscience, you will always have dry feet, no matter how messy the situation becomes.

Stand Tall

The world will always try to push you off balance. There will always be a new crisis, a new argument, or a new reason to worry. You cannot drain the swamp, but you can choose where you step.

By taking the time to prepare, to understand the reality of a situation, and to ground yourself in facts and truth, you protect your inner peace. Let others rush, panic, and slip. You have done the work. Fom that solid place, you can handle anything.