—— The Hard Truth: We are chasing the wrong kind of success. While we burn ourselves out chasing flashy influencer-style wealth, a real king who survived the Nazis and modernized a nation just showed us that the ultimate flex is being unapologetically normal.
When the news broke that Norway’s King Harald V passed away at 89, the internet did what it always does: it started listing his achievements. They talked about how he fled the Nazis as a child, competed in the Olympics, and dragged a centuries-old monarchy into the 21st century. But as I read through his life story, one detail stopped me cold. This was a man who, despite being born into absolute privilege, spent his life trying to be as normal as possible. He married a commoner after a grueling nine-year fight for love, rode public transit, and genuinely listened to everyday people.
As someone who spent the last three years trapped in a cycle of doomscrolling, status anxiety, and chronic hustle-culture burnout, I had a sudden, wild thought: What if the cure to our modern mental health crisis isn't more self-help books, but living like a low-key Scandinavian monarch?
I decided to spend exactly seven days living by the "King Harald Rules." Here is what happened to my brain, my wallet, and my anxiety levels when I stopped trying to look important and started trying to be human.
The Three 'People's King' Rules I Lived By
To make this experiment work, I boiled King Harald’s life philosophy down into three actionable daily rules that any regular person can try:
- Rule 1: The "Nine-Year" Patience Principle. King Harald waited nearly a decade to marry the love of his life, Sonja, because she was a commoner. He refused to marry anyone else, risking the crown itself. In a world of instant gratification and 15-second TikTok trends, my first rule was to ban all impulsive decision-making. No instant Amazon buys, no rushed replies, and absolute patience with my long-term goals.
- Rule 2: Radical Accessibility. Harald was famous for being the "People's King." He didn't hide behind high walls or golden gates. For my week, I banned myself from using private rides or luxury conveniences. I took public transit, walked in the rain, and made a conscious effort to look people in the eye and say hello.
- Rule 3: Vulnerability Over Polish. The late king was beloved because he wasn't afraid to show emotion, speak about his health struggles, or admit when things were tough. My third rule was to stop curating my life. No filters on social media, no pretending to have it all together at work, and absolute honesty with my friends.
Day 1 to 3: The Detox from "Main Character Syndrome"
The first few days were surprisingly painful. I realized how much of my daily anxiety comes from trying to project a perfect, high-status life. On Monday, instead of ordering a premium Uber to get to my morning meeting in the rain, I took the crowded city bus. Initially, I felt a surge of annoyance. But as I looked around at the diverse group of people reading, listening to music, and just existing, my anxiety began to melt. I wasn't a "main character" rushing to save the world; I was just a human among humans. It was incredibly freeing.
Applying the "Nine-Year" patience rule to my phone usage was even harder. Every time I felt the urge to buy something online to get that quick dopamine hit, I wrote it down in a notebook and forced myself to wait. By Wednesday, I realized I didn't actually want 90% of the things I had written down.
Day 4 to 7: The Magic of Radical Vulnerability
By Thursday, I was leaning heavily into King Harald's brand of radical honesty. During a team meeting where everyone was pretending to be perfectly fine with an unrealistic deadline, I spoke up. "I'm actually feeling really overwhelmed by this timeline, and I think we need to adjust our expectations to do a good job," I said.
The room went quiet. I braced myself for disaster. But then, one by one, my coworkers nodded. "Honestly, me too," one said. By refusing to wear a mask of perfection, I had given everyone else permission to be human. It felt like a massive weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
By the time Sunday arrived, I noticed something shocking: my screen time was down by 42%, my impulse spending had dropped to zero, and that constant, buzzing background anxiety about "not being successful enough" had completely vanished.
[FAQ Section]
Who was King Harald V of Norway?
King Harald V was the monarch of Norway from 1991 until his passing at age 89. He was widely loved for his down-to-earth personality, his athletic background as an Olympic sailor, and his efforts to modernize the royal family, including marrying a commoner for love.
Why did he flee the Nazis?
During World War II, when Nazi Germany invaded Norway in 1940, the young Prince Harald fled with his mother and sisters to Sweden and later to the United States, where he lived in exile before returning to Norway in 1945.
What does "status anxiety" mean?
Status anxiety is the constant, modern worry that we are not achieving enough, earning enough, or looking successful enough compared to our peers, often fueled by social media and hustle culture.
My Key Takeaways from the Royal Experiment:
- True confidence is quiet: The truly powerful don't need to flash their wealth or status to feel validated.
- Patience is a superpower: Waiting for what truly matters prevents us from settling for cheap, temporary thrills.
- We are all connected: Stepping out of our private bubbles and sharing public spaces makes us happier, healthier human beings.
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