What a year it has been. This year has caused many of us to struggle to maintain focus and equilibrium. Discord on a global and local scale, armed conflict, and political instability have rocked us. Despite everything, there is a human imperative to keep going and search for ideas on how to thrive during troubled times.
I traveled to Finland this month with friends, and one of the primary reasons I chose to visit Finland was because of its reputation as the world’s happiest country—an acknowledgement it’s received for the past eight years running, according to the World Happiness Report. I was eager to immerse myself in the culture and uncover their unique formula for happiness.
Some of the reasons Finland has been so successful at achieving ‘happiness’ include its stable economy, high levels of social support, minimal levels of corruption, and excellent governance, among other factors. And while there, I discovered something that didn’t appear in any formal survey results: SISU. “Sisu” is a magical (and, to be honest, a little bit undefinable) word in Finnish culture; sisu can mean a mix of bravery, strength, determination, grit, and persistence in the face of adversity. One Finn remarked to me, “It’s not as though we are all merely wandering within a happiness bubble, completely untroubled.” Instead, we’re all about making the most of what we’ve got instead of wishing for what could be or what’s missing.” It’s a chill kind of happiness, and sisu plays a significant role in that.
Sisu is something everyone has in common. Sure, it might have been labeled and bottled by the Finns, but it’s totally accessible to everyone. We’ve all had those moments of sisu, right? Maybe it was crossing the finish line of a marathon when those final miles felt like pure agony. It could be about having the courage to leave a job where you felt overlooked and undervalued or persevering in an important relationship. It involves taking a deep breath and making the leap (similar to their tradition of transitioning from the sauna to an icy cold plunge).
As we bid farewell to 2025 and welcome in a new year that doesn’t feel particularly hopeful or promising, we desperately need to practice sisu. Sisu revels in unease. The majority of the year in Finland is spent in a frigid and dark environment, yet the Finns embrace it and take pleasure in their ability to endure and thrive in spite of this.
My equivalent to this is to push past the doomscrolling and step into action for what I CAN do and can control—whether that is volunteer activities, helping a neighbor, or lending a hand to a co-worker—gravitate to where you can have a positive impact.
“What Sisu fosters is what I mean when I say an action mindset: a brave mentality that helps us face issues head-on. By deliberately reimagining adversity as opportunity, sisu is a way of life. Pantzar Katja
My holiday wish for you all is to cultivate your inner strength and be brave as we navigate this unpredictable world together. Stay connected with the community, be useful when possible, stay strong, and lead with love.
