Got Sisu? How to Access Your Sisu for Success
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Liisa Kovala
Ever wondered why Finland has been named the happiest country in the world for eight consecutive years based on the World Happiness Report? I could argue it’s the amount of coffee they drink—about four cups per person per day or twenty-six pounds per person per year—or perhaps it’s the proximity to nature, the social support and services, or the work life balance. All of this may be true, but I think their happiness stems from something even more fundamental and something we can all benefit from in our daily lives: sisu.
Sisu is a cultural concept that gained world recognition during the Finnish-Russian Winter War of 1939-1940 when this small country defended itself from its neighbour with great success. The Winter War continues to be the prime example of how Finnish soldiers with their lack of military equipment and few soldiers were able to stave off the advances of the Soviet Union. The term doesn’t have a specific English translation, but has variously been described as courage, determination, grit, and bravery in the face of adversity. But it goes beyond resilience. When it looks like the outcome is impossible, and one is likely to fail, Finns keep going. That’s sisu.
The word sisu is derived from the original word sisus, literally meaning guts. It first appeared in writing in the sixteenth century with negative connotations but has survived for centuries. Over time, the term became more positively associated with fortitude and an unwillingness to give up. Today, sisu is the foundation of the Finnish character.
As a Finnish Canadian, I grew up with the concept, intrinsically understanding what it meant. Sisu applied to everyday life, from pushing oneself to finish a race, picking oneself up after failing a test, or completing that math homework that just seemed so impossible. Now, as an adult, I regularly draw on my sisu when I’m faced with personal problems, professional situations, or challenges in the world that I can’t control. There is an element of pulling oneself up by one’s bootstraps, but there is something else, too. It’s a quiet, underlying strength. A deep knowledge and understanding that we have it within ourselves to continue, to move forward, to succeed.
While Finns lay claim to the concept of sisu, I believe everyone has it within themselves. We just need to access our sisu to benefit from its power. There are many ways one can find this quiet fortitude and it’s simpler than you think. Find your sisu by doing what the Finns do.
Take a walk in nature. There is something magical about breathing fresh air, moving one’s body, and noticing the sounds and scents around you. Walking clears your mind, sparks your creativity, and elicits problem-solving.
Take a sauna. Did you know Finland has over 3 million saunas and there is one sauna for roughly every 1.5 people? The sauna is a place to clear one’s mind as well as body, reflect, think deeply, and gain inner strength. Add a plunge into cold water or an ice bath to rejuvenate oneself.
Relax. In addition to walking and taking a sauna, find other ways to relax.
In our hustle culture, it’s difficult to find moments to truly relax without thinking about our to-do list or scrolling on our phones. Relaxing means shutting off the external world and entering the internal world. Sisu is there within you. Breathe. You will find it.
Challenge yourself. Do hard things. It’s easy to find the comfortable path, but it won’t lead you to where you want to go.
Lean on others. You don’t have to do things alone. Find support in friends, family, and colleagues. Share the load and find your strength in working together.
Don’t give up. That’s easier said than done. When faced with challenges, it’s easy to tell ourselves we can’t do it. The truth is, we can. Shut down the inner critic who is trying to protect us from the unknown and listen to that inner champion who knows anything is possible. That’s sisu talking.
Success, whatever that looks like to individuals, relies on a variety of factors, including hard work, determination, and often a bit of luck. But don’t forget about what’s been in you the whole time. Sisu will see you through the difficult times, will drive you forward, will forge a path when it feels impossible.
Close your eyes. Breathe. Feel your sisu deep inside you. It’s always been there. Once you’ve found it, you’ll remember it was always there. Your sisu will lead you to that calm feeling of internal strength that will help find success, and I think, happiness, too.
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