I spent a week in the happiest country in the world
Every year, the World Happiness Report puts out their list of the happiest countries in the world. The top of the list is usually unsurprising. Half of the top ten spots are usually claimed by the Nordic/Scandinavian countries and sure enough, for something like the seventh year in a row, Finland claimed the top spot.
How do you say dynasty in Finnish???
(dynastia)
With such good grades, Finland’s approach to happiness has become something of legend. The Finnish Tourism Department hasn’t missed the opportunity to advertise the Find Your Inner Finn masterclass, offering visitors a chance to invest in their own happiness by learning from the best.
I already had my own reasons for visiting Finland. Child friendliness, the Northern Lights, and the Arctic Circle being among them, but I figured why not pay attention to the happiness thing while I was there.
I spent time in both Helsinki and Rovaniemi with my four year old. I want my kids to develop the habits of observantness and curiosity, but I’m not so sure I’m the one coaching them. Those traits seem to come naturally to kids.
For what its worth, our own happiness seemed to surge during that week. We had a really good time together, playing around in the snow, riding the trains, and exploring around town.
One early and immediate observation was that Finnish people were on the reserved side. Incredibly nice and helpful when it came to it, but there was a strong sense of respect for others’ space and less going out of one’s way to talk. I ended up talking to people who moved to Finland in adulthood. A restaurant owner from the Philippines. A driver from the Gambia. They affirmed the observation.
Finnish people, pretty nice, but reserved, they also noticed.
So if I’ve got to highlight the aspects of Finnish culture and society that stand out about happiness, one early observation is this.
1) In Finland, happiness is a byproduct of measured expectations.
There seems to be a sense of aiming for contentment rather than exuberance in Finland, and that results in less disappointment.
Interestingly enough, Finnish attitudes seem to anticipate a certain degree of disappointment and things not working out in life, and many say that this preparedness provides some mental resilience against hardship. The value of Sisu, or finding the courage and willpower to overcome life’s adversities incorporates a level of acceptance and a willingness to face it head on.
That’s why I often say that Finland is the happiest country in the world, but you probably wouldn’t consider it the most optimistic country in the world.
It’s also not the bubbliest country in the world, the most celebratory country in the world, or the most pleasure-oriented country in the world.
Finland doesn’t score high on the World Happiness Report by reaching high highs, but rather, maintaining a solid level of satisfaction and making it accessible to all.
To be honest, I don’t know how I feel about this.
I tend to think the highs and lows of life give it some flavor. I think that guarding yourself from disappointment inevitably also cuts yourself off from living fully.
But that’s just me. I’m pretty happy in life, but I certainly haven’t been called the happiest country in the world for seven years running.
2) That social safety net, though!
It’s impossible to read any proper analysis on Finnish happiness without coming upon some discussion on the country’s strong social safety net. It’s not dissimilar from its Scandinavian peers, which is why all those countries likely show up in the top ten year after year.
Finland was the birthplace of the housing first approach to homelessness. Social services are accessible.
In the words of my Finnish-Gambian driver, “this isn’t really a country where you’ll become rich.” The country’s economic structure keeps most people towards the middle. There are diminished returns on pursuing a high income, high status life, and I can see how that can help bolster a happiness score as well. Without work playing an all-consuming role in most people’s lives, it’s a little easier to live a more integrated and balanced life.
At the same time, you aren’t very likely to totally bottom out in Finnish society. There are plenty of programs supporting those in a state of struggle, funded by the government and Finnish taxpayers.
This keeps poverty at bay, which I think benefits everybody. Not just those avoiding poverty.
If I’m doing really well, but the community around me isn’t, that’s only going to get me so far.
Finns have known that a person’s well-being is connected to their environment.
Historically, that has led to practices that enabled them to fare better against harsh winters. Now that way of thinking extends to the social environment.
Living in a setting where so many people are struggling, desperate, or insecure will still impact the lives of those who have more.
Speaking of the environment…
3) Nature has something to do with it.
There’s a pretty widespread sense of appreciation for being outside in Finland. And we’re talking about a country where the outside temperature isn’t always the most hospitable.
But even when you’re in the most urban spot in the whole country, you’re only about 30 minutes from a national park. In Finland, opting outside doesn’t mean you have to go large distances to visit somewhere pristine, remote, and untouched. It means simply, going outside! That can look like biking instead of driving, walking the scenic way, etc.
In Finland this goes to the extent of letting infants take their naps out in the open air under a blanket, understanding that the open air is “good for you.”
It’s tough to deny the simple mood boost that being outside brings. If you’ve never tracked the ratio of hours spent outside against your overall mood, it’s worth the trouble to examine.
Finland, simply, was one of my most fun trips. I had a great time there, and that seems consistent with its reputation for happiness. I would absolutely embrace the joy of a return trip sometime.