For the past six years, Finland has been ranked as the happiest country in the world. Frank Martela, is a psychologist and lecturer at Aalto University and has often analyzed what people do in this country, from the way they speak, how they behave and the expressions they use most often.
You may be surprised to learn that Finns are often the first to question happiness, but they have their own instruments to measure this state. However, research has shown that those who most desperately seek happiness tend to be least happy. So if true happiness is best achieved indirectly, without paying too much attention to it, that's something the Finns excel at.
A large part of their satisfaction comes from the way the country's institutions take care of its citizens. But culture and values ??also play a key role in how they approach life and happiness. Beyond that, they have four expressions that they use most often and all the time.
#1 "He who has happiness must hide it"
In Finland, people tend to believe that if they have found happiness, they should not show it. Surely, this is a strange expression. Why should they hide your smile when the world treats them well? It is human nature that often leads to comparing ourselves to others, which often has a negative effect on our happiness. However, in Finland and other Nordic countries, people tend to be more oblivious to these comparisons and more content.
#2 "The pessimist is never disappointed"
This is an old Finnish saying without any clear origin. You believe that obstacles are a fact of life. You will experience pain, disappointment, and even tragedy. This is not something to be afraid of because it is known that people have the tools needed to cope emotionally with these challenges. Whatever your situation, there is always something that can be improved. Accepting these inevitable struggles, focusing on what is still in your hands and can be improved, will keep you active and energetic even in difficult times.
#3 "Everyone is the 'smith' of their own happiness"
This expression reminds of the fact that we all have to create our own happiness without waiting for it to be served to us on a silver platter. While everyone should take responsibility for their own lives, research shows who we are, what we can achieve in life, and our happiness is often projected on the support of the people in our lives, from friends, family, colleagues, etc.
#4 "Some have happiness, others have the sun"
This is another Finnish expression that has been used for more than 100 years. Most Finns understand that while there are aspects of our lives that we can influence or make changes to, there are so many things that we simply cannot control. So there is no point in envying those who are happy now, even if we are struggling. Regardless of the situation, you can always count on one thing: sooner or later, the sun will rise for you too.
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Source: CNBC
