Finland is home to the world's happiest people. Their No. 1 secret is this 500-year-old mindset, says psychology expert
[[E. Elisabet Lahti]], a psychology expert from [[Finland]] who studies sisu, argues that the 500-year-old Finnish mindset of determination underpins national well-being and helps explain [[Finland]]'s top ranking for happiness. Drawing on a 1,500-mile running expedition across [[New Zealand]]—dedicated to raising awareness about family violence—and on research by [[Angela Duckworth]], she recommends three practices: find a purpose beyond yourself; build resilience through deliberate training and preparation; and balance grit with self-compassion, including connecting with nature. Lahti recounts training nearly every day for two years, using breath control and steady habit formation to expand her limits, and shows how cultural practices like walking and hiking foster calm and recovery. Her book, [[Gentle Power]], synthesizes these lessons to help people apply sisu in daily life.