I recently read The New York Times article, “The Finnish Secret to Happiness? Knowing When You Have Enough.”
How can a country be designated the happiest country in the world six consecutive times? To earn the title once is a little far-fetched, but to receive the honor six times is not only remarkable but inconceivable.
Receiving the recognition on March 20, 2023, Finland has been the happiest country for the past six years!
Inquiring minds want to know how much spandex it takes to make such a title fit.
All kinds of questions popped into my head upon learning about the ranking. Does the title mean most Finns are happy with their lives, culture, society, and country? Are they happy the majority of the time?
Who are these people?
They need to bottle this happy juice and sell it to the rest of the miserable world.
I’ve learned to go beyond the headline, caption, and lead sentence to discover the deeper story embedded in the article.
So, I did.
The New York Times’s story features interviews with several individuals who make up a tiny sampling of sorts of Finland citizens. They are Paul-Bunyan-hearted people with ingenuity and plenty of grit who are trying to live their best lives. The people are of various ages, ethnicities, professions, and sexual orientations and live in different parts of the country.
How their opinions contributed to the happiest country ranking was surprising.
Actually, they didn’t. There were no happy opinions per se. In other words, one word cannot describe one’s life.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, which rates the well-being of nations, ranked Finland at the top of world happiness.
The reasons may be pretty complicated based on the interviewed citizens’ comments.
But who can define happiness? The Bullseye of happiness is a moving target.
Most people see happiness as a state of well-being that includes a positive life experience relative to health, family, finances, and other securities, including any governmental support.
In Finland, the word welfare must not be a nasty word. Those interviewed had different lives, struggles, challenges, hopes, and gratitude for social privileges and resources to succeed.
Just as many factors influence a country’s quality of life, many more determine an individual’s satisfaction with life.
The article is a reality check that even in a country that’s thought to be the happiest in the world, the people are level-headed citizens who work through hardships and challenges. The Finns believe their country provides a safety net for success if they work hard to make a good living. And they don’t like to complain.
Knowing their lives are sustainable through basic needs made possible by a supportive country and government, the Finns feel privileged and somewhat content. Many people don’t equate contentment or satisfaction with happiness, but it’s close enough for many folks in Finland.
The Finns’ sense of well-being comes from the government, the arts they enjoy, their God-given natural resources, and other perceived benefits.
Contentment is a learnable humble way of life. Happiness is not only more complicated but perhaps overrated.
Maybe being content is better, especially when one knows when they have enough for a good sustainable life.
Congratulations, Finland!
Be well.