I read an article recently about Finland and wanted to share it with you.  The article had a very long title, but you can see the article here.  I encourage you to follow the link and read the article.  The article talks about a number of things and some background about Finland, including darkness in winter and “land of the midnight sun” in the summer.  It makes reference to systems in Finland, including “education is largely free, time off of work is plentiful and health care coverage is guaranteed”, so it is different from the US in that it seems to focus on balance, but it is also much smaller than the US.  We have to acknowledge the differences, but the characteristics are important to review in our pursuit of happiness.

Let’s highlight and talk about the key characteristics.  They talk more about them in the article, but the following is my review.

1. Less desire to lie about emotions.

I struggled to develop a plan to talk about this, but my work with the military illustrates this issue.  I worked with active duty for many years and often heard that they couldn’t talk about mental health issues.  They often reported that they were “fine” after significant deployments.  If they didn’t, they could be discharged for mental health issues and they wanted to remain in the military.  I also know from working with the general public that people struggle to define their emotions.  Many who are scared or frustrated are angry and act out that anger.  There are so many different emotions and ways to manage them, but we struggle to understand and define them.  We have even more of a struggle to find ways to manage them.  Be honest about how you feel, at least with yourself.  I also hope you can find someone you trust with whom you can share your emotions.  Someone who you don’t have to lie about how you feel.

2. Work-life balance is a priority.

I don’t know about you, but my work-life balance is terrible, and my own fault.  My concern for the country is that most people have very little vacation time.  For most, 2-3 weeks per year is pretty standard and that is not enough.  However, the other issue is that most people are living to work, not working to live.  Many are tired when they get home, and employers are forcing people to work overtime, making it harder to have work-life balance.  I wish I had a recommendation here, but I’m working on it.

3. Lots of access to nature.

I have never been to Finland, but I have been to northern Sweden.  I think it is similar to Sweden, and I enjoyed many area of the country.  With the pictures I have seen, the scenery is beautiful.  I know they take full advantage of summer and have lots of winter events, but I think one of the biggest things for them is the social aspects of being outside as opposed to being hold up in their homes.  They often gather with others, in a respectful way, whether family or friends.  Making connections with others, and  nature, can help people feel less alone and more connected to their communities.

4. Learning new skills is encouraged.

I like to think that learning is encouraged around the world, but I know that is not the case in some areas.  Learning is very important, and easier if people have access to the internet.  However, for Americans, it’s become financially hard to get more education, whether it’s college or trade school.  Learning helps pull people out of poverty.  Learning helps us better manage emotions.  Learning helps us better understand how things work locally and worldwide.  Never stop learning things that are true, but don’t fall for opinions as fact.

5. Finland is a very trusting society.

As divided as we are in the US, trusting others may take a while.  There are things that brought us together, but now there are things tearing us apart.  That increases stress, depression, and anxiety around our country and around the world.  We don’t trust our leaders, and even at times, our neighbors.   As we think about this issue, surround yourself with people you trust and who support you in a healthy way.

6. They have a significant feeling of contentment.

We may never be totally happy, but happiness and feeling content are something to work toward.  Feeling confident about your future and having support from family and friends is a part of contentment.   Having a work-life balance is important for contentment.  Feeling good about your situation brings contentment and happiness.  Many currently don’t feel this way, which can make our division worse.  Our country has a long way to go here, but it can change.

There are so many things in this article that we should consider as we work for happiness.  Take a look at the article and think about what you can use to help your happiness goals.  As we learn about other places, and other skills, we can use them in our own lives.   It’s all part of being happy, for life.