- Finland has been ranked as the happiest country in the world for many years.
- Finns pamper their mental health and escape the pressure imposed by society.
- To experience happiness, you must first change your state of mind.
For many years, the World Happiness Report
makes Finland the happiest country in the world. How can we explain such a ranking, year after year? Do the 5.56 million inhabitants of the Nordic territory get sick less? Are they less aware of mourning, social and societal pressure, poverty, crimes? The list of painful situations and events is long, and no human being or country in this world is spared. Finns are happy because they aspire to be. And to move from goal to reality, they cultivate their mental health, here’s how.
Create a unique relationship with nature
According to a Finnish study published in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medecine
our health improves through contact with nature. As the report relates, the subjects studied who are accustomed to natural spaces are 33% less likely to be treated for their mental health. It is therefore not surprising that Finns seek to spend time outdoors, whether in a park, in the forest, at the sea or simply in their garden for a few minutes a day. By taking the time to contemplate the singularity of the landscapes, we realize that we are ultimately small in the face of the grandeur of the world around us, but also that beauty is found in every detail. It is also a time when we disconnect from our worries to reconnect with ourselves.
Be satisfied with what you have
The other habit of the Finnish people that everyone should learn from is valuing balance. We are often in a frantic race for “always more”, but does getting the latest fashionable bag, the promotion that the whole team is aiming for or the Christmas decoration competition between neighbors make you truly happy? Although the ego is flattered in the moment, once the dose of endorphins has worn off, what remains of this temporary euphoria? Finns have learned to be content with what they have, as long as it meets their main needs. If we decide, “enough” can become “everything”, it’s all a question of state of mind.
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Consume little, but better
Whether it’s a purchase, a decision or a word, everyone has already been confronted with a compulsive action. Not being able to resist one’s impulses can be due to a deeper malaise: we are trying to fill a lack, soothe a pain. With the same philosophy of being satisfied with what you have, the Finns are not into overconsumption. They prefer to design their own objects, those that have value or meaning in their eyes, and place them in an interior in which they feel good. If they pay a significant amount of money for a product, it is for its reach, and not for the image it projects to others. The idea is to give more importance to what we buy in order to be in tune with our choices.
