Watching the Finnish ice hockey team playing in the 2022 Olympic final, prompted a remark from a commentator about the team’s mental fortitude. They were on course to win a gold medal for the first time and had already managed to get to this final without a single defeat. And they won gold for the first time in 18 winter Olympics.
This comment was a great reminder for me of the Finnish concept of ‘sisu’. This term doesn’t have a direct English translation, but it can be roughly defined as strength, determination, courage and keeping going in adversity and never giving up, often doing something that seems against the odds.
Having lived in Finland for a while back in the 1990s and having experienced a few of their winters, I can absolutely understand why sisu is often cited as a Finnish characteristic. But you don’t have to be a Finn to cultivate sisu.
Image: Mika, unsplash
It goes beyond willpower and, for me, relates to the ideas of grit as well as resilience.
Resilience relates to the “process of adapting well in the face of adversity…as much as [it] involves ‘bouncing back’ from these difficult experiences, it can also involve profound personal growth… Becoming more resilient not only helps you get through difficult circumstances, it also empowers you to grow and improve your life along the way.” (American Psychological Association).
Resilience isn’t just about keeping going– it’s also a key foundation of health and wellbeing. Which starts to make sense when one of the world’s coldest countries consistently tops the charts of the happiest countries in the world.
So, how we can develop more resilience - and even sisu - when we’re all facing unrelenting uncertainty, stress and challenge? The good news is that, with conscious practice and by taking action, we can all be more resilient and cultivate sisu for ourselves too.
Test your limits, push a little further
Following a similar approach to James Clear’s ‘Atomic Habits’; it’s worth remembering that this isn’t about making massive shifts, but having the resilience to keep moving forward, in small steps when we don’t think we can. Finding out where your limits are, means you can push past them. And, by getting in the habit of making these small steps and pushing a little further forward, you’re getting the idea, habit – and the evidence - that you can do more than you think might be possible.
Be patient
The Finnish ice hockey team persevered for 18 Olympic games to win gold in 2022. That patience in keeping going, pushing beyond their limits in each game to keep winning, against the odds, with no hesitancy in taking action, led to success. Patience and perseverance won the day.
Focus, focus, focus
You’ve got to remember why you’re doing something, stay connected with that purpose and stay focused and passionate about the goal you’re aiming for. This will give you the reason and courage to keep going despite the odds.
Think stoic
Remember the ice hockey commentator’s use of the word ‘fortitude’? That perfectly describes stoicism – one of the words often used in relation to sisu. This means you look at a situation from a rational and pragmatic perspective, rather than being driven by your emotions.
Listen to your responses
It’s really valuable to listen to your own responses and reactions to situations. When things feel uncomfortable, what’s it telling you? Can you realistically push a little further?
Self-compassion matters
Sisu researcher Emilia Lahti set herself a target of running 50 ultramarathons (50 kms per day) over 50 consecutive days across New Zealand. She learned however, through injury and approaching the challenge in different ways (cycling and walking as well as running), that self-care and self-compassion – accepting herself as she is – still helped her cover over 2,400 kms in 50 days.
Self-compassion has been proven to support wellbeing and resilience, helping us learn from failure and mistakes and grow from challenges without beating ourselves up.
Although we might not all live in a country where sub-zero temperatures and a lack of daylight can be the norm in winter, the action mindset of sisu is something we can all develop.
“The biggest obstacles are between our ears, what we tell ourselves.”
Finnish mountaineer, Veikka Gustafson