Dr. Elisabet Lahti was traversing the rugged roads of New Zealand’s South Island when a persistent pain in her ankle began to challenge her resolve. Despite the discomfort, she pressed on, having already covered an average of 48 kilometers daily over the past week. Her mission was ambitious: a record attempt in 2018 to run and cycle 2,400 kilometers across the island.
“The highway I was running on got so hot that the heat was coming through my shoes and making my feet swell and altered my gait,” Lahti recalls. “I got these blisters and everything. I treated the imbalance in my body, but I was in a lot of pain between days eight and 12.”
Faced with the universal question of whether to push forward or quit, Lahti turned to the Finnish philosophy of sisu—a concept deeply ingrained in her heritage.
Understanding Sisu: Finland’s Philosophy of Inner Strength
Sisu, shaped by Finland’s harsh weather and geopolitical history, is often described as an unyielding inner strength and perseverance in the face of adversity. Its roots trace back over 500 years, and it is frequently cited as a key factor in Finland’s ranking as the world’s happiest country.
Lahti, who has extensively studied sisu, authored the book Gentle Power: A Revolution in How We Think, Lead, and Succeed Using the Finnish Art of Sisu. She argues that much of the existing literature on sisu misses its essence.
“Sisu to me is like roots; it’s what digs us to the ground,” she explains. “So if there is a storm, we’re not just knocked down.”
In the context of her New Zealand challenge, sisu was not merely about enduring pain but about introspection and finding the strength to continue.
The Broader Implications of Sisu
Key to sisu is quieting external expectations and listening to one’s inner voice. “Sisu is unique as a concept in psychology because in Finnish culture, sisu is not just a word that denotes tenacity or this inner resilience and great perseverance, but it also has this flavor of moral correctness and integrity,” Lahti notes.
Despite popular culture depictions, such as the 2022 action film Sisu, Lahti emphasizes that true sisu is quiet, contemplative, and gentle. This philosophy is not only applicable in Finland but resonates globally, including in Australia.
Sisu and the Australian Connection
Podcaster Susanna Heiskanen, author of Nordic Lifestyle: Embrace Slow Living, Cultivate Happiness and Know When to Take off Your Shoes, observes similarities between Australians and Finns. “When I moved [to Australia] in 2008, I was surprised by how similar these two nations really are,” she says.
Heiskanen notes the shared love of nature and a relaxed attitude towards life. She also sees Australians tapping into sisu, especially in times of crisis when communities unite to overcome challenges.
“I see a communal spirit here in Australia that mirrors sisu,” Heiskanen says. “Looking at disaster-affected areas, I see sisu in action—people working together towards a common goal, using their inner strength to get through flood or bushfire-ravaged lives.”
Sisu in Finnish Culture and Beyond
Sisu remains a cornerstone of Finnish resilience, evident in national preparedness and education. Heiskanen highlights Finland’s readiness for emergencies, such as the underground tunnels in Helsinki that serve multiple purposes but can also shelter the population in times of crisis.
“Sisu is a collective determination that the nation has in abundance,” she says. “The 1939 Winter War against Russia is a powerful example of this national character.”
Both Lahti and Heiskanen agree that true strength of sisu lies not just in perseverance but also in knowing when to pause and regroup. “I don’t think you can ever have too much sisu. It’s your superpower for happiness, and there’s never too much happiness in the world,” Heiskanen asserts.
For Lahti, her New Zealand journey culminated in a moment of introspection, where she chose to heed her body’s signals. “It was a Guinness World Record pursuit and people were watching it, so it was a pressure. But there is always a thing of ‘are we listening to the drumbeat outside or is it our own?’”
The Future of Sisu
In a world fraught with uncertainty, Lahti believes sisu offers a path forward. “It is something that allows us to push through those hard things,” she says. “But the idea isn’t that we evermore live in societies where we need to use our sisu to simply find a way to survive through our days, but how do we create more compassion and care so that we can strengthen that power within us and use it to build a better environment.”
Sisu, she concludes, thrives in togetherness, living not just within individuals but in the connections between them.
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