A Finnish psychologist reveals the BIG secret: these are the 5 phrases that are the essence of happiness

For six consecutive years Finland has topped the list as The happiest country in the world. What is the secret of the inhabitants of this country to manage to sustain this precious title? Frank Martela, Finnish philosopher and leading researcher in psychology who is dedicated to studying the foundations of happiness, has been able to verify what is important in life that makes us truly happy people and has revealed on CNBC the 5 sentences that summarize the essence of a happy person in Finland. take note of these 5 phrases that summarize the foundation of happiness!

The 5 phrases that connect you with the essence of happiness

Frank Martel –author of “A wonderful life. Why we need to understand the meaning of existence”, renowned Finnish philosopher and leading psychology researcher– suggests that happiness consists in discover how to find meaning in life, how to make our existence meaningful. According to Martel, after having studied this aspect, he has understood that the meaning of life is summarized in these 5 sentences.

1. “Live for yourself, not for the expectations of others”

According to Martel, in Finland people experience less anxiety about social status because people don’t worry as much about fitting into what is conventionally defined as a successful life. What this psychologist suggests is that a person who dedicates himself to what he likes can be much happier – even if it is a profession that is not linked to success– that a doctor is not a doctor by vocation but because someone suggested that he become one or because he believed that this was a successful career. Even meaningful work can feel empty if it’s not done with passion or enthusiasm.

You want to be happy? Think about what really makes you happy, what excites you, and assess what things you are doing to fit into the success model that they have sold us that, in reality, do not fulfill you. Maybe it’s time to make some changes in your life.

2. “Become an expert and share your knowledge”

This psychologist from Finland reminds us that one of the best ways to have a life purpose to feel happier is to find a job or a hobby that makes you feel full.

How to achieve it? According to Martel, It must be an activity in which we can develop and that can be shared with the community. To do this, the job or hobby must meet three fundamental requirements: that we are good at it, that we are passionate about it, and that it have a positive impact on others. Does something occur to you? Start practicing it and you will become much happier!

3. “Practice random acts of kindness.”

Frank Martela has verified that generating deep ties with others gives high doses of happiness. And he has verified it empirically with an exercise that he repeats with his students at the University every year: he encourages them to carry out three random acts of kindness a day. It can be something as simple as helping a tourist find a way, giving up a seat on the bus to someone in need, or spending time with someone who needs company.

If you dare to put this exercise into practice, you will see how you experience well-being instantly. Plus, in the long run, your physical and mental health will thank you, as studies have shown that people who provide emotional support to those around them are healthier and feel better.

4. “Be a good neighbor”

“Talkoot” is an old Finnish word that means “to work together to achieve something that could not be done alone.” It has its origin in a tradition from the past – which is still in force in Finland today – among the people of the country who were engaged in agriculture or livestock. When someone had an important project on their farm, like building a roof for the barn, they would organize a talkoot. Neighbors would voluntarily get together and work together for a day to help, and then they celebrated with food and drink.

This is still practiced in Finland among the neighbors. They get together, for example, to plant trees in the street and at night they take the tables and chairs out to the street to share some food and drink and have a good time.

Frank Martela says that this explains why Finns tend to have a positive attitude towards civic responsibilities, such as paying taxes. They see it as something essential for everyone’s well-being and that affects their happiness. Embracing this tradition and suggesting it in our neighborhood can be a nice way to improve something in the community and have a good time along the way.

5. “Accept shared quiet moments”

The Finnish psychologist reminds us of a Finnish proverb: “The word is silver, but silence is gold.” He refers to the fact that many times we don’t need to do great things to connect with other people. Being together in silence is enough to generate a feeling of connection and love.

In Finland they usually enjoy the sauna with family or friends in silence while they observe nature, listen to the singing of the birds or the sound of the wind. Think about how to recreate this Finnish custom. You can, for example, sit with someone during a sunset and watch the sun go down or enjoy a little while with someone in front of the sea and watch the coming and going of the waves. It goes without saying anything: just try to connect with nature and with the people around you.