Finns, whose country has been ranked as the happiest for six years in a row, say Happiness is "knowing when you have enough." What is happiness to you?
Suppose you were to take a trip to what has been ranked for six years in a row as the happiest country in the world.
What would you expect this place to be like? A utopia where everything is easy and beautiful? What would you expect the people to be like? Perhaps wealthy, friendly and always smiling? What attitudes would you expect they might express on life, work, relationships, challenges and so on?
Do you think you would feel happier just visiting in this place?
In "The Finnish Secret to Happiness? Knowing When You Have Enough," Penelope Colston writes that, despite their country's rank as the happiest in the world, Finns don't consider themselves especially happy:
On March 20, the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network released its annual World Happiness Report, which rates well-being in countries around the world. For the sixth year in a row, Finland was ranked at the very top.
But Finns themselves say the ranking points to a more complex reality.
"I wouldn't say that I consider us very happy," said Nina Hansen, 58, a high school English teacher from Kokkola, a midsize city on Finland's west coast. "I'm a little suspicious of that word, actually."
Ms. Hansen was one of more than a dozen Finns we spoke to — including a Zimbabwean immigrant, a folk metal violinist, a former Olympian and a retired dairy farmer — about what, supposedly, makes Finland so happy. Our subjects ranged in age from 13 to 88 and represented a variety of genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds and professions. They came from Kokkola as well as the capital, Helsinki; Turku, a city on the southwestern coast; and three villages in southern, eastern and western Finland.
While people praised Finland's strong Social Safety Net and spoke glowingly of the psychological benefits of nature and the personal joys of sports or music, they also talked about guilt, anxiety and loneliness. Rather than "happy," they were more likely to characterize Finns as "quite gloomy," "a little moody" or not given to unnecessary smiling.
Many also shared concerns about threats to their way of life, including possible gains by a far-right party in the country's elections, the war in Ukraine and a tense relationship with Russia, which could worsen now that Finland is set to join NATO.
It turns out even the happiest people in the world aren't that happy. But they are something more like content.
Finns derive satisfaction from leading sustainable lives and perceive financial success as being able to identify and meet basic needs, Arto O. Salonen, a professor at the University of Eastern Finland who has researched well-being in Finnish society, explained. "In other words," he wrote in an email, "when you know what is enough, you are happy."
Students, read the entire article and then tell us:
The headline says that the Finnish secret to happiness is "knowing when you have enough." What do you think of this mind-set? Do you think it could make you happier? How might you apply it to your life?
The article includes stories from more than a dozen Finns about what, supposedly, makes Finland so happy. They include answers like the social safety net, access to nature, music, badminton and the freedom to pursue the kind of life Finns want. The stories also mention concerns that could threaten that way of life, such as climate change, cuts to funding for the arts and anti-immigrant attitudes. What are the things that would make for a happy life for you? What things might affect your ability to have that kind of life?
Some Finns say the pressure to live up to their reputation as the happiest people on Earth can be too much. "Being sad or being not content with our life would be seen as ungrateful," said Clara Paasimaki, a teenager. Do you ever feel this way? Do you think society puts too much emphasis on being happy?
Do you think there's a connection between Finnish happiness and "sisu," the expectation that Finns endure difficulty without complaint? Do you complain? Do you think negative talk ever inhibits you from feeling joy?
What do you think has the biggest impact on your ability to feel content? Is it having your basic needs met? Is it having everything you've ever wanted? Is it the quality of your relationships? Is it a certain mind-set or attitude? Or is it something else? If you had to sum up the secret to happiness in one sentence, what would it be?
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.
Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.
