Once again in 2025, Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world. This is the eighth consecutive year this has happened and so its good to look to see if there are lessons to be had. It is also worth evaluating in a fresh way if these Finnish sources of happiness will translate to other places like the US. Here we go to see if there are lessons to be learned, particularly for the US where the vibecession has been in full swing for a while now.
Keeping the Right Pace
In Finland, activities like going to the sauna and hygge culture are deeply entrenched. It is also common to get out in nature even when its very cold outside. These rhythms keep people moving at a pace that feeds the soul, but also values comfort. This stands in contrast to aspects of American culture that values busy schedules and hardcore fitness. It is pretty easy to see that if it is normal to focus on slower pace and cozy vibes then people would be happier. The big challenge for someone in the US is that we fill our schedules so quickly and so its good to take a look at a different way of doing things to draw ideas, but also to normalize simpler patterns of life.
If thinking of the happy Finns helps you take some time to relax and read a book rather than focusing on a side-hustle, then go for it.
Accepting Discomfort as Part of Life
One of the most interesting things about Finland and the other Scandinavian nations consistently being the happiest in the world is that they are cold and dark for much of the year. These are not the most pleasant places on the planet, but this also plays in their favor.
There is a built in acceptance of the challenges of the Scandinavian winter which helps to keep it from bringing the mood down as one would expect it to. This is the thing that stands out the most for the Finnish happiness equation. Having a way to frame the challenges of your particular situation that still allows for enjoyment is an amazing gift.
This is the piece that relates to money the most in 2025. Inflation has been taking a bite out of every budget and there are simply inherent challenges with affording homes in most cities. This is the financial climate that we will be in going forward. The hope is always that things improve, but these are huge trends and so a good comparison is the coming of a Scandinavian winter.
If you prepare for the challenge, then its much easier to take on and overcome. If the Finns were all on social media looking at pictures of Costa Rica all winter, I assume they would not be as happy.
Happiness as the Foundation, not the Result
The Finns need to be good at happiness to survive their cold, dark winters. They recognize this and they’ve built their culture around it. Another side effect of this is that the Scandinavian countries are also relatively wealthy. If you are good at finding happiness it helps to fuel you to in your pursuits whether its a business or a challenging career.
As Americans, our greatest struggle would seem to be discontent. We are conditioned not to be satisfied by our current situation and we are increasingly able to identify the ways the world isn’t living up to our expectations. Then add to this that we are facing plenty of challenges and it quickly feels like we should just give up.
Its like we are headed into December north of Arctic Circle and we haven’t prepared for the journey. That is the lesson from the Finns. They know how to confront the uncomfortable and still find joy in it. That provides the foundation to work from as we build businesses and look for grow wealth. That gives the fuel for the journey that will likely take longer than you expect and contain plenty of discomfort. If you can stick it out, the payoff will be awesome, but you have to feed your happiness along the way to win.
As Americans, its helps to steal a bit from this Finnish way of thinking.