A couple of years ago I gave a presentation on SISU-Resilience the Finnish Way at a conference. Today I’d like to revisit and elaborate on that topic .

In Finland we have something called Sisu. It is considered a core trait of the Finnish      personality and it is often attributed as a cultural characteristic of the Finnish people, a trait that helped the people populate an isolated and cold region; do well in sports, especially hockey, and become an independent nation despite a small population and limited resources.

The former CEO of Nokia, the famous cell phone manufacturer that is now part of Microsoft, to the chagrin of most Finns and Finnofiles- was quoted in USA Today in 2004:

In times like these, the executives who run Nokia talk up a uniquely

Finnish quality called sisu. “The translation would be ‘guts,’ ”

 “But it’s also endurance. There is a long-term element to it. You

overcome all obstacles. You need quite a lot of sisu to survive in this

climate.”

Sisu is often described as being stoic, showing perseverance and determination on the brink of stubbornness. A friend of mine once called it determination with a hint of madness. While Sisu might have kept the engineers and staff at Nokia working hard and believing in the future, it also may have kept them from seeing what lies beyond the well-known status quo.

 Sisu as a stubborn determination can be a destructive force. If you unforgivingly push yourself too hard for a long time, you will eventually burn out. But Sisu can also be that positive force that helps us find our inner strength, hope and resiliency during difficult and challenging times.

To find your inner Sisu, you need to be brave enough to look down your inner abyss, to accept the beautiful and the ugly, your fears and your strengths. From there you can begin your quest for happiness and a more fulfilled life by actively pursuing your dreams and not giving up before you get there.

My definition of Sisu moves away from harsh stubbornness and towards a more balanced view on perseverance:

S  =      Sauna, the heart of Finnish culture reminds us of the importance of caring for our  mental, spiritual and physical health

I  =      Introspection is what we need to truly know ourselves as we to take on new  challenges.

S =       Sharing our joy, sadness, fears and triumphs brings us together and makes us  strong both individually and as a community.

U =      Understand your own needs and what motivates you, and the needs and behaviors of others before you judge.