How to build your mental strength with Finnish SISU ?

Although I am a mental toughness practitioner using the MTQ 4C’s framework in my work, I’m always interested to learn about alternative mental approaches used in different cultures. 

Sisu is one such approach, which, according to Wikipedia, is a 500-year old Finnish cultural construct used by the Finns to express their national character. Although it is generally considered not to have a literal equivalent in English it would be closely related to a combination of mental toughness, stoic determination , grit , bravery and resilience. 

Sisu is a grim, gritty, white-knuckle form of courage that is typically presented in situations where success is achieved against seemingly impossible odds.

Sisu doesn’t apply to the everyday hassles you may experience, but rather helps you deal with significant adversities and tough challenges. It’s about finding that extra source of energy to help you keep going even though you feel exhausted and depleted. 

Sisu is about short intense bursts of extraordinary strength and courage to stretch yourself beyond your capacities and help you overcome tough obstacles or breach difficult gaps. And whereas resilience is being able to bounce back from adversity or stress, you need Sisu to keep fighting the undercurrents before you get to this moment. 

In this interview, Emilia Lahti, a SISU practitioner ,discusses with Dr Michelle McQuaid, five ways to use the benefits of Sisu at work;

·      Build psychological safety - the belief that you won’t be punished when you make a mistake is critical for fostering more Sisu in workplaces. Psychological safety can give you the space to speak your mind and stand up for what is important, be innovative, and take action despite the risk of failing or making mistakes. 

·      Adopt an action mindset - rather than shying away from challenges, when you demonstrate Sisu you have a consistent and courageous approach of taking action in the face of stress or adversity, despite your fears and uncertainties. It involves having a growth mindset where you see potential failure as an opportunity to learn, grow, and continually improve.

·      Recall moments of Sisu – the negativity bias we all have, means that it’s easier to recall the times when you haven’t coped or things haven’t gone well. Overcome your inner critic by taking the time to consider a tough time in your past when you exceeded your expectations to get through. Write this down and use it when you need to remind yourself that you have a good track record of overcoming adversity.

·      Reach out to others – sometimes when you’re struggling in a dark place you may find it difficult to ask for help. However, it’s not always possible to do it alone, and by reaching out to others you can gain power by having your strength and courage reflected back to you from someone else’s eyes. 

·      Create space for Sisu in others – so they can also tap into their inner energy and power to reach their best potential. Use genuine compassion when your colleagues are going through tough times to recognize their suffering as part of what we all share to be human, and respond in ways to understand or alleviate their pain. 

You can read here the full article on SISU published in Huffington Post. .https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/are-you-tougher-than-you-think_us_5a55b396e4b0baa6abf162b0

Paul Lyons is an experienced CEO who coaches leaders to improve their performance and wellbeing by developing their mental toughness and emotional intelligence. To learn more contact Paulor Mental Toughness Partners

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Photo by Ugur Arpaci on Unsplash