What is Sisu & How Can it Help You in Therapy?

Recently I was explaining sisu (pronounced see-sue) to a client and how it may be helpful to them in accomplishing their therapeutic goals and overcoming obstacles.  I explained sisu as an “enduring strength of will” which helps one to overcome and succeed in the face of adversity by taking a challenge head on.  This is a trait that can enhance therapeutic success by leaps and bounds because it relies entirely on the client. The result is that more therapeutic work is done outside of the session, and the client requires less time with the therapist.

So what exactly is sisu?  Unfortunately there is no direct Finnish to English translation for sisu, despite it being a quality or characteristic all human beings possess.  Emilia Lahti writing for The Sisu Lab describes it as “determination, guts, perseverance and the capacity to endure significant hardships. It means to stand your ground in the face of adversity and remain functional when the only logical thing would be to run away and/or hide.”  It can also be described as “the ability to sustain…courage…It stands for the philosophy that what must be done will be done, regardless of cost…You might call it backbone, spunk, stamina, guts, or drive and perseverance. It is a measure of integrity that surpasses the hardship and sees through to the end.  Sisu is the quality that lets [people] pick up, move on, and learn something from previous failures. It’s the hard-jawed integrity…” (Finlandia University). Emilia Lahti further explains that sisu is “about not seeing a silver lining in the clouds, and yet jumping into the storm anyways. At the core of sisu is the idea that in each of us there is more strength that meets the eye. Even though the construct of sisu has its roots in Finland, it is relevant to all human beings anywhere in the world. It is a potential which we all share and which can have a powerful impact on our daily lives. Sisu is embodied by people everywhere who defy the odds and hold on to hope when there at first seems to be none.”  

Sisu is not fully understood until you experience it.  Luckily, many of us do, we simply lack the word to describe it.  Often it feels like a magical or mystical sensation. The best description of this experience I’ve found was a quote by the composer Jean Sibelius in the book The Finnish Way by Katja Pantzar which stated, “Sisu is like a metaphorical shot in the arm that allows the individual to do what’s impossible.” Through my own experiences of sisu it has felt like all my nerves calm at once, I stand taller (which is hard for someone barely 5’3” to do!), and my face is set with determination.  It’s like an armor and an energy that allows me to overcome obstacles, both big and small. My mantra becomes “I’ll make it so” (to modify a Star Trek quote).  Which means no matter what is in my way my goal will be accomplished.

Sisu helps us to accomplish our goals and difficult tasks by changing the way we approach adversity.  It inspires us to be open to trying new things and thinking in new ways.  It looks at a difficult situation as a challenge to overcome rather than an obstacle to defeat us.  It contributes to what Emilia Lahti  calls an “action mindset” or a “a consistent, courageous approach toward challenges which at first seem to exceed our capabilities.”  Sisu becomes less of a characteristic and more of a philosophy of life, that is, a guiding principle for actions and an attitude toward life.

So how does sisu help you in therapy?  People come to see therapists because they want to see change in their lives.  They want to overcome struggles, mend relationships, and gain peace of mind and stability of emotions.  However, change is scary, even if it is desired or necessary. Through therapy you may work to change the way you look at a situation, how you think or make judgements, what you do, how you behave, and what actions to take to improve your situation.  Making these changes takes courage. It takes changing the way you look at the situation you’re in. This is where sisu walks in.  Sisu provides you a framework with how to approach a difficult situation.  It infuses you with courage to approach new ways of thinking or acting.  It encourages you to make changes in thoughts and behaviors, which impact your emotions, both within and, especially, outside of therapy.  Sisu is a short term experience, and thus can be practiced every day without being exhausting.  You harness it to accomplish a task and then it goes away, fading into a feeling of accomplishment and pride.  It builds confidence in your ability to overcome your unique challenges, reach and complete therapeutic goals, and make lasting lifelong positive changes in your life.