How to Practice Sisu Daily

Sisu can be understood as a characteristic, a spirit, an attitude, an approach, or a philosophy of life.  What these descriptions all have in common is that they are enduring, consistent, and most of all, take daily practice to grow, manage, and develop over time.  Sisu doesn’t develop out of grand accomplishments.  It takes daily practice to nurture a spirit of sisu.  It takes mindful choices to follow this philosophy of life.  

First, you need to get in the right mindset.  You need to be action oriented and open to new ways of acting, thinking, and behaving.  The proper sisu mindset is one that is open to new things and willing to take action.  It’s having a will that never gives up, faces failure head on with new eyes, and lets go of what it cannot control and focuses on what it can.  Sisu thinking is recognizing an obstacle and being determined to overcome it through action.

Every day, we face obstacles.  Problems arise, challenges present itself, and the unexpected happens.  The world provides us with a multitude of chances to practice sisu and as a result strengthen it.  If we commit to overcoming one small challenge a day, we strengthen our sisu, build confidence in our abilities, and develop resiliency for when greater challenges present themselves.  So what small obstacles can you accomplish today? Here’s a list of ideas:

• Make a phone call you’ve been putting off
• Tackle a chore that needs to get done
• Speak up in a meeting
• Do that craft with your 3 year old
• Consolidate a loan
• Renegotiate a bill
• Make that appointment you’ve been putting off
• Go for a run, to the gym, or just a walk
• Choose a salad or healthier option for lunch
• Set a bedtime, and stick to it
• Ask for help

In short, daily sisu is about doing those small hard things that fill us with fear, anxiety, or other negative emotions with the confidence and determination to overcome them.  Afterwards, you’re filled with a feeling of accomplishment. And boy, does that feel good! Daily sisu is an exercise in self-care through simple accomplishments which boost mental, physical, and emotional well-being.  But most importantly, what you choose to develop your sisu has to be unique to you, and an important part daily sisu is finding what works for you.  Everyone develops their sisu in different ways.  After all, “Sisu is when you discover your OWN strength” (Katja Pantzar, The Finnish Way), you can’t do it the same way as everybody else.