It is hard to translate the Finnish word ‘sisu’ into any language. To ‘have sisu’ means to have guts and perseverance. To have a capacity to face difficult challenges and endure hard times. Also, it has an almost zen-like quality of acting with integrity, honesty and humility.

The exact meaning of sisu can also be deeply personal: during my trip to northern Finland and Norway I asked people what sisu meant to them. One example I got was from a man who’s father built the wooden family house by himself over a long period of time. The wood was made from trees he chopped in the forest with his own hands. Another answer was from a man having to cope with the death of his son. He didn’t want to go forward anymore but had to and somehow came over it. It took a great deal of sisu.

This inspired me to examine the concept of sisu.