A psychologist shared ways to cheer yourself up and become happy

Finland has been considered the most positive country in the world for six years

Finland has received the title of the most fun country in the world for the sixth year now. A psychologist from the country reveals how a person should behave in society so as not to ruin the mood of himself and those around him.

“It’s a common misconception to think that people in Finland are simply born with a positive outlook on life,” admits psychologist Frank Martela. “It would be more accurate to say that Finland is the country with the fewest unhappy people in the world.”

According to Martela, this has a lot to do with three commonly held principles in Finnish society that promote happiness: a strong sense of community and relatedness, doing good deeds for other people, and finding a clear purpose for yourself. Therefore, according to the psychologist, these main truths of Finns should be introduced into your daily life.

“Having people around you who care about you and who you care about makes people happy,” Martela explains. “Fortunately, this can be true even in very difficult material conditions.”

Research shows that even without a stable home, people can find happiness by spending time with friends, visiting family, and connecting with others through fun activities.

When it comes to doing kind deeds for other people, a 2023 Ohio State University study of 122 people suffering from anxiety, depression and stress found that doing them for others gave them a greater sense of life satisfaction and happiness. These can be small actions, like telling someone they look great today, or larger ones, like helping a colleague with a project or buying a thoughtful gift for a loved one.

“When you help someone, when you have a positive influence on others, your own happiness and sense of worth increase,” states Frank Martela. “In crisis situations, there are usually plenty of opportunities to help each other, and this also helps develop a sense of solidarity.”

Finding your “goal”, according to the expert, will be the most difficult of the three principles of Finland. Scholar Sunil Gupta, in his recent book Everyday Dharma: 8 Essential Practices for Achieving Success and Joy in Everything You Do, believes that “if you are not sure about this, make a list of the things that make you happy in life and then figure out what ties these things together.”

“A strong sense of purpose can also make bad experiences easier to bear,” explains Martela, “in fact, focusing on changing those conditions is one clear source of purpose that can lift a person’s spirits and help them find meaning in their current situation.”

There is another “key” aspect of Finland’s overall morale, Frank Martela tells CNBC: “I tend to say that governments cannot make people happy, but they can eliminate many sources of unhappiness.” For example, affordable healthcare and education are desirable goals in many countries around the world. If you’re surrounded by economic, political or social unrest, “no amount of mindfulness journaling, gratitude, or other popular activities” will significantly impact your happiness, the expert adds.