Unravel the secret behind Finland's happiness with a four-day 'Masterclass of Happiness'

For the last five years, Finland has been rated as one of the happiest countries worldwide. Most countries measure progress by their Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but it doesn't really account for the happiness and well-being of the country's people. The World Happiness Report takes into account the happy factor and for the 6th year in a row, Finland is the world’s happiest country, reported CNN. A lot of factors that go into living a happy life include access to housing, food, healthcare and access to capital among many other things. However, outside of these factors, there is also a personal approach that can help attain inner peace and happiness. In an effort to spread these secrets, "Visit Finland" is offering a four-day seminar titled “Masterclass of Happiness” at the Kuru Resort in the Finnish Lakeland region. From June 12 to 15, ten lucky travelers will be given the opportunity to unlock their “inner Finn” and learn how to live a balanced lifestyle.

So, why are the 5.5 million Finns so content, or what is the core reason behind it? According to Heli Jimenez, Senior Director at Business Finland, a government organization that promotes trade and travel, it could be due to the Finns’ intimate relationship with nature and their grounded lifestyle. Jimenez further explains that happiness is “not some mystical state, but a skill that can be learned and shared.”

As reported by Smithsonian Magazine, individuals or pairs can apply online on their official website through April 2. Applications involve submitting an online form and then creating a TikTok or Instagram post showing why they “may secretly be a Finn” and why they would like to participate in the Masterclass. Those who do not manage to get a spot in the in-person course will have access to the class online in the summer.

The World Happiness Report is conducted by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network. It is based on responses to international Gallup surveys, which use a “Cantril ladder” scale to measure the quality of life on a scale from 0 to 10, where zero is the worst possible life and ten is the best.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the annual World Happiness Report, which attempts to explain why people in some countries are happier than those in others. The report is based on six metrics: gross domestic product (GDP), life expectancy, generosity, social support, freedom, and corruption. The most recent report, from 2022, used data collected between 2019 and 2021. Finland topped the list, and Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Sweden and Norway rounded out the top ten. The United States, by comparison, came in at 16th place.

Moreover, the report also showed that, in 2021, despite the global pandemic, acts of kindness, such as donations, volunteering, and helping strangers, have increased around the world. Jeffrey Sachs, the director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, remarked, “The lesson of the World Happiness Report over the years is that social support, generosity to one another and honesty in government are crucial for well-being. World leaders should take heed. Politics should be directed as the great sages long ago insisted: to the well-being of the people, not the power of the rulers.”