Constructive Sisu and the Perils of Mindless Sisu

Aug 21, 2023

Delve into the concept of sisu, a Finnish term representing inner strength to face challenges. Explore the difference between constructive and mindless sisu, where the latter can lead to burnout and strained relationships. Discover the importance of gentle leadership and staying aware under pressure. Learn how to track your own sisu through reflective exercises and the impact it has on your wellbeing and teams. Uncover the balance needed to cultivate healthy sisu while avoiding harmful extremes. Embrace curiosity to better understand your own motivations.

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INSIGHT

Sisu As Balanced Inner Reserve

Sisu is an embodied reserve of strength that begins where perseverance ends and allows action against slim odds.
Constructive Sisu blends toughness with suppleness so we remain open and effective under pressure.

ADVICE

Practice Small Challenges Daily

Prepare for challenges by practicing small, constructive challenges daily to ingrain supportive nervous-system habits.
Use breathwork and nervous-system education to access calm parasympathetic states under pressure.

INSIGHT

Gentle Power: Tough Yet Supple

Gentle power pairs firmness with openness so we can make hard decisions without losing attunement to others.
The parasympathetic state supports inner authority and relational awareness under stress.

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Sisu speaks of the extra reserves within individuals everywhere to endure challenges and take action against slim odds. However, while sisu denotes extraordinary power to overcome the extraordinary and do the extraordinary, it can also end up creating extraordinary problems. This would most likely happen with mindless sisu that is out of balance, is done at all cost, and happens usually when we are out of touch with our blind spots.

The possible negative outcomes of unbalanced or hard sisu include harm to our mental wellbeing and physical health, as well as to other people and team success. On today's episode, musings on constructive vs unconstructive sisu and an exercise at the end (for the truly brave) to gain understanding of your own sisu and what's its overall impact to people around you.

Stay strong and love even bigger!

Show notes

World Happiness Report
https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2023/

Tim Lomas and cross-cultural research on the determinants of wellbeing
https://www.drtimlomas.com/blank-s59cw

Amy Edmondson's research and trainings on psychological safety
https://amycedmondson.com/psychological-safety/

Harvard Business Review: What Is Psychological Safety? by Amy Gallo
https://hbr.org/2023/02/what-is-psychological-safety

E. Elisabet Lahti: Embodied Fortitude: An Introduction to the Finnish Construct of Sisu at International Journal of Wellbeing
https://internationaljournalofwellbeing.org/index.php/ijow/article/view/672

Support the show

Sisu is a reserve of inner strength but it's also a way for us to know ourselves and impact the world in a positive way. Cultivating these reserves of inner strength starts with self-care and continues through self-inquiry. its power then extends to the world through our inspired acts of deep courage and compassion.

Thanks for tuning in! You can find out more about sisu, find links to research, and check out Gentle Power: A Revolution in How We Think, Lead, and Succeed Using the Finnish Art of Sisu at www.sisulab.com.

Sisu is great, love is greatness.