Have you ever thought that you would be happier if you had a better job, a nicer home, or a prestigious title? According to organizational psychologist and psychotherapist Annamari Heikkilä, you wouldn’t, because happiness does not come from external circumstances. Happiness comes from doing things that are meaningful to us.
It is human and natural to compare ourselves to others and even feel envy at times. It is difficult to feel that we are enough, especially due to the influence of social media.
Happiness is a fleeting feeling that eventually fades. When we remain persistent and put effort into things that matter to us, we can experience a sense of accomplishment. Often, we do not stop to consider whether what we are doing aligns with our values and brings us closer to what is important to us. Common values include family and close relationships, yet we may still prioritize work. It is worth consciously reflecting on whether the situation should be changed.
Loneliness is one of the greatest threats to happiness. A person can cope with almost anything if they have even one close, meaningful relationship. Loneliness can be eased through hobbies, associations, or volunteer work, where there are opportunities to meet others and be helpful. Helping others has been proven to increase happiness. According to Heikkilä, the growing individualism in society may reduce our happiness, and we should shift our focus from ourselves to what we can give to others or how we can help those close to us.
Half of the emotions we experience are negative, and it is not possible for anyone to be happy from morning to night. Rather, moments of happiness may pass us by unnoticed. If we pay attention to these moments, our lives become richer. These are moments when we feel warmth and connection with others or even when we are alone. However, it is not the case that we are entirely the makers of our own happiness or that positive thinking alone would make us happy. The environment we live in also affects us.
We are the happiest nation in the world—even if not necessarily the most joyful. In Finland, we can feel safe. When we feel safe, life can be quite happy, even in the midst of challenges.
Source: Apteekki 2/2026 (pp. 14–17)
