Listen to 10 Finns "reveal" their secrets to happiness.

According to the results ofWorld Happiness ReportFinland was awarded the top spot based on criteria such as GDP per capita, social benefits, social freedom, years lived in good health, generosity, and levels of corruption. The report also allowed citizens to self-assess their level of happiness and collected their feedback.

"I was curious about what Finns actually think about what constitutes a happy life here. So I went to two cities in the country, Helsinki and Lapland, and asked 10 random people of all ages what the key to their happiness was," journalist Rachel Hosie began.

First person: "The government provides a lot of support, but we still have our freedom."

"Happiness doesn't mean everyone is laughing hysterically as they walk down the street. It just means everyone is content with everything and satisfied with their lives," Heidi said.

“Society provides a lot of support and offers tremendous benefits, but we still have complete freedom to decide what we want. A wonderful welfare system accompanies us from birth to death, but it doesn’t feel overly intrusive.”

“I have the life I want. I love the work-life balance, and the opportunities to be close to nature are always there. Finns aren’t good at expressing their emotions; we’re just content with the present.”

Second person: "I'm not sure either."

Honna shared Heidi's view that Finnish happiness stems from inner contentment and peace.

However, she also shared that she genuinely doesn't know why Finland consistently tops the list of the happiest countries in the world, and she's "not sure" whether she's happy or not.

Third person: "Nobody wants to complain."

The girl from Sina said she was happy, but she wasn't sure why. She guessed that perhaps many other Finns felt the same way, simply admitting they were happy to avoid complaining.

Fourth person: "Finns never lie."

Behzad is an immigrant of Pakistani origin. He came to Lapland to study in 2013 and later moved to Helsinki. Behzad says he believes Finns are genuinely happy, but “most of them are very reserved” and don’t talk much to strangers.

Behzad is now a Finnish citizen and is very happy with his life here. He appreciates the financial support from the Finnish government and notes that the people are very honest.

"Most people are very punctual and incredibly productive," Behzad added.

Fifth person: “I have a happy family and I always have good books to read.”

Grandma Silke asserted that it was the simple pleasures that made her happy.

"I'm happy because I have a good husband, lovely children and grandchildren, and good books to read," she smiled, "I'm living a good life."

Sixth person: "It's mostly thanks to alcohol."

Juho, a middle-aged man, quickly concluded that Finns are happy because they enjoy alcohol and drink it to feel happy.

The seventh person said: "We don't have a big difference in income."

"Of course, we have democracy. We also have very good healthcare, and there isn't much difference in income levels. Social security is also excellent."

"Furthermore, the education system in Finland is one of the best in the world," Kimmo said, "Everyone has access to education and the right to decide their own level of education."

Eighth person: “We have had equal rights from the moment we were born.”

Greeta agrees with Kimmo: Finland's education system is excellent, and because university is free, everyone is treated equally.

"We all have equal opportunities from birth. We all receive a good education, and there are very few private schools," she said.

Ninth person: “Everyone should receive free healthcare.”

Marja believes that Finland's happiness comes from everyone receiving equal healthcare, because everything is free.

Tenth person: "It seems happier in my hometown than in Finland."

Francis, an immigrant from Kenya, wasn't sure if Finns were happy. He thought people back home seemed happier than they were here.

Francis asserted that Finland has a very good welfare system and a high quality of life, "but human emotions cannot be measured by these things," he said.

After a week in Finland, I finally understood. Finns aren't cheerful and boisterous; they're not the type to always have a big smile on their face or be full of enthusiasm. But people genuinely feel peaceful and content with their lives. And they don't need to prove it to anyone.

I think there isn't one specific reason to explain that inner happiness, but rather a combination of factors that create a balanced and healthy life.

And thanks to the alcohol, of course.

That's the conclusion of journalist Rachel Hosie.

An Dịch