6 Things People Do Differently In Finland, The Happiest Country In The World

“I think in Western culture, we talk about happiness often, that it’s the individual’s responsibility to live your life such that you can be happy,” Hintsanen said. “We have an illusion that if you do everything right, then you’re happy, and it’s your sole responsibility.”

There is some truth in that, she said, but it’s not only an individual who controls their happiness — it’s also their surroundings, life circumstances and the decisions in society. 

Meaning, for example, if you’re a teacher and your local district cut all teachers’ pay, your happiness will likely be impacted. But the pay cut decision was out of your control. So, as important as it is to try and do things that impact your mood, it isn’t only up to you.

“We can’t just make it only the individual’s responsibility, and I think it’s also good for everybody to remember that. There are also other things than just [the] individual,” Hintsanen added.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.