Happiness is hard to quantify, but that doesn’t stop us from trying! And with the annual World Happiness Report due out later this month, perhaps the country best placed to offer lessons on how to find happiness is its five-time winner, Finland.

That’s why Finland is doing just that – opening the world’s first master class on happiness to “find the inner Finn”. The bad news is that it’s only for ten lucky joy seekers, which means that, ironically, in the long run it can make more people miserable than happy if they apply and don’t attend! But for the chosen ten, smiles will surely be wide as Visit Finland will host the whole event, so it won’t cost the attendees a single penny. Those who aren’t can take solace by watching the masterclass online later this summer.

Applications for the four-day master class, which will be held June 12-15, 2023 in the Finnish Lake District at the luxurious Kuru resort, are open to all until April 2, 2023, where each villa will have its own sauna spa. Winners will be flown in and connected to experienced trainers tasked with guiding them towards a balanced lifestyle that promotes ‘Happiness the Finnish Way’. The coaching will cover four key themes: nature and lifestyle; health and balance; design and everyday life; food and well-being.

The whole thing revolves around the common Finnish philosophy that happiness is not a mystical state, but a skill that can be learned. And according to the 2022 Oracle Happiness Report, depressingly, it’s a skill many of us have forgotten or never found, as 45% of people say they haven’t felt truly happy in more than two years, and 25% are unsure or unsure can’t remember if they did it. So smiles are in short supply and Finland claims to have the answer.

“Finns are often asked, ‘Why are you so happy?’ We believe that Finnish happiness comes from a close relationship with nature and our down-to-earth lifestyle,” explains Heli Jimenez, Senior Director, International Marketing at Business Finland. “Finland is full of immersive nature experiences. Our energizing forests, enchanting lakes and vibrant archipelago are all perfect places to relax, unwind and reconnect with your inner happiness.”

If you’re looking for a little more luck, you can apply online before April 2nd to find your inner Finn.

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