‘A personal trainer of happiness’ guides the Finnish City of Vaasa to become the happiest city in the world

—  This year Finland has again been chosen as the happiest country in the world, but it is unclear which is the happiest city in the happiest country. We believe that Vaasa must take this position. We are already a very vibrant region by many standards, but now we are really starting to develop the happiness of our residents, says Mayor Tomas Häyry.

The first steps in promoting happiness will be taken on 2^nd of October, when Vaasa introduced its residents to a new “personal trainer of happiness”, Emeritus Professor of Psychology and happiness researcher Markku Ojanen.

— Happiness is not only the responsibility of the individual - one's own living environment, such as Vaasa in this case, is particularly important. I’m really excited to be developing the happiness of Vaasa’s residents, and to test in practice, which tasty titbits of the research will provide the best nourishment for the residents of this region, says Vaasa’s personal trainer of happiness, Markku Ojanen.

Let’s not wait for tomorrow’s happiness

The happiness of Vaasa’s residents will be developed comprehensively during the autumn. One of the most central ways is to guide city residents on how to develop themselves into happiness experts of their own lives. Ojanen considers online happiness lectures, that delve into where human happiness comes from and how it can be developed within yourself. In addition, the city shares practical happiness tips, produced by Ojanen, through the city's social media channels, on the city’s webpages and in the urban cityscape. Tips are also sent to every resident in the region on a postcard.

— When a person is happy, they don’t have to remember the ‘good old days’ or think that the future will bring something better, since they are satisfied, grateful, and happy with what life brings right now. That is why it is important that the residents themselves have the means to increase and maintain their own happiness with small actions in the middle of everyday life, continues Ojanen.

In addition to intensive work with residents, Ojanen operates as an expert in the city's organisation, helping, for example, various units to develop their own operations and services from the perspective of happiness. Ojanen is also involved in planning an annual follow-up survey to measure how the development of happiness in the region is progressing.

— Many may wonder if now is the right time to talk about happiness, especially when the world is in the middle of a crisis and people are having to put restrictions on their personal lives in many ways. But we believe that right now is actually the perfect time. Today we can really show the world that happiness is still within the grasp of all of us and can be found surprisingly close by, such as in a nearby forest or in the arms of your dearest one. It is not necessary to put out to sea to find it, concludes Häyry.