A piece of wisdom from
July 4, 2025 · Friday
The quote
“Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder.”
— Jalaluddin Rumi · Sufism
The concept
Sisu
The Finnish word for the strength that shows up only when everything is gone.
Two hundred days of darkness a year. Forty below in winter. Russia next door. The Finns had to invent a word for the strength that shows up only when everything is gone, and they named it sisu. Sisu is not grit. Not resilience. Not courage.…
A practice for today
Walk one slow block today and observe the lesson of Sisu. The Finnish word for the strength that shows up only when everything is gone.
From the Bhagavad Gita
Verse 18.63
इति ते ज्ञानमाख्यातं गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं मया। विमृश्यैतदशेषेण यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु॥
“Thus I have declared to you the knowledge that is more secret than secret. Reflect on this fully and then do as you wish.”
A small piece of wisdom in your inbox each morning
One quote, one concept, one practice, same as this page, delivered before your day starts. Free, no spam, one-click unsubscribe.