{"id":149,"date":"2021-02-12T05:22:10","date_gmt":"2021-02-12T05:22:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/engage.augsburg.edu\/zobitz\/?p=149"},"modified":"2021-02-12T05:22:10","modified_gmt":"2021-02-12T05:22:10","slug":"sisu-lessons-failure-and-persistence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/engage.augsburg.edu\/zobitz\/2021\/02\/12\/sisu-lessons-failure-and-persistence\/","title":{"rendered":"Sisu lessons: failure and persistence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We\u2019ve been in Finland for about 6 weeks now \u2013 and by the outset we are all settled.  But, I still can\u2019t shake this feeling of late: What if I fail at my project?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With words I sound dramatic \u2013 but in many ways, also good to acknowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have become dispirited of late because the data I am working with is sparser than what I am used too.\u00a0 Many of the processes I am modeling are observable \u2013 to an extent. However the methods that I have been working with (going technical here: MCMC parameter estimation, coding in R) either are too computationally slow or not robust enough for me to produce meaningful results.\u00a0 This is not an easy problem to solve (which is good, challenging, exciting, all at the same time).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But yet, being here, in Finland, is such an investment in me<\/em> \u2013 by my family, by my colleagues at the University of Eastern Finland, by the Fulbright Finland Foundation, that failure is not an option. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once I pull on the thread of \u201cI am going to fail\u201d, it spirals downward.  I know these moods for me are like the polar vortex: when it settles in, it is here to stay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is easy for me to provide a pep talk to myself, which in my internal monologue sounds something like one of the following: (a) \u201cYou will be fine, don\u2019t worry.\u201d (b) \u201cWell you have all this time in Finland, you will figure it out.\u201d  (c) \u201cAt least you aren\u2019t teaching.\u201d  Yes, those are all true, but \u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am not the only one who feels this way (imposter syndrome for example<\/a>). Science, (and probably more broadly) needs to normalize the discussion about failure<\/a>.  Showcasing more stories of persistence and resilence (such as here<\/a>) are an important first step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intersecting this conversation is also a critical discussion about justice, diversity, and equity.  As a white, cisgendered male I come from an extraordinary place of privilege; the impact (externalized or internalized) of failure is non-uniform across different identity groups.  I need a laser-focused equity lens to support and nurture my students \u2013 and to help them realize that failure is not a dead end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps two lessons could be learned from Finland.  The first \u2013 the Finnish concept of sisu \u2013 is the quiet persistence through obstacles (internalized for me in this discussion I said to myself \u201cWell if what you are doing isn\u2019t working, find another way.\u201d)  The idea of a growth mindset and the power of the “not yet”<\/a> is a natural offshoot of sisu. I preach the growth mindset this to my students, and perhaps need to internalize my own lessons more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Nordic<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

However is there a broader societal role as well?  The second lesson is related to what the author Anu Partanen in The Nordic Theory of Everything: In Search of a Better of Life<\/em><\/a> calls the \u201cNordic theory of love\u201d. (<\/em>A longer explanation and analysis into the lessons learned from that book is needed – soon hopefully!).  But let\u2019s start.  Allowing oneself to fail is related to the ability to take risks.  Innovation \u2013 which includes the freedom to take risks and fail \u2013 is permissible in Finland due to how society is structured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, companies take a long-term view of their employees. There is a broad societal understanding and appreciation in an appropriate work-life balance (and health care is considered a human right).  In summation, this structure frees employees and companies to take risks, and perhaps normalizes failure.  As Partnanen states \u201cA more humane pace, and flexible work practices, nuture it [innovation] as well\u201d (p 293).  There is something to be said about how freedom from worry about health care, retirement, education allows more freedom for innovation.  But perhaps there is more to that story, which is for another time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve been in Finland for about 6 weeks now \u2013 and by the outset we are all settled.  But, I still can\u2019t shake this feeling of late: What if I fail at my project? With words I sound dramatic \u2013 but in many ways, also good to acknowledge. I have become dispirited of late because the<\/p>\n