in 2021 iceland was named the second happiest country in the world, missing out on the top spot to finland. that's quite an impressive achievement for the small and beautiful country, hosting a population of less than 400,000 people. It obviously makes one wonder how Iceland was crowned such a high spot on the ranks. there are concrete examples, like the country's low crime rate, poverty rate, spectacular beauty and healthy lifestyle, but all countries are subject to hard times at one point or another. in iceland’s rugged landscape, there’s always the chance of harsh weather, like wild storms or even a volcano eruption, and Iceland was hit very hard in the financial crisis of 2008. perhaps what keeps it all together is the icelandic outlook on life, with a persistent focus on the idea of “þetta reddast”. so, what is it? how is it useful? and how can we use it to benefit our own lives?

It Means No Worries

the loose translation of þetta reddast, pronounced ‘thetta reddast’, is “don’t worry, everything will be alright.” it’s hard to pinpoint exactly where its roots lie, as some sources suggest it originally came from denmark, but wasn’t properly adopted until after denmark's influence on the Icelandic language had disappeared. some say it was adopted in the distant past, as ancestors learned to navigate treacherous environments. regardless, the saying continues to be incredibly popular amongst locals and travellers alike, and can be thought of as the icelandic ‘hakuna matata’. if you ever get the chance to travel to this stunning county, you’ll no doubt come across it somewhere. no worries? sounds pretty simple, at least at first glance. one might take it as a carefree approach to life, or at worst a shirking of responsibility; but the icelandic perspective can be more nuanced, presenting a depth to this philosophy beyond the words on the surface. 

How to use it

life is full of unexpected challenges, with some being easier to handle than others. sometimes we can get a grip on the situation, and turn things around with a positive attitude. that’s one way to implement þetta reddast, by doing our best and putting worries aside. sometimes, however, there’s nothing we really can do, except put one foot in front of the other and say “everything will be okay”. if it’s a natural disaster, or financial hardship, you could see how the famous saying could help a community through tough times. it helps to let go of unnecessary worry, and fear, and makes it easier to leave behind the past and focus on the future. in our own lives, there’s plenty that’s outside of our control, and what use can worrying do? it needn’t be things on a big scale, like a devastating storm, but could simply be getting stuck in traffic, or making a silly  mistake. maybe next time you encounter these sorts of situations, you’ll remember the icelandic saying and discover why it’s so popular for yourself.

letting go of worry needn’t mean letting go of responsibility, and it may even make you happier. there could be many reasons why iceland ranked so high on the happiness scale, but with almost 50 percent of icelanders adopting the famous phrase, it seems like the locals realised that sometimes, all you can do is say “þetta reddast.”