Inspired!

Necessity of Inspiration

In this decade, we have lived through uncertain times: corona, wars, etc. It is precisely because of major adversity that we need even more inspiring stories. What would an inspiring story be like? 

The inspiration as a word comes from the Latin words in and spirare. The Latin word inspirare literally means to breathe in. In European history, the word once had a strong religious connection: it is as if man has become filled with the Spirit of God. In the current Finnish context, it can mean all kinds of enthusiasm. 

However, in both religious and secular contexts, inspiration refers to the fact that a person becomes influenced by some kind of entity that comes from outside of themselves. It is a kind of ecstasy, in which a person is taken over by a positive force or being. 

 Inspirational stories (Rocky, Superman and Christ) are a must! 

In terms of stories, this means that a story can inspire a person even to the extent that that story becomes a person's own story. A good example of this are the Rocky films, which many people struggling with the challenges of their own lives have been able to relate to. The character of Rocky, who ends up as a professional boxer, combines tragic humanity with everyday challenges and an almost superhuman force that transcends everyday life in a wonderful way. The boxer, who has been given a unique opportunity by a whim of fate from humble circumstances, rises to an incomprehensible performance against all expectations. Rocky's story is a true black horse story. 

 While Rocky's story is a classic story of a black horse or a character rising from rags to riches, it is also a story of Christ. A keen viewer will notice that the Rocky films contain strong references to Christ. Rocky, for example, always rises from the tongues of death to victory – even when he loses. Sylvester Stallone, who created and played the character, has not hidden the film's Christ symbolism, but has openly opened it up in the media, for example. 

Of course, there are other similar characters. One good example is Superman. In the story, an alien from another planet ends up being raised by an ordinary family in the middle of Kansas. The stranger, who seems like an ordinary man, ends up as Clark Kent and a journalist. At the same time, he is much more at heart: a superman with superhuman abilities. 

 The reference to Christ is clear here as well: Jesus, who is born into an ordinary Jewish family, is a builder or a carpenter by profession, but his inner self is something else. It's even something even more than Rocky's infinite grit or Superman's superior abilities. The innermost part of Christ, who outwardly looks like an ordinary person, is God himself. I doubt anyone or anything can get any better than that!

Finnish sisu 

So what do the stories of Rocky, Superman or even Christ affect us? Is our intention just to admire heroes who transcend the boundaries of everyday life? I don't think so. Above all, the purpose of good stories is to inspire us – to breathe our hearts full of passion, enthusiasm and unwavering perseverance, among other things.

 A similar inspiration is served by Finnish sisu. It's actually a kindred spirit for this kind of inspiration. It has been great to see how this Finnish inner strength has been put on the world map through the Sisu films, for example. Inspiring stories like this are all the more important in these times, when people's minds are filled with worry and uncertainty about tomorrow and wars. 

In the end, Rocky, Superman, Christ and Finnish sisu all remind us of and inspire us to have unshakable hope. That hope is not discouraged in the face of even the greatest adversity, but in fact it makes them fuel for ever greater heroic deeds.