Choose Happiness

Happiness comes in all shapes and sizes and can look different for everyone, but what exactly does it mean to be happy? The word happy was derived from the noun “hap,” which means “chance” or “fortune” in most languages. It is a feeling that relates to satisfaction and contentment, it is a state and not a trait, so it is not permanent and is changeable depending on our mindset, environment, and circumstances.

Happiness comes and goes, just like many emotions we feel, and it is not always easy to “choose happiness.” Just like with any sport, it takes practice. If you are feeling sad, try and think of something to be grateful for in your life. When sadness takes over, it can be hard to think of anything else, but just try and think of one thing you are grateful for, whether it is your job, family, or that someone smiled at you today. There are many reasons to be grateful, sometimes we just need to dig deeper to find them.

Have you ever met someone who always seems to be happy, regardless of what is going on in our world? There are a few ingredients to the recipe of happiness, it is not necessary to have all the ingredients, but having at least ONE of the following ingredients while working towards another can lead to a state of happiness:

• Family
• Physical Health
• Employment
• Social Relationships
• Moral Values
• Basic Access to Safety and Social Equality

You can choose happiness by working towards improving the status of each ingredient listed above and always looking for something to be grateful for, even when it is hard. And remember the quote by Author, Mary Engelbreit, “It’s just a bad day, not a bad life.” I challenge you today and every day to choose happiness, choose the life you want to live!

Tiffany Dahir, Assistant Director for The Kim Foundation

Tiffany Dahir is the Assistant Director of The Kim Foundation. She received her Master’s Degree in Organizational Performance in 2018 and her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing Management in 2013, both from Bellevue University. She has worked for The Kim Foundation since January 2020. Her previous experience through her work and volunteering includes marketing, event planning, fundraising, I.T., and operations. Tiffany’s role at The Kim Foundation includes daily office operations, marketing, coordinating event logistics and employee relations.