Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "You must do the thing that you think you cannot do." Her husband, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) the 32nd President of the United States of America said, "Above all try something." So, what do these quotes, or words of wisdom, from one of America's most famous power couples have in common? It's all about striving to be better. It's not about succeeding all the time, but at least striving to be better. With this striving comes a deep satisfaction that tends to make us happier, like someone smiling and beaming with pride after just finishing a marathon even though they are tired. This level of fulfillment that striving brings us cannot be accomplished through our modern-day instant gratification of remote control television or microwave popcorn. These pleasures cannot replace true effort and accomplishment.

So go ahead and strive, however, beware, not every day will go perfectly. Things can and will go wrong. And when they do go wrong you might be tempted to retreat inward in an attempt to avoid this big bad world that hasn't been so kind to you recently. Don't. It's a mistake. Retreating and surrendering won't bring you happiness. It will only push and pull you further down the slippery slope of despair and depression. And the further you slide down that slope, the longer it will take you to climb out of it.

So, there you have it. We really have had the secret to our own happiness and success within us all along, haven't we? The secret is what the First Couple alluded to at the beginning of this article, isn't it? Get up and move. Get up and try. Try something and something will happen. And if you don't succeed, you'll at least feel better for trying... And who knows what could happen...

Now teens, go learn, lead, and lay the way to a better world for all of us. Always remember that striving to be better will make you happier. And once again, thanks in advance for all that you do, and all that you will do...

Award-winning author, speaker, and educator Dan Blanchard wants you to try to do something to be better than what you are today.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Daniel_Blanchard/1785050