As the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama ran on a campaign predicated on a promise that his administration would usher in hope and change. After delivering on several of these promises during his eight-year term, President Obama then asked Americans to believe in a change born out of their own efforts. This is a much harder request because it tells us that unless we put into work, unless we show up, our lives will remain the same. It's very easy to look for someone else to wave a magical wand that will remedy all of your problems. It's a seductive proposition.

But the truth is if we are unsatisfied with the laws of a country we live in, or our jobs, or our relationships, we have to do the work to make it better. Ultimately, President Obama's last ask is an empowering one. It says our lives are in our hands. We can bring about a better result in our endeavors so long as we're willing to put in the effort to usher in change.