According to Gallup, two-thirds of Americans are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country. This leaves only 30 percent of people who are satisfied. What’s most surprising about this statistic is that the satisfaction rate was actually much lower in October 2008 at 13 percent.

There are two things to note here:

1. We are becoming more satisfied with the state of the country.
2. The satisfaction rate could be much higher.

So we’re not satisfied with the state of our country, but what are we as citizens doing to change this dissatisfaction?

One problem is we’re missing the key to knowing what each of us wants and needs from our nation’s political leaders. Follow these steps to figure out just that:

1. Reflect on your daily life and ask yourself what’s most important to you and your ideal future.

The term “ideal future” may seem philosophical and unattainable. But set aside these notions for a few minutes and seriously think about it. Ask yourself what’s important to you in your day-to-day life? This could be people, places, things, concepts, laws — anything.

Determining this will help you figure out your needs as a citizen.

2. What issues or topics have the potential to impact this future? What’s happening around you with these issues?

Now that you’ve recognized the areas in your life that are essential and important, what has the possibility of changing your satisfaction with these? Consider laws, policies, taxes, etc.  Consider statewide and national topics as well as local issues.

Take a look around — what’s happening at your local level with these issues? Have any new proposals or laws come through the school board? Are there protests at your local community college? Perhaps local political parties are meeting to talk about some of these issues.

If you’re still having trouble getting started, try using Ruck.us, a site that helps you determine your political DNA and connect with like-minded people.

3. Do some research. Where do these issues stand in Congress, with our leaders, and in public opinion?

Find out if your key issues are even on the national radar — and if they are, how are they being portrayed? What is the overall satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) with this issue? What solutions are being offered and what solutions have yet to be mentioned? What has worked and what has failed?

If you’re not sure where to start, the following resources offer great ways to fact-check and gauge public opinion:

• Votizen: Support campaigns and see what friends in your social network vote for.
• Politify: Discover the financial projections of political scenarios on a personal, local, or national level.
• ProCon.org: Learn the pros and cons of controversial issues.

4. What key political leaders, interest groups, and committees impact these issues?

Take it a step further by identifying people. For instance, who are the political leaders who will not only look out for your well-being, but also the well-being of your community? Which groups will be able to solve the issues that affect the general public? Which committees see the big picture, not just the current state of things?

It takes some investigating to figure this out so try using resources like Project Vote Smart to get started in your research. Not only are they a resource for researching a candidate’s voting records, issue positions, or campaign finances, but you can also find their contact information. You can also try using Govtrack.us to learn more about congressional committees.

5. Now you know what you want and who to target in these areas.

If you’re taking this exercise a step further, try contacting the individuals or groups you identified as key influencers. Write a letter to your congressional representative, participate in a Meetup group, or donate time and money to the cause you support.

Instead of wallowing in our dissatisfaction rate, let’s take a moment to reflect on what’s important to us and the general public in our daily lives and what political policies or issues may impact this way of life. This reflection will allow everyone to become more attuned to our needs and our country’s needs. Only then can we take hold of our own happiness and satisfaction with our country.

What political topics or issues impact the state of your satisfaction with our country and it’s leaders?