Many women look up to the First Lady because she seems to have it all.
She’s smart, she’s family-oriented, she’s fashionable, and she takes care of her body.
While there’s no magic formula or blueprint to get what you want out of life, we could all learn a little something from Michelle Obama’s example.
Here are some inspiring tips that Mrs. O has passed along throughout the years…
1. Surround Yourself with Good People
“Do not bring people in your life who weigh you down and trust your instincts. Good relationships feel good. They feel right. They don’t hurt. They are not painful.”
2. How to Find "Mr. Right"
“There are a lot of women who have the boxes: Did he go to the right school? What is his income, you know?” She said she wasn’t concerned with any of those things when she met Barack Obama. “It was how he felt about his mother. The love he felt for his mother. His relationship to women. His work ethic, he did his work and he was good. And he was smart. And I liked that. And he was low-key and he wasn’t impressed with himself. And he was funny. And we joked a lot. And he loved his little sister.”
3. Stay Fit and Healthy
“Exercise is really important to me—it’s therapeutic. So if I’m ever feeling tense or stressed or like I’m about to have a meltdown, I’ll put on my iPod and head to the gym or out on a bike ride along Lake Michigan with the girls.”
4. Remember to Give Back
In May, Mrs. Obama gave the commencement address at Spelman College and encouraged graduates to serve their communities. “Find those folks who have so much potential, but so little opportunity, and do for them what Spelman has done for you. Maybe it’s a group of kids in your community. Maybe it’s a struggling family at your church. And I can tell you from my own experience just how rewarding it can be to make this kind of work the work of your careers.”
5. Life Isn't Always Easy
“The path won’t always be laid out neatly for you. Sometimes you won’t be able to find that perfect job. Sometimes you might momentarily take a job just to stay afloat.”
6. Be Courageous in Your Fashion Choices
“For me, fashion is fun, and it’s supposed to help you feel good about yourself. I think that’s what all women should focus on: what makes them happy and feel comfortable and beautiful. I wear what I love. Sometimes people like it, sometimes they don’t. I’m fine with that.”
7. How to Get Through Marital Problems
“I think every couple struggles with these issues. People don’t tell you how much kids change things. I think a lot of people give up on themselves. They get broken, but if we can talk about it, we can help each other. I spent a lot of time expecting my husband to fix things, but then I came to realize that he was there in the ways he could be. If he wasn’t there, it didn’t mean he wasn’t a good father or didn’t care. I saw it could be my mom or a great baby-sitter who helped. Once I was OK with that, my marriage got better.”
8. Ignore Your Critics
“One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals. And so when I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don’t invest any energy in them, because I know who I am.”
9. Keep A Sense of Humor
Marie Claire magazine once asked Mrs. Obama, “How do you deal with all the women swooning over your husband?” She answered, “I can’t blame them — he’s cute!”
Brought to you via http://www.essence.com by Mavis Baah
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